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Doctorate

Mathematics Education

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  4. Mathematics Education

Overview

The primary mission of the Ph.D. program in Mathematics Education at Illinois State University is to prepare individuals for careers as college or university professors in Schools of Education or in Departments of Mathematics where the primary responsibilities will be to conduct and direct basic research on the teaching and learning of school mathematics and to teach courses to prospective and in-service mathematics teachers. Graduates will also be qualified to assume positions as mathematics curriculum consultants in school districts, researchers in educational laboratories, or staff members in educational publishing companies.

The Ph.D. program is designed to produce individuals who have the knowledge, competencies, and skills which enable them to

  • conduct, direct, and evaluate research related to the teaching and learning of school mathematics,
  • educate prospective and in-service teachers on the principles of teaching and learning mathematics, and
  • develop and evaluate mathematics curricula.

Students in the program will acquire these skills through
(1) a combination of coursework in mathematics education, mathematics, and a cognate area;
(2) the completion of a professional project;
(3) the acquisition of research tool skills;
(4) the completion of a dissertation; and
(5) the demonstration of competence in teaching prospective or practicing mathematics teachers.

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Point of Pride

The Department of Mathematics is one of Top 5 largest producers of Mathematics Education Ph.D. degrees in the nation. Graduates will also be qualified to assume positions as mathematics curriculum consultants in school districts, researchers in educational laboratories, or staff members in educational publishing companies. See where our graduates are working.

Graduate Advisor

Dr. Craig Cullen
(309) 438-7867
Stevenson 331C

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How to Apply

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to this program must:

  • Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
  • Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
  • If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
  • If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

GPA

You must have a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a master’s program.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Application Materials

A student applying to this program must:

  • Submit a current resume
  • Submit an academic writing sample that demonstrates your ability to analyze or synthesize literature relevant to mathematics education
    1. (e.g., a course paper, published article, conference paper)
  • Submit three letters of recommendation
    1. At least one of these letters should come from a university faculty member who can comment on your academic work and potential as a PhD student.
  • Read the Overview of the PhD program and the review the Mathematics Education research groups at ISU. Upload an essay that addresses the following topics:
    1. Goals – What are your professional and academic goals? And how will the Mathematics Education PhD program at ISU prepare you to reach those goals?
      Teaching – Our program focuses on preparing you to teach future mathematics educators. With this in mind, we expect that you will have prior mathematics teaching experience at the PreK-12 level. Briefly tell us about a prior teaching experience at this level that will help us get to know you as a teacher.
      Research – Although you do not need to pre-select a research group to work with, your work in the PhD program will require you to engage in mathematics education research. Explain how your potential research interests would align with at least one of the research groups existing in our department.

English Proficiency

Non-Native English-Speaking Countries

If your country of origin is a non-native English-speaking country, you must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo English scores that you’ve taken within the past two years.

We require the following minimum scores:

  • TOEFL internet-based (iBT): 100
  • TOEFL Essentials: 10
  • IELTS overall band score: 7.5
  • Duolingo: 130

Please visit https://illinoisstate.edu/academics/mathematics-education-doctorate/ for assistantship minimum requirements.

English Proficiency for Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The State of Illinois requires non-native English speaking teaching assistants to show proof of English Proficiency. The minimum criteria for English proficiency are:

  • TOEFL iBT minimum speaking score of 26
  • TOEFL Essentials minimum speaking score of 9
  • IELTS score of 8.0 overall
  • Duolingo English Test minimum Conversation score of 140

Optional GRE

The GRE is optional for admission to the PhD program in mathematics education. Our typically admitted students’ GRE scores are around the 50% percentile for the verbal and quantitative sections and a 3 – 4.5 for the writing section.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall (August) Term — June 15
  • Spring (January) Term — October 1
  • Summer (May/June) Term — April 1

Apply Now

Graduate Assistantships

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,

  • be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
  • be in good-standing
  • be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).

Benefits

Graduate assistants receive

  • monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
  • a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
  • a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment

Costs & Funding

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.

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