BS in Secondary Education

Mathematics Courses

• Calculus I (MATH 180)
• Calculus II (MATH 181)
• Calculus III (MATH 210)
• Introduction to Advanced Mathematics (MATH 215)
• Advanced Euclidean Geometry (MTHT 411)
• One of the two:
  • Applied Linear Algebra (MATH 310)
  • Linear Algebra I (MATH 320)
• Abstract Algebra (MTHT 435 or MATH 330)
• One of the two:
  • Applied Statistics (STAT 381)
  • Introduction to Probability (STAT 401)
• One additional elective (Recommended: MATH 417, 425, 430, or 435)
• Writing for Mathematics (MATH 300)
• Mathematical Analysis for Teachers I (MTHT 430)

Students must demonstrate excellence in mathematics by maintaining a 2.5/4.0 grade point average in appropriate courses. For further details on the above courses have a look at the course descriptions section below.

Professional Education Courses

• Education Policy Foundations (ED 200)
• The Educative Process (ED 210)
• Foundations of Middle and Secondary School Literacy (CIE 414)
• Survey of Characteristics of Learners with Disabilities (SPED 410)
• Instruction and Evaluation in Secondary Education (ED 330)
• Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics I (MTHT 400)
• Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics II (MTHT 401)
• One full semester of supervised student teaching:
  • Educational Practice with Seminar I/II (MTHT 438/439)

Teacher candidates do their supervised teaching in high schools throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. As part of the program, one full semester of supervised student teaching in a secondary school is required for certification. The candidate registers for MTHT 438 and 439 during that semester. For further information, see the Council on Teacher Education's Student Handbook and Secondary Student Teaching Handbook.

General Education Courses

General Education courses are determined by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) requirements for graduating - see LAS Information from the Undergraduate Catalog for details. Here are some suggestions:

Written Communication (6 hours)

• English Composition I (ENGL 160)
• English Composition II (ENGL 161)

Foreign Language (16 hours)

Humanities (9 hours)

English Literature 101, 103-113, Philosophy, Art, or Music (must include a Cultural Diversity course).

Social Sciences (9 hours)

American History, Geography, Political Science, General Psychology (must include a Cultural Diversity course).

Natural Science (13 hours)

1 biological and 2 physical sciences (physics, chemistry, geology, etc.).

For more information

Always consult your adviser when you have questions. In addition, consult your Undergraduate Catalog and the current UIC Schedule of Classes for more complete details regarding degree programs. For details regarding certification, consult your adviser for the latest information. Certification is subject to the most recent legislation and regulations (i.e., there is no 'grandfathering').

Course Descriptions for Mathematics Courses

MATH 180 Calculus I

Differentiation, curve sketching, maximum-minimum problems, related rates, mean-value theorem, antiderivative, Riemann integral, logarithm, and exponential functions.

MATH 181 Calculus II

Techniques of integration, arc length, solids of revolution, applications, polar coordinates, parametric equations, infinite sequences and series, power series.

MATH 210 Calculus III

Vectors in the plane and space, vector valued functions, functions of several variables, partial differentiation, maximum-minimum problems, double and triple integrals, applications, Green's theorem. Three hours of lecture-discussion and one hour of laboratory per week.

MATH 215 Introduction to Advanced Mathematics

Introduction to methods of proofs used in different fields in mathematics.

MATH 310 Applied Linear Algebra

Matrices, Gaussian elimination, vector spaces, LU-decomposition, orthogonality, Gram-Schmidt process, determinants, inner products, eigenvalue problems, applications to differential equations and Markov processes.

MATH 320 Linear Algebra I

Linear equations, Gaussian elimination, matrices, vector spaces, linear transformations, determinants, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors.

MTHT 435/MATH 330 Abstract Algebra

Sets, properties of integers, groups, rings, fields.

MATH 425 Linear Algebra II

Canonical forms of a linear transformation, inner product spaces, spectral theorem, principal axis theorem, quadratic forms, special topics such as linear programming.

MTHT 411 Advanced Euclidean Geometry

Axioms for Euclidean geometry are developed based upon reflections. Further concepts in Euclidean geometry that arise from these axioms are explored.

STAT 381 Applied Statistical Methods I

Introduction to probability, random variables, sampling distributions, estimation, confidence intervals, and tests of hypotheses on a post-calculus level. Includes SAS and SPSSX applications.

STAT 401 Introduction to Probability

Probability spaces, random variables and their distributions, conditional distribution and stochastic independence, special distributions, sampling distributions, limit theorems.

MATH 300 Writing for Mathematics

Fulfills Writing in the Discipline requirement.

MTHT 430 Mathematical Analysis for Teachers I

Basic properties of numbers, functions, graphs, limits, continuity, completeness of the system of real numbers.

MTHT 400 Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics I

To be taken in year prior to student teaching. Philosophies, issues, techniques, and styles of teaching high school mathematics. Implications of psychological models. Mathematics in the evolving curriculum. Preparation of lessons.

MTHT 401 Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics II

Philosophies, issues, techniques, and styles of teaching high school mathematics. Preparation of diverse lessons. Preclinical experiences.

MTHT 438 Educational Practice with Seminar I

Graduate credit only with approval of department. The first half of a two-segment sequence of practice teaching, including seminar, to meet certification requirements for teaching in the secondary school.

MTHT 439 Educational Practice with Seminar II

Graduate credit only with approval of the department. The second half of a two-segment sequence of practice teaching, including seminar, to meet certification requirements for teaching in the secondary school.