Mathematics Education

As a BYU undergrad, you will have access to top-notch facilities and equipment. Not only is our gear great, but our staff and faculty are as well. Professors and TAs will be available every step of the way to help guide you on your quest to become a math ed expert. In fact, BYU is one of the only universities that views Mathematics Education as its own department. This means that we have more professors available to give you individualized attention than other universities.

The relationships you build here through mentored teaching and unsurpassed undergrad research are valuable resources that will be helpful throughout your life. At BYU, you’ll approach mathematical science in a way that is both spiritually strengthening and intellectually enlarging. You’ll address real scientific questions in the light of the Gospel.

For more information on required classes for these majors and minors, please see the current undergraduate catalog. You can declare one of these majors or minors by visiting the Advisement Center.

Undergraduate research makes classroom learning come alive and can help propel you into a professional career. You will have the opportunity to put your book knowledge into practice by participating in student teaching real students in local schools. You will gain valuable experience and learn technical and research skills that will prepare you for careers and higher education.

BYU is a pioneer in this area—one of the few universities that allows undergrad students to work side by side with professors on their research projects. This means that even though you may be fresh out of high school, you could find yourself assisting professors and grad students in valuable projects with real-life applications. Some students are even paid during their mentorships.

Undergraduate students can do research in four areas. Specific projects within these areas include incorporating reading into learning math, helping students to overcome obstacles by taking risks, and researching student teaching techniques that can raise the level of understanding in the classroom.

 • Advanced Mathematical Thinking

Students research how to teach mathematics from calculus onward. This includes higher level calculus classes, linear algebra, abstract algebra, complex and real analysis, differential equations, and many other areas of mathematics.

• Quantitative Methods

Students develop and use models and hypotheses to discover relationships among various educational measures. Students who participate in this type of research will learn about reliable and valid measuring methods, choosing the correct statistical models and test, and proper interpretation of results.

• Student Teaching Methods

Students research how to teach. Information on student teaching experiences help students to become better mathematics teachers.

• Task-based Learning

Students research how performing math based tasks helps students learn math. Task-Based Learning helps shed light on what makes a good task, how students can be supported as they work on it, and what the results are in terms of student learning.

With an undergraduate degree in mathematics education you could earn:

*Industry-wide estimate from: payscale.com/best-colleges/degrees.asp

BYU’s bachelor of science degree program in math education is designed to prepare a student to teach math in middle, junior high, and high school classrooms. In addition, this program provides a strong preparation for advanced study in mathematics education. The master’s degree, for example, could lead to higher salaries in public schools, to community college teaching, or to a doctorate in mathematics education. Other opportunities could include working for publishing companies that produce text materials for schools, teaching in private schools, or taking on leadership positions within public school districts.