The 36-hour fully online Mathematics Education Master's and Certificate Degree Program supports high school teachers to improve their mathematics content and pedagogy. The Masters in Education program with Concentration in Mathematics Education (Math Ed) at Radford University is a cooperative program housed in the College of Education and Human Development. Unique in its scope and nature, the prog
ram is delivered in close partnership with the College of Science and Technology, and is designed to meet the needs of secondary mathematics teachers in Virginia. We are the largest graduate level program for secondary mathematics teachers in the state of Virginia, enrolling an average of 20+ mathematics teachers per year, with an approximate retention rate of 84% and graduation rate of 82%. The program consists of thirty six-hours of fully online synchronous and asynchronous courses focused on developing deep mathematical content knowledge and teaching/reinforcing the skills required to teach it at the secondary level. Needs identified by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), as well as feedback from school divisions, have determined the direction for the program’s evolution over the years. In addition, multi-institutional collaboration teams consisting of K-12 educators, mathematics leaders, mathematicians, mathematics and science educators, as well as practicing engineers and scientists help to design, re-design, and improve the program. The current program consists of eighteen hours of mathematics content designed to develop teachers’ deep conceptual understanding of mathematics and improve their knowledge of mathematics applications in STEM fields. The remaining eighteen hours of coursework focuses on enhancing teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge and leadership skills, and engaging teachers in data-driven action research to document the success of classroom and school-based initiatives. Participants also learn strategies that are effective in meeting the needs of diverse learners, improving student outcomes, and lowering achievement gaps. In addition, teachers are given opportunities to utilize cutting edge educational technologies that are appropriate for secondary mathematics classrooms. Upon completion of our program, graduates are prepared to teach dual enrollment courses or undergraduate mathematics courses at community colleges or universities.
