Mathematics Education at Aquinas College
The Aquinas Mathematics Department offers courses for students who plan to teach elementary grades, middle school mathematics or high school mathematics.
Courses for All Elementary Teachers
In order to earn certification to teach elementary school, you must pass (with a grade of C or better) three mathematics courses: MS 260, MS 261 and MS 271. Before you may enroll in the first course, MS 260, you must demonstrate profiency in elementary algebra. You may do this by achieving an acceptable score on the Aquinas algebra placement exam or by passing a college-level elementary algebra course. This may be either Aquinas College's MS 107 or an equivalent course from another institution.After you pass MS 260, you may then enroll in MS 261. You also have the option of enrolling in MS 271 during the same semester that you take MS 261. You may not take MS 271 before MS 261, but you may take these two courses simultaneously. The complete sequence is shown in the diagram below.
If you did not take very many college preparatory mathematics courses in high school, or if your algebra skills are a little rusty, you will probably need to take an elementary algebra course before you begin the MS 260 sequence. This means that you may need to plan on taking at least four semesters of mathematics, before you will qualify to student teach. All prospective elementary teachers should begin their mathematics courses early in their programs. Plan to take MS 260 as soon as possible after you complete EN 201. If you are a graduate student, completing an accelerated elementary teacher certification program, begin your mathematics sequence during your first semester in the program, to avoid having your student teaching delayed.
All courses in the required elementary teaching sequence are offered during the day, at night, and during the summer. If you have any questions about the required elementary teaching sequence, please feel free to call Prof. Burgis (x3662).
Courses for Mathematics Majors and Minors
All students who plan to earn a mathematics teaching major or minor should schedule an appointment with an Aquinas College mathematics faculty member very early in their programs. You may contact Kathy Burgis, advisor for mathematics education, or any other mathematics faculty member, to set up an advising session. The State of Michigan has very specific requirements for the mathematics courses that certified teachers must take. Because specific upper-level mathematics courses are not offered every semester, planning ahead is very important!
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Teaching High School
In order to teach high school mathematics, you need to earn secondary teacher certification, with either a minor or major in mathematics. Your program must include Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics, MS 375. However, MS 375 does not count toward the total number of mathematics credits needed for your major or minor. MS 375 will next be offered Spring semester, 2003. To be certified to teach mathematics in Michigan, you also must pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification in Secondary Mathematics.Teaching Middle School
In Michigan, middle schools usually include grades six through eight. Teachers with elementary certification may teach in all three of these grades. Teachers with secondary certification may only teach grades seven and eight. In general, demand is currently very high, for teachers with elementary certification, and a mathematics major or minor, who want to teach middle school math.Teaching Elementary School
Elementary certification, with a mathematics major or minor, will qualify you to teach any grade in elementary or middle school. In some districts, teachers who have elementary certification, and a mathematics major or minor, eventually move into leadership positions such as elementary mathematics curriculum specialist. In order to earn elementary teacher certification, your program must include the three-course mathematics content and methods sequence: MS 260, MS 261, and MS 271, in addition to the specific mathematics courses required for the math major or minor. To be certified with a mathematics major or minor, you also need to pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification in Elementary Mathematics.
Back to Aquinas College Mathematics Education Page
Page maintained by Kathy Burgis: burgikat@aquinas.edu.
[Revised: January 15, 2002]