Scott Beslin, Ph.D.
Professor of Mathematics
Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Office: 108 Peltier Hall
Phone: 985-448-4384
Description
The program leading to the Master of Science degree in Community/Technical College Mathematics requires the completion of thirty-three semester hours in the fields of mathematics, education, computer science, and/or physical science. The primary focus of the program is the preparation of mathematics teachers for community and technical colleges state-wide and beyond. The curriculum will also strengthen secondary teachers’ mathematics content understanding as well. The program consists of a mathematics/teacher education core consistent with post-secondary mathematics education training, as well as elective content selected from mathematics, education, physical science, and computer science. The elements of the Master of Science degree serve to make prospective community college mathematics educators proficient in their content areas, and to enhance the professional development of secondary and post-secondary instructors.
Admission Requirements
In addition to all general requirements for admission to the university and to graduate studies, applicants must:
- have a bachelor’s degree (with mathematics training through differential equations, linear algebra, mathematical statistics, and a foundations course) from an accredited institution, AND
- have a minimum GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale, AND
- attain a combined (verbal and quantitative) GRE Revised General Test score of 300 (August 1, 2011, and thereafter), OR a combined GRE (verbal and quantitative) score of 1000 if the earlier GRE General Test version was taken before August 1, 2011, AND
- submit three letters of recommendation.
An applicant who has a bachelors degree and who has a minimum GPA of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale and who lacks exactly one of the admission requirements listed above may be admitted to pre-program status.
Once admitted to pre-program studies, a student may exit pre-program status by fulfilling the requirement [exactly one of (1) through (4) above] he or she lacked upon admission to pre-program. The missing requirement may be achieved by the following means. [Items (1) through (4) below correspond by number to item (1) through (4) listed above in Admission Requirements.]
The pre-program student must:
- Successfully complete courses in differential equations, linear algebra, mathematical statistics, and foundations. (These courses cannot be applied toward the MSCTCM degree.)
- Successfully complete courses in mathematics and the sciences until overall GPA or GPA on last 60 hours rises to 2.50. (Courses taken to fulfill this requirement cannot be applied toward the MSCTCM degree.) OR: Obtain approval for admission by a majority vote of the mathematics graduate faculty.
- Take the GRE during the semester of admission to pre-program, and meet the admission criterion.
- Submit three letters of recommendation during the semester of admission to pre-program.
- In cases of items (3) and (4), no more than twelve semester hours of graduate credit (with no course grade lower than B) may be applied toward the MSCTCM degree.
Graduate Course Work
Required Courses (18 hours)
- MATH 509 (3) Logic and Foundations of Mathematics for Teachers
(cornerstone course taken first semester) - MATH 510 (3) Number-theoretic and Discrete Structures
- MATH 523 (3) Geometric and Algebraic Structures
- MATH 584 (3) Technology and Communication in Mathematics Education
(capstone course normally taken in final semester) - MATH 578 or EDFR 501 (3) Research
- MATH 580 or EDCI 586 or EDCI 589 (3) Curriculum and Instruction
- Grade of “S” in MATH 595 (0) Master’s Comprehensive Examination
Elective Courses (15 hours)
Elective course work is selected from approved courses in mathematics, education, computer science, and/or physical science. At least nine hours of electives must be titled MATH.
The following are strongly recommended electives:
- MATH 511 (3) Calculus and Analytic Structures
- MATH 573 (3) Topics in the History of Mathematics
The following are recommended electives:
- MATH 512 (3) Probability and Statistics
- MATH 570 (3) Mathematics Modeling: An Experimental Approach for Teachers
Other approved electives include those in the following list. This list may not be comprehensive.
- Mathematics
- MATH: 405 (3), 461 (3), 530 (3), 540 (3), 557 (3), 558 (3), 589 (3), 590 (3);
- Computer Science
- CMPS: 406 (3), 410 (3), 418 (3);
- Physical Science
- PHSC: 473 (3), 474 (3);
- Education/Professional Development
- EDCI: 580 (3);
- EDFR: 503 (3), 513 (3);
- EDTL: 501 (3), 503 (3), 505 (3), 507 (3), 509 (3), 511 (3)
- MATH: 577 (by permission of Department).
Note: A concentration for teachers of mathematics is available. Interested persons should contact the department head.
Master’s Comprehensive Examination
During the final semester or session, candidates for the M.S. degree must take a comprehensive examination; an oral examination may also be required at the option of the student’s committee if the student’s performance on the written examination is less than satisfactory.
A candidate must be registered in the university for the semester or session in which the comprehensive examination is taken and must register for MATH 595.
A candidate who fails the examination may retake the examination at the next or a later regular administration of the examination. No special examination will be given. No candidate will be permitted a third examination.
Responsibility of Student
Graduate students are responsible for becoming fully acquainted with all regulations and requirements pertaining to them. Only regulations and requirements pertaining to graduate students are stipulated in this section of the Catalog, but general regulations and requirements pertaining to all students are to be found elsewhere in the Catalog. This Catalog is not to be interpreted as a contract between the university and the graduate student.
