B.S. in Mathematics Education

Graduation Requirements for the Degree

College of Arts and Sciences

The following courses required:

Introduction to the application of program development concepts and tools. Use of such tools as pseudo-code and flowcharting to produce top-down structured solutions to business and scientific applications. Emphasis given to basic logic, program documentation and debugging. Lab fee required.

Topics include the history, evolution, structure and management of the Internet; the influence of the Internet on society; locating and synthesizing information online; Hypertext Markup Language; and building web pages. Lab fee required.

Advanced topics in word processing, spreadsheets, databases, electronic presentations, the Internet and the integration of the above, using the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office. Prerequisite: CPSC 1103. Lab fee required.

This course presents the teacher candidate with an overview of the education major and the teaching profession. Topics discussed include characteristics of the current teaching profession, the role of the teacher within the school, requirements for admission into the SWU Teacher Education Program, the Praxis test requirements, developing an e-portfolio and the process of teacher certification in South Carolina. Candidates will also become familiar with the SWU Teacher Education Handbook. This course is a prerequisite for all other education courses. Required of all teacher candidates.

Sociological and philosophical foundations of Western education. Included will be a study of the crucial issues found in our present schools. Required of all teacher candidates.

The purposes, parent-school-community relationships, curriculum, and activities of the secondary school. Studies in educational tests and measurement are also included. Included in this course will be 30 hours of field placement experience. Required of all secondary candidates. Sophomore status.

The history of educating exceptional children. An examination of the special problems and current laws confronted in dealing with the gifted, learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, physically handicapped and ELL child will be covered. Also included will be the development of an IEP. This class will include a 30 hour Service Learning requirement as partial fulfillment of requirements of the EEDA. Prerequisite: Acceptance into Lock 1, GPA 2.5. Required of all teacher candidates except physical education. This course is a prerequisite for all other Special Education courses.

Methods of improving knowledge and skills in the secondary content areas by implementing strategies that use and develop language literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening). Included in this course will be 36 hours of field placement experience. Required of all secondary and P-12 teacher candidates. Prerequisite: Acceptance into Lock 1, GPA 2.5.

Classroom management techniques with particular emphasis on creating a democratic classroom in consideration of current law. Management application models are discussed in the context of classroom environments. Prerequisite: Enrollment in EDUC 450, Pre-Clinical Field Experience with placement in a cooperating school as arranged by the Director of Field Placements; Acceptance into Lock 1, GPA 2.5.

Instructional technology techniques that will enhance the instructional experience for both the instructor and the learner. Topics include designing and planning technology enhanced instruction, the digital technologies, administrative and academic software, audiovisual technologies and ethical issues involved in using technology. Prerequisite: Acceptance into Lock 1, GPA 2.5. May meet general education computer science requirement.

Methods, techniques, and procedures of presentation of mathematics in the classroom. Special attention to the laboratory approach, games, the discovery-inquiry approach, number theory and systems and individualized approach. Required of all secondary math education teacher candidates. Offered at departmental discretion. Prerequisite: Acceptance into Lock 1, GPA 2.5.

The last school practicum experience prior to the clinical experience. Candidates are assigned to two preclinical experiences at two different levels. One-half of the candidate’s time is spent in each academic setting. The candidates prepare lesson plans and teach mini-lessons. All candidates must receive favorable evaluations by the supervising teachers, as well as credit for the course, to proceed to Clinical Experience I. The teacher candidate must provide evidence that Praxis II: Subject Assessment Tests and Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Test have either been attempted or passed during this course. Required of all education candidates in all programs the semester before Clinical Experience. Prerequisites: Full admission to Teacher Education, GPA of at least 2.5, competency in computer, math, oral communication, reading and writing skills.

An integrated course in observation, participation, conferencing and actual teaching; class management and modern methods of teaching; and planning, instruction, supervised study, uses of standard tests and individual instruction. Candidates are generally assigned to one of their pre-clinical experience supervising teachers. Students are responsible for their own transportation. Required of all education candidates in all programs. The teacher candidate must achieve minimum scores on the Praxis II: Subject Assessment Tests and the Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Test before the conclusion of the semester in which EDUC 4628 and EDUC 4638 are scheduled to be recommended for teacher certification. Prerequisite: EDUC 4502, completion of all coursework and Lock II Assessment criteria.

A continuation of EDUC 4628. Students are responsible for their own transportation. Required of all education candidates in all programs. The teacher candidate must achieve minimum scores on the Praxis II: Subject Assessment Tests and the Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Test before the conclusion of the semester in which EDUC 4628 and EDUC 4638 are scheduled to be recommended for teacher certification. Prerequisite: EDUC 4628.

Topics in logic and proof, set theory, functions and matrices, algorithms and recursion, graph theory and trees, number theory, counting and probability, and finite differences, with application to the formulation and solution of real world problems. Prerequisite: level of math proficiency as determined by math SAT/ACT scores; satisfactory completion of MATH 1023/4, MATH 1053, or MATH 1033; or permission of instructor.

A three-semester study of calculus with the goal of enabling the student to understand and become skilled in the use and application of the following mathematical concepts: analytical geometry and trigonometry, limits, differentiation and integration of real valued singled and multiple variables, functions and vectors. Concepts of calculus and mathematical modeling will be used to represent and solve real world-problems. Prerequisite: level of math proficiency as determined by math SAT/ACT scores; satisfactory completion of MATH 1023/4, MATH 1053, or MATH 1033; or permission of instructor; 2504 is prerequisite to 2514; 2514 to 3524.

A three-semester study of calculus with the goal of enabling the student to understand and become skilled in the use and application of the following mathematical concepts: analytical geometry and trigonometry, limits, differentiation and integration of real valued singled and multiple variables, functions and vectors. Concepts of calculus and mathematical modeling will be used to represent and solve real world-problems. Prerequisite: level of math proficiency as determined by math SAT/ACT scores; satisfactory completion of MATH 1023/4, MATH 1053, or MATH 1033; or permission of instructor; 2504 is prerequisite to 2514; 2514 to 3524.

Introduction to Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry, based on an axiomatic treatment of Euclid's postulates. Spatial visualization and geometric modeling will be used to explore and analyze geometric shapes, structures and their properties, including the application and use of symmetry, similarity, and congruence analyze mathematical situations. Prerequisite: level of proficiency as determined by math SAT/ACT scores; satisfactory completion of MATH 1023/4, MATH 1053, or MATH 1033; or permission of instructor.

A three-semester study of calculus with the goal of enabling the student to understand and become skilled in the use and application of the following mathematical concepts: analytical geometry and trigonometry, limits, differentiation and integration of real valued singled and multiple variables, functions, and vectors. Concepts of calculus and mathematical modeling will be used to represent and solve real world-problems. Prerequisite: level of math proficiency as determined by math SAT/ACT scores; satisfactory completion of MATH 1023/4, MATH 1053, or MATH 1033; or permission of instructor; 2504 is prerequisite to 2514; 2514 to 3524.

Introduction to the algebra of matrices, vector spaces, polynomials, and linear transformations. Includes analysis of patterns, relations and functions of one and two variables; systems of linear equations; matrix operations involving additions, multiplication and inverses; and determinants. Prerequisite: MATH 2514 or consent of instructor.

Introduction to the fundamental structures of modern abstract algebra (groups, rings, and fields). Emphasizes analysis of patterns, relations and functions of one and two variables; application of the major concepts of abstract algebra to justify algebraic operations and formally analyze algebraic structures; and use of mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships. Prerequisite: Math 3524, Math 2153, and permission of instructor.

Elementary descriptive and inferential statistics. The course will include an understanding of concepts and practices related to basic data analysis, probability and statistics, including parametric statistical tests. An accounting and business orientation is used to illustrate data analysis and interpretation of experimental results. Computer programs will be used in the course.

A general survey of the science of human behavior, designed to acquaint the student with principles of human development, learning, behavior, and with the experimental methods of psychology.

A study of development from childhood to adulthood. Physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth patterns will be considered. Practical applications of theory and research will be made, as this course seeks to prepare people to work with adolescents. Offered every spring semester. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.