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Study Mathematics Education at the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥

Share your passion for mathematics by helping others to learn and understand the language of numbers. The mathematics education program — a concentration of the bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences at UM — prepares you to teach math in grades 5 through 12 in Montana, and includes the education, psychology, teaching methods, and field experiences you’ll need for teacher certification.

This hands-on program offers excellent opportunities for real-world learning and undergraduate research. As math teachers continue to adapt to the growing complexity of mathematics pedagogy, our math education degree is also designed to reflect the developing changes in the secondary school mathematics curriculum.

What can you do with a Math Education degree?

If you’re wondering how to become a math teacher, our math education major is a great place to start. Graduates in this concentration are certified to teach mathematics in grades 5-12 in the state of Montana. But teaching math isn’t your only option: This program is also great preparation for careers in research, business, and more.

Math education jobs

In addition to math teacher jobs in middle and high school classrooms, the bachelor’s in mathematics education will lay the groundwork for other careers such as:

• Mathematician
• Postsecondary math instructor
• Actuary
• Financial advisor
• Data analytics manager

Math teacher salaries

According to recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school teachers in Montana earn an average of $52,680 per year. Montana middle school teachers make $55,240 each year.

Experiential learning in the mathematical sciences degree

Math education majors work extensively in 5-12 classrooms — both as volunteers and as part of required field experiences such as student teaching. Each math education major spends more than 100 hours working in secondary classrooms before beginning student teaching. After thorough preparation, each student then spends one semester working full-time in a classroom as a student teacher.

Many of our mathematics Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ also help to organize large outreach events for middle and high school Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, like our annual Math Day, the regional , and the .

UM Earns A+ in Math Teacher Prep

In 2023, the National Council on Teacher Quality gave UM's College of Education an “A+” for preparing elementary school teachers in the field of mathematics.

Career development in the math education major

Start building your professional network and connecting with potential careers as you earn your bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a concentration in mathematics education.

Our Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ spend an extensive amount of time in secondary classrooms working with school-aged children and build connections with teachers. Many of our graduates report finding math teaching jobs through the field experiences and community engagement activities they engaged in as Ñý¼§Ö±²¥.

For our math education majors, our Math Learning Center is a great place to work as a tutor gaining experience working with Ñý¼§Ö±²¥. We also have a specialized mathematics computer lab, and a collaborative research space to discuss and work on undergraduate research projects. Learn more about mathematics facilities at UM. 

We also encourage you to take courses in applied math, statistics, or data science to develop computational skills and gain experience working with sophisticated mathematical software — all excellent skills for your resume.

Math scholarships

Get help paying for your math teaching degree. Each year the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UM awards approximately $20,000 to continuing undergraduate math majors. Learn more about scholarships and awards for math majors.

Math education degree requirements

The concentration in mathematics education includes a broad range of math courses, including number theory, geometry, statistics, mathematical structures, and the history of mathematics. Students also explore the use of technology as a learning and teaching tool in the mathematics classroom. Graduates in this concentration are certified to teach mathematics in grades 5-12 in the state of Montana.

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