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Bachelor of Mathematics Education

The Bachelor of Mathematics Education course is directed towards providing pre-service educational training for teachers. The degree focuses on developing secondary school teachers as critical reflective practitioners with a sound basis of practical teaching skills. In addition, this degree also develops mathematical concepts in a broad range of areas to provide a full Mathematics major in a specialisation of their choice that can be utilised in other community settings.

The degree is an innovative approach in providing students both the mathematical knowledge/training and the teaching/educational training in an integrated fashion

Students accepted into the program will study the following areas:

• Educational Foundation Studies

• Curriculum & Pedagogy

• Discipline Studies in Mathematics

• Teaching & Learning in Mathematics

The degree is structured to allow the integration of university and classroom throughout the course. Degree delivery includes lectures, tutorials, seminars and school-based workshops using alternative modes of delivery.

From 2010 all new BMathEd students will study at Wollongong campus. Existing 2nd to 4th year students will remain at Loftus for 2010, before transferring to Wollongong in 2011.

Comparison with alternative

An alternative method of training to be a high school mathematics teacher is to complete the Bachelor of Mathematics degree (3 years) followed by a Graduate Diploma of Education (1 year). The possible disadvantage of this method is that although the BMath degree allows students to take one third of subjects from another discipline, they may not be able to take Education subjects as part of the BMath as these have quota restrictions and first preference is given to students enrolled in education degrees. This means that a student's teacher training may be concentrated solely in the DipEd year, and their practical teaching experience certainly will be.

The advantages of doing the BMath and GradDipEd are:

• the student completes a qualification in 3 years;

• students can complete subjects in other areas such as computer science, management, finance and science, if they wish. This may lead to more career options.

In summary, if you are sure that you want to be a teacher, the BMathEd is probably the better choice, but if you aren't certain that you want to be a teacher, the BMath + GradDipEd option provides more flexibility.

degree structure

Degree rules

Year 1 (all core, compulsory)
Education I
Mathematics 1A Part 1
Understanding Variation & Uncertainty
Discrete Mathematics
Introduction to Teaching & Learning (includes practicum component)
Mathematics 1A Part 2
Applied Math Modelling
Computer Science

Year 2 (all core, compulsory)
Education II
Learners with Special Needs
Differential Equations
Professional Maths Community I (includes practicum component)
Information Technology for Education
Multivariate and Vector Analysis
Math 100 level Elective (x2)

Year 3
Research Methods
Secure and Reliable Digital Communication
Linear Algebra
Professional Maths Community II (includes practicum component)
Understanding the Literacy needs of Adolescents
Complex & Group Theory
Maths/Stat 200 Level Elective (x2)

Year 4
Issues in Health & Physical Activity
Criticial Approaches to Curriculum
Professional Maths Community III (includes internship)
Math 300 Level Elective (x4)

outline of practice teaching

Year 1 - 10 days Secondary School
Year 2 - 15 days Secondary School
Year 3 - 15 days Secondary School
Year 4 - 25 days Secondary School (internship)

career opportunities/fields

• Schools (NSW Department of Education & Training, and Interstate)

• Private/Independent Schools – NSW and Interstate

• Industry

employers

• NSW Department of Education & Training

• Independent/Private Schools & Colleges

• Industry

estimated starting salary
Approximately $44,000

further study options

• Master of Education

• Master of Mathematics

• Doctoral Studies

contact

If you have questions, please contact

Dr Gordon Brown
Faculty of Education
phone: (02) 4221 3792
email: gordon_brown@uow.edu.au

or
Dr Annette Worthy
School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics
phone: (02) 4221 3838
email: annette_worthy@uow.edu.au