The Secondary Education in Mathematics major at Penn State Behrend prepares students for careers as mathematics teachers from seventh through twelfth grade by providing both a strong foundation in mathematical content and experience in the classroom. The program emphasizes content knowledge, problem solving, curriculum development, lesson and unit planning, the use of technology, and the evaluation of student knowledge.
The program stresses the teaching philosophies of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), knowledge students then put into practice in teaching experiences supervised by highly qualified teachers. This four-year degree is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and graduates meet all academic requirements for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Instructional I certificate.
Why Penn State Behrend?
The program focuses on providing students with numerous diverse experiences related to the cultural, historical, and scientific evolution of mathematics, while teaching them to use their knowledge flexibly in authentic situations.
The major is one of the most content-driven mathematics education programs in the region. The program is designed so that students can easily double major in mathematics, giving its graduates added flexibility and expertise in mathematics.
Students get real-world classroom experience working with real middle and high school students under the supervision of highly qualified, experienced teachers through Student Teaching experience. Students will use and compare different instructional and assessment techniques and develop the skills to grow continually as professional educators.
Faculty typically have doctorates or significant experience in the mathematics and education fields. Among the Penn State Behrend mathematics faculty members are authors of some of America’s best-selling college-level math textbooks.
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