Program Overview

Elementary Mathematics Specialist Graduate Certificate

The Elementary Mathematics Specialist Graduate Certificate is a two-year, online/campus-based, cohort program that provides content preparation, school-based internship, and leadership courses leading to Missouri's add-on Elementary Mathematics Specialist certification.

Program Overview

The program is designed to address the demand for highly-trained mathematics teachers who can act as administrators and supervisors of mathematics programs, mathematics coaches, and teachers of mathematics at the elementary level. It offers in-depth study of grade-appropriate mathematics as specified in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (2010), supervised application of pedagogy, and leadership training.

Program Structure

The program is primarily online, with a few face-to-face meetings and school-based internships (4 credits). It includes:

• Five integrated mathematics content/pedagogy courses, four of which have an internship
• Two leadership development courses The program is designed for full-time classroom teachers, and courses are offered over a 2-year cycle.

Course Content

The course content in each of the mathematics content courses aligns with the content in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM, 2010) and the recommendations in the Mathematical Education of Teachers (MET) books (Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences CBMS). The seminar and internship courses help teachers take the new mathematics content and use it appropriately in their elementary classrooms. The leadership courses provide instruction specific to the coaching of teachers in mathematics pedagogy and sharing mathematics issues with school and district stakeholders.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must be admitted to the Graduate School and must submit all transcripts. A GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is required. International students are required to document English proficiency by providing scores from an internationally accepted standardized examination before a decision is made on admission.

Eligibility Requirements

• Current elementary teachers, preferably with at least 1 year of classroom teaching experience
• Cumulative College GPA minimum 2.75
• Commitment to completing the requirements of the program in the 2-year period

Certificate Requirements

The program requires a plan of study, which includes the completion of 24 credit hours. Non-Missouri residents are responsible for reviewing the state authorizations page to see if this program is offered in their state throughout their program and to review the licensure or certification requirements for the state in which they reside.

Deadline to Apply

The deadline to apply for the Fall semester is July 1.

Accreditation

The College of Education programs are accredited by CACREP, Counseling; NASP, School Psychology; and AAQEP Teacher Education.