Graduate Certificate in Elementary Mathematics

Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Instructional Technology

The Graduate Certificate in Elementary Mathematics Education is a fully online, practitioner-oriented program designed to sharpen instructional expertise, develop teaching practice, deepen mathematics knowledge, and promote leadership in mathematics education. Successful completion of the six certificate courses leads to add-on mathematics licensure at the elementary level. The six courses are a subset of the Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Mathematics Education and can be added to six additional classes to earn the MAEd (Elementary Concentration). 

Convenience, Community, and Excellence

The certificate program is recognized nationally for its excellence. The blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction in each course offers the best of both worlds – the convenience of online with the community of being face-to-face! The totally distance education nature of the program allows it to be taken by students almost anywhere and most participants are part-time students who are full-time teachers. The bi-weekly evening synchronous sessions offer opportunities for connecting with instructors and colleagues regularly in whole and small group discussions. 

Program Planning

The program of study consists of 18 semester hours:

MATE 6058 Number Systems & Operations: K–5 Mathematical Tasks. Prerequisite: Teacher licensure. Analysis and construction of effective mathematical tasks in teaching number systems and operations at the K-5 level; attention also given to the expansion of content knowledge.

MATE 6059 Rational Numbers & Operations: K–5 Learning Trajectories. Prerequisite: MATE 6058. Focus on rational number concepts through learning trajectories at the K-5 level; attention also given to problem solving and content knowledge.

MATE 6060 Data Analysis & Measurement: K–5 Classroom Interactions. Prerequisite: MATE 6058. Focus on statistical literacy of elementary teachers and the teaching of data analysis and measurement to K-5 students; attention also given to learning methods which facilitate appropriate classroom interactions.

MATE 6061 Algebraic Reasoning: K–5 Discourse & Questioning. Prerequisite: MATE 6058. Focus on the early algebra concepts of functional thinking and generalized arithmetic in relationship to pedagogical practices centered on questioning in the mathematics classroom.

MATE 6062 Geometry & Spatial Visualization: K–5 Assessment. Prerequisite: MATE 6058. Geometric concept development along with formative and summative assessment strategies of students’ geometric thinking; attention also given to geometric content knowledge and diagnosis of student errors.

MATE 6063 Mathematical Modeling: K-5 Leadership. P: MATE 6058, MATE 6059, MATE 6060, MATE 6061, MATE 6062. Generating mathematical representations and making explicit connections between concepts. Pedagogy designed to equip elementary teachers to become mathematics teacher-leaders in school settings; attention also given to topics integrated within mathematical strands.