Teaching: Mathematics

MAT Program Requirements

The degree program consists of 45 credits, distributed among the areas listed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is three credits. All degree requirements must be completed within five (5) years from the semester date of admission as a matriculated student. 

Mathematics Content Courses - 15 credits

Course selection will be determined by the student and advisor. Students who have academic deficiencies in Mathematics will be required to include courses that specifically address these deficiencies. These courses will be part of the 12 credits selected to satisfy this requirement. If additional deficiencies exist, those credits required to meet these mandates will be over and above those requirements for the degree.

• MAE 501 Foundations of the Secondary School Mathematics Curriculum
• MAT 511 Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics (may be replaced by a different graduate mathematics course with approval of program director)

Plus nine additional credits selected from the following:

• AMS 504 Foundations of Applied Mathematics AMS 507 Introduction to Probability
• AMS 507 Introduction to Probability
• AMS 572 Data Analysis I MAT 512 Algebra for Teachers
• MAT 513 Analysis for Teachers I MAT 514 Analysis for Teachers II MAT 515 Geometry for Teachers
• MAT 514 Analysis for Teachers II
• MAT 515 Geometry for Teachers
• MAT 516 Probability & Statistics for Teachers
• MAT 530 Topology/Geometry I
• MAT 534 Algebra I
• MAT 542 Complex Analysis I MAT 544 Analysis
• MAT 544 Analysis
• MAT 550 Real Analysis I
• MAT 599 Masters Level Independent Study 

Professional Studies in Education - 24 credits

• CEE 505 Education: Theory and Practice
• CEE 565 Human Development
• CEE 594 Language Acquisition and Literacy Development
• CEF 547 Principles and Practices of Special Education
• MAE 510 Introduction to Methods of Teaching & Learning Standards (co- or prerequisite: MAE 501)
• MAE 520 Advanced Methods of Teaching Secondary School Mathematics (prerequisites: MAE 501 and MAE 510)
• MAE 530 Directed Readings in Mathematics Education (1 credit course; prerequisites: MAE 510; co- requisite: MAE 540 MAE 520 is a pre OR co-requisite for MAE 530. )
• MAE 540 Clinical Experience (2 credits; prerequisites: MAE 510 co-requisite: MAE 530 MAE 520 is a pre OR co-requisite for MAE 540.)
• MAE 554 Student Teaching Seminar (co-requisites MAE 551 & MAE 552; prerequisites: ALL other program courses.)

At the program director’s discretion, an undergraduate course from a registered and approved program may be approved as a substitution for any of the courses listed below. In all cases the undergraduate course must have been completed with a B or higher and the student must then take a different graduate content or pedagogy course to fulfill the graduate credits required for the graduate degree.

• CEE 505 Education: Theory and Practice
• CEF 547 Principles and Practices of Special Education
• CEE 594 OR LIN 544: Language Acquisition and Literacy Development
• CEE 565 OR PSY 595: Human Development

Speak to your graduate program director for more information and approval. 

Supervised Student Teaching - 6 credits

• MAE 551 Supervised Student Teaching Middle School Grades 7 - 9: Mathematics (co-requisites MAE 552 & MAE 554; prerequisites CEE 505, CEE 565, CEE 594, CEE 547, MAE 501, MAE 510, MAE 520, MAE 530, MAE 540; satisfaction of all content requirements and permission of the Director of Mathematics Education)
• MAE 552 Supervised Student Teaching High School Grades 10 - 12: Mathematics (co-requisites MAE 551 & MAE 554; prerequisites CEE 505, CEE 565, CEE 594, CEE 547, MAE 501, MAE 510, MAE 520, MAE 530, MAE 540; satisfaction of all content requirements and permission of the Director of Mathematics Education)

MaT Mathematics Admissions

• Application essay.
• A bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or the equivalent (see below), with a minimum of 36 credits in Mathematics*, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0,  and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all Mathematics studies.
• One year of college-level study of a foreign language with a grade of “C” or better (this may include American Sign Language).
• Three letters of recommendation. Two of the three recommendations must be from mathematics faculty with whom you have completed a course of study at the college level. In those cases where the departmental admissions committee deems it desirable, personal interviews with departmental representatives may be necessary. 

*These 36 credits must include courses in single and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and at least two of the following four more advanced subjects: abstract and/or applied algebra; analysis or advanced calculus; geometry, including non-Euclidean geometry; probability and/or statistics. You must also have taken at least one mathematics course that significantly uses computers and/or graphing calculators.

 

A five-year bachelor’s/master’s program is available and offered in conjunction with the Mathematics Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Professional Development. Students are allowed to take up to 15 graduate credits that will count towards both their undergraduate and graduate requirements, reducing the total time for completion of the master’s degree. 

Applying to a Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Program

Students must apply and be admitted to a combined degree program. The minimum requirements to apply include completion of at least 60 credits of college coursework and a grade point average of 3.0 or higher as an undergraduate student. All applications require approval from the undergraduate department, the corresponding Graduate Program Director and the University Teacher Certification Officer.

BS/MAT Application 

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the undergraduate record.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 in mathematics.
• Completion of MAT 131 and MAT 132 or equivalent, MAT 211 or AMS 210, and MAT 200 with a 3.0, and with no grade below C.
• Completion of MAT 203 and at least one 300-level mathematics course are recommended.

In exceptional cases, students who do not meet the 3.0 mathematics GPA requirement will be considered for admission.

Undergraduate Course Requirements

Students complete all requirements for the regular undergraduate mathematics major with the following adjustments:

Completion of, or exemption from, the following courses:

• MAT 200, Language, Logic and Proof
• MAT 312 Applied Algebra OR MAT 313 Abstract Algebra
• MAT 319 Foundations of Analysis OR MAT 320 Introduction to Analysis
• MAT 336 History of Mathematics
• MAT 360 Geometric Structures or MAT 364 Topology and Geometry
• AMS 310 Probability and Statistics
• MAT 342 With permission of Mathematics Education Program Director or of Undergraduate Mathematics Program Director, this may be replaced by one of MAT 322, MAT 324, or MAT 341.

Graduate Course Requirements

• MAE 501 Foundations of the Secondary Mathematics Curriculum
• MAT 517 Calculators and Computers for Teachers
• Six additional credits of approved 500-level mathematics coursework. Courses are usually chosen from among MAT 512, MAT 513, MAT 514, MAT 515, and MAT 516.

Mathematics courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher in each course.

Professional Education Requirements

• PSY 327 or CEE 565 (previously PSY 595) Human Development
• CEF 347 or CEF 547 Principals and Practices of Special Education
• CEE 505 Education: Theory and Practice
• CEE 594 Language Acquisition and Literacy Development
  
  Note: Only two of the teacher education core courses listed above must be at the graduate level; the remaining two can be taken at the undergraduate level.
  
  
  
  
• MAE 510 Introduction to Methods of Teaching and Learning Standards
• MAE 520 Advanced Methods of Teaching Secondary School Mathematics
• MAE 530 Directed Readings in Mathematics Education
• MAE 540 Clinical Experience
• MAE 551 Supervised Student Teaching Middle School Grades 7-9: Mathematics
• MAE 552 Supervised Student Teaching High School Grades 10-12: Mathematics
• MAE 554 Student Teaching Seminar

Undergraduate professional education requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher in each course. Graduate professional education requirements must be completed with a grade of B or higher in each course.

Note: To be eligible to student teach, students must have:

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Exceptions are at the discretion of the program director.
• A grade of C or higher in each course required for the mathematics major. Students are encouraged to complete a one-year sequence that uses mathematics in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering science, or economics.

Workshops

Teacher preparation candidates must be fingerprinted and must also complete certification workshops in:

• Child Abuse
• Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
• School Violence (Project Save)
• Identification and Referral of Substance Abuse

See Certification and Licensing Workshops for details and schedules.

Tests

All certification candidates will have to complete the Educating All Students Test and the revised CST (Content Specialty Test) in the area of the Certificate.

It is the student’s responsibility to monitor the TEACH website at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/ to ensure that he or she is taking the appropriate examinations. All certification candidates are required to complete and submit the edTPA (Education-Teacher Performance Assessment - Portfolio) in their content field. Please check with your program director or field coordinator for details.

Matriculation into the Graduate Career

When an accelerated student has completed a minimum of 105 undergraduate credits, has taken the maximum allotted number of graduate credits (8 - BA/MA-TESOL; 15 – combined teacher prep programs) as an undergraduate student, and has less than a full-time (12 credits) undergraduate course load needed to complete their Bachelor’s degree requirements, they should matriculate into their Graduate career. Matriculation requires submission of the “SPD Change of Status” form. Students should consult with both their Undergraduate Program Director and their Graduate Program Director for advising and guidance on matriculation.

Graduation from the Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Program and Teacher Certification

Students enrolled in one of Stony Brook University’s combined teacher preparation programs will be eligible for graduation from both the BA or BS and MA or MAT degree at the same time. This includes completion of all degree requirements including completion of all certification workshops (Child Abuse, School Violence, Substance Abuse and DASA).

In addition, students must be awarded both their undergraduate and graduate degree programs in order to be eligible to receive an institutional recommendation on their NYSED TEACH account by the University Certification Officer and upon receipt of their FERPA release forms.

All candidates must apply for their teaching license via their NYSED TEACH account and pass all the required NYS exams and complete the fingerprinting process in order for NYSED to issue their license. Degrees with distinction is awarded at the undergraduate level only. Undergraduate coursework taken during the graduate career will calculate into the undergraduate GPA to determine distinction for Combined Degree Program students.

As per Graduate School policy, undergraduate courses DO NOT count towards graduate degree requirements. Also, per university policy, a student must spend at least one year in residency for the master’s portion of the program. Additionally, state regulation requires that students must earn a minimum of 30 graduate credits for the master’s portion of the program.

Glossary

Combined Degree — Students will be awarded both their undergraduate and graduate degrees concurrently upon successful completion of both programs. Students will only be recommended for their initial/professional teaching license after both their degrees have been awarded and student has submitted their FERPA release forms and processing fee to the University Certification Office. This includes all five-year teacher preparation programs including the BA/BS MAT programs with the School of Professional Development and the BA/MA in English, History and TESOL with the Graduate School.

Accelerated Degree - Students will be awarded their undergraduate degree upon successful completion of their undergraduate degree requirements. Stony Brook University does not currently offer accelerated degree programs that lead to teacher certification.

Student Teaching

• Seventy-five days of student teaching are required. Depending on the semester and public school vacation schedules, student teaching may extend beyond the university semester calendar.
• Student teaching is divided into two placements of approximately equal duration, one in a middle school/junior high school and the other in a high school.

Prior to admission to student teaching, candidates will be interviewed by a committee to assess their ability to speak extemporaneously about both biology concepts and pedagogical issues.

Candidates who are not successful in this interview will be counseled in order to remedy deficiencies. Upon completion of the remediation another interview will be held. In the event that a candidate is unable to satisfy the interview component, the candidate will not advance to student teaching.

Additional Requirements for Certification

In addition to the stated course and program requirements listed in this section, New York State also has workshop, fingerprinting and other requirements for certification, which can be found on the SPD website.

Workshops and Fingerprinting

To be certified in New York State, candidates must take a selection of workshops  and must be fingerprinted. For descriptions and registration links, visit Certification and Licensing Workshops.

Language Requirement

New York State certification requires at least one year (6 credits) of college-level study of a foreign language. Satisfaction of SBU’s SBC LANG fulfills the foreign language requirement.