Undergraduate Degrees
The Mathematics and Statistics Department offers a degree program in the discipline of mathematics, with an emphasis on either pure or applied mathematics. In addition, we offer minors in computer and computational mathematics and applied statistics.
Bachelor Degrees
Student’s wishing to major in Mathematics can choose to obtain either a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree.
Bachelor of Arts - obtained by satisfying the CASL distribution requirements as well as the mathematics prerequisites and concentration requirements.
Bachelor of Science - usually granted to students majoring in biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, chemistry/instructional, earth science, environmental science, microbiology, or physics. However, a student who earns 60 or more credits hours (at least 20 of which are upper-level) in mathematics and the physical and biological sciences may, upon petition, be granted the B.S. degree.
Minor Degrees
Minor in Computer and Computational Mathematics (CCM) CCM courses develop skills in applying mathematics algorithms in ways useful to real world situations. A minor or area of focus consists of 12 hours of upper-division credit. Minor in Applied Statistics Minor degrees consists of 12 hours of upper-division credit or graduate credit in Applied Statistics. Stat 325 and Stat 363 cannot both be used to satisfy this requirement. Students with concentrations in mathematics, the natural sciences, or the social sciences should find the minor in Applied Statistics to be a valuable supplement to their concentrations.
Mathematics Education
Welcome to Mathematics Education!
The Mathematics Education Team supports K-12 mathematics learning. For preservice teachers we offer courses in mathematics content and methods. For inservice teachers we offer courses at the masters and doctoral levels as well as professional development programs.
The Mathematics content courses are designed to support teachers in understanding deeply the mathematics they need for teaching. An inquiry format is used with course activities that
- center on challenging problems around significant mathematics
- are solved by students independently or collaboratively
- use language, representations, logic, symbols, and previously established meanings and concepts
- are shared publicly
- are mined for their mathematical concepts, processes, and relationships.
Many of the course materials are adaptations of school- based curricula, problems developed for research, and tasks inspired by the thinking of former students.
In Mathematics methods courses future teachers focus on the mathematics in a task, the student thinking that might arise including misconceptions, responses to support student reasoning, and assessment to gauge student learning.
For elementary or secondary teachers already endorsed by the state of Michigan to teach mathematics, the MA in Education may be earned with a certificate in Mathematics Education Enhancement and Leadership (MEEL, http://www.soe.umd.umich.edu/meel/). For elementary teachers seeking an endorsement in mathematics, there is an MA in Ed with an endorsement in mathematics. http://www.soe.umd.umich.edu/ma/
The Center for Mathematics Education is dedicated to making continuous, research-based professional development available to current teachers. www.casl.umd.umich.edu/index.php