NMSSI, MAT programs expand our impact on teachers nationwide

Math 807T Lincoln 2019
Math 807T Lincoln 2019

In Summer 2019, 161 distinct Nebraska teachers in math and science education took a course through the Nebraska Math and Science Summer Institutes or other NebraskaMATH programs, along with 17 additional graduate students from across the country. Together they accounted for 294 registrations in 19 math, science and pedagogy classes.

Our Math 805T course in July had three teachers from out of state attend in person, from New Jersey, Illinois and Wisconsin. It was a pleasure to welcome them to Nebraska, and to see that our courses are positively impacting not only Nebraska teachers, but also teachers outside our state.

We encourage you and your K-12 teachers colleagues to continue your graduate education with us with a goal of earning a master’s degree from the departments of Mathematics or Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education (TLTE).

This summer, courses were held in Grand Island, Gretna, Kearney, La Vista, Lincoln and Omaha, as well as online. If there is a particular course that you would like to have come to your area in Summer 2020, please let us and your ESU staff development officer know before December 2019. We are happy to bring courses to you or offer them online when and where there is sufficient demand.

If you have taken several courses and want to apply your credits toward a master’s degree from UNL, you should declare a major and formally apply to UNL Graduate Studies before you reach 18 credit hours (six courses). UNL requires 36 hours for the master’s degree which typically means 12 courses at the graduate level. Please contact us if you need additional information about the application process.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) offered by the Department of Mathematics has one option for high school teachers and one for middle-level teachers who earn a specialization in the teaching of middle-level mathematics. When pursuing the MAT degree, it is also possible to minor in teaching, learning, and teacher education. The Department of Mathematics requires a minimum of 7 of the 12 courses be math courses (here stat courses count as math courses). Many teachers also take several TEAC courses from teaching, learning and teacher education, especially if they want a minor from TLTE. All MATH courses that end in “T” count toward the MAT, as do many other math classes. Pedagogy courses offered by TLTE and listed in the NMSSI course catalog are outstanding options for math teachers. For more information, contact nebraskamath@unl.edu. There is a new graduate application being used now as well, called CollegeNet. The Department of Mathematics uses a rolling application process.

Most elementary teachers prefer the Master of Arts (MA) degree offered by UNL’s Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education. Teachers usually choose to pursue the MA’s Option II, which requires a minor (such as a minor in mathematics). TLTE requires that at least six of the 12 total courses are TEAC courses. If you choose to minor in mathematics, then MATH courses that end in “P” or “T” will count toward a minor in math. TLTE has two application deadlines, March 1 and Oct. 1. For more information: http://cehs.unl.edu/tlte/programs/masters-programs. You can also pursue an MA degree with a science emphasis or a new online M.Ed. degree that is designed for teachers: https://cehs.unl.edu/tlte/programs/online-med/

Feel free to contact Lindsay Augustyn at laugustyn2@unl.edu with any questions.