Department
of Mathematics
818/677-2721;
http://www.csun.edu/math.html
TO: CSUN Undergraduate
Students Interested in Secondary Mathematics Teaching
FROM: Advisors for Mathematics Major in Secondary
Teaching
SUBJECT: The Mathematics Major, Secondary Teaching Option (Fall 2008 or later) &
Credential Academic
Requirements
See your advisor in
the Department of Mathematics as soon as possible to discuss your career
goals and the possible paths to achievement.
Your advisor will assist you during your time at Cal State Northridge. You must meet with your advisor at least
once each semester to discuss your schedule and to obtain clearance to
register for the next semester. To obtain a Single
Subject Credential to teach in a middle school, junior high or high school,
you must demonstrate competency and knowledge in mathematics. There are two ways to do this. One is to complete a State-approved
Academic Program of collegiate study in mathematics. The B.A. in Mathematics, Secondary Teaching
Option, contains all requirements of the Academic Program. If you complete the degree with certain
grade requirements you will not have to take an exam. This major is described below. Another way to
demonstrate mathematics competency is to earn passing scores on all three
sections of the Mathematics Examination of the CSET (California Subject
Examinations for Teachers) administered by the NES (National Evaluation
Services). Subject matter clearance
for a Foundational Mathematics Credential can be obtained by passing parts I
and II only. More information about
this possibility can be found on the CSET website:
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/. |
Section 1 – The
Mathematics Major, Secondary Teaching Option
Section 2 – Chart of
Prerequisites
Section 3 – Advisement
Notes
SECTION I
THE
MATHEMATICS MAJOR, SECONDARY TEACHING OPTION
REQUIRED LOWER DIVISION (CORE) COURSES IN
MAJOR (26-27 units)
REQUIRED UPPER DIVISION COURSES IN MAJOR
(32 units)
Math 320 Foundations of
Higher Mathematics
Math 341 Applied
Statistics I
Math 350 Advanced
Calculus I
Math 360 Abstract
Algebra I
Math 370 Foundations of
Geometry
Math 382/L Introduction
to Scientific Computing
Math 391 Field
Experience in the Mathematics of the Public Schools
Math 490 Capstone Course
Electives
(9 units of upper division math)
Recommended
electives include: Math 340, Math 441, Math 450, Math 460, Math 470, Math 462,
Math 463, Math 481A, Math 351, ASTR 301 (ASTR 301 also counts as an upper division G.E. in Section SE/NS).
REQUIRED MATH COURSES
CHART OF PREREQUISITES
SUGGESTED SEQUENCE
FALL SEMESTER |
SPRING SEMESTER |
Math 150A Comp 110 & 110L or 106 & 106L |
Math 150B Phil 230 |
Math 250 Phys 220A & AL |
Math 262 |
Math 320 Math 341 Math 382/L Math 391 |
Math elective Math 350
or 360 Math 370 |
Math 350 or
360 Math 490 (or elective) |
Math elective Math elective (or 490) |
REMINDER: To achieve subject
matter clearance for the Credential Program a GPA of 2.6 is necessary for all
courses in the major (excluding Physics 220B/BL) and no major course grade may
be lower than C. (Graduation
requirements are less strict: A GPA of 2.0 must be achieved in all upper
division major courses to graduate.)
Use this online calculator to compute your GPA: GPA Calculator.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF UPPER DIVISION CORE COURSES
(and selected electives)
MATH 320 FOUNDATIONS OF HIGHER MATHEMATICS
(3) Prerequisites: Math 150B and
corequisite Philosophy 230. This course
provides an introduction into to the language and methods of higher
mathematics. Sets, relations, functions,
and limits are introduced using the concepts of axioms, definitions,
propositions and proofs. Students are
expected to write mathematical proofs, and communicate mathematical ideas
clearly in written and oral form.
MATH 341 APPLIED STATISTICS I (3) Prerequisite:
Math 150B. Introduction to the practice of statistics, emphasizing the role of
probability. Includes basic probability, discrete and continuous probability
distributions, expectation and variance, sample surveys and experiments,
displaying and summarizing data, sampling distributions, central limit theorem,
inference for proportions, chi-square test, least squares regression.
MATH 350 ADVANCED CALCULUS I (3) Prerequisite:
Math 320. Topics include the real number system, continuous functions,
differentiation, and Riemann integration of functions of one real variable.
MATH 360 ABSTRACT ALGEBRA I (3) Prerequisite: Math
262 and 320. Survey course in abstract
algebra. Introduction to groups, rings, fields, vector spaces.
MATH 370 FOUNDATIONS OF GEOMETRY (3) Prerequisite
or Corequisite: Math 320. One of the goals of this course is to help students
write rigorous proofs of results of plane Euclidean geometry. It is also expected that students visualize and
develop geometric intuition through the use of dynamic geometry software. The
content includes history, axiomatic structure, and theorems of plane Euclidean
geometry, geometric transformations of the plane: rigid motions, similarities,
and inversion, coordinate geometry and an introduction to non-Euclidean
geometries.
MATH 382/L
INTRODUCTION TO SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING
and LAB (2/1) Corequisite: MATH 262. This course gives students an introduction
to basic numerical techniques and to programming using some of the common
software packages used in mathematics. Students apply these techniques in
projects from different branches of mathematics. [Note: This course does not
replace a rigorous course in Numerical Analysis.] Two hours lecture, two hours
lab.
MATH 441 APPLIED STATISTICS II (3) Prerequisite:
Math 341. Continuation of Math 341 with emphasis on statistical
inference. Includes design of surveys and experiments, the t-distribution, inference for means, correlation and regression
with transformations, inference for slope.
MATH 460 ABSTRACT ALGEBRA II (3) Prerequisite:
Math 360. Second course in
abstract algebra. Group theory, rings and modules, field extensions.
MATH 470 TOPICS IN GEOMETRY (3) Math 370 or Math 350. Non-Euclidean
geometries and/or advanced results in Euclidean geometry.
MATH 490 CAPSTONE COURSE (3) Prerequisite: Senior
standing. A course where prospective
teachers see high school mathematics from an advanced perspective. Considerably more emphasis is placed on
issues of pedagogy than in other content courses and students see connections
between the mathematics they are learning in college and some of the activities
they will be engaged in as teachers.
MATH 391 FIELD EXPERIENCE IN THE MATHEMATICS OF
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (2) Prerequisites:
Math 150A and 150B. A field
experience course designed to give the prospective teacher an appreciation of a
quality mathematics program in a public school. Requirements include 45 hours of
observation/participation in a local school, group meetings at CSUN, and
writing assignments. See the Math
Department secretary for details.
ELECTIVES Three upper division courses (minimum 9
units) in mathematics (may include one upper division mathematics-intensive
course from another department), selected with approval of an advisor. Approved courses include: Math 340, Math 441,
Math 450, Math 460, Math 470, Math 463, Math 462, Math 481A, Math 351, ASTR 301
(ASTR 301 also counts as an upper division G.E. in Section NS/SE). See your
advisor to discuss additional possibilities.
SECTION III - ADVISEMENT NOTES
PLANNING YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
1. There are many requirements for graduation:
a) Completion of general
education
b) Completion
of the major
c) GPA of
2.0 or higher in all course work, in all work at CSUN, in all upper division
courses in your major
d) Completion
of the Title V courses
e) Passage
of the Upper Division Writing Exam
f) 120
units total, at least 40 of which are upper division. Thirty units must be completed at CSUN: 24 of
the 30 must be upper division and 12 must be in your major.
2. A suggested timeline
Junior
Year:
·
Attend
a Credential Program Information Session (fall semester is recommended). Dates and times are posted on the
Internet:
http://www.csun.edu/coe/cred/advisement/credential/ss/ss-advisement-sessions.html.
·
Take
the Upper Division Writing Exam. (A score of 8 is necessary for graduation, but
a score of 10 will exempt you from taking an additional writing class as a
credential requirement. If you take the
UDWE early, you will have ample time to retake it to improve your score, if
necessary.)
·
Apply
for graduation at the end of your junior year.
·
Take
the CBEST & Math 391 to prepare for the Credential Program.
Senior Year:
·
Apply
for the Credential Program (early in the senior year, if possible, or during
the spring semester).
·
If
necessary, retake CBEST and/or UDWE.
·
See
your advisor as soon as your graduation application is processed and reflected
on your Degree Progress Report (DPR).
·
Make
sure any necessary Substitution/Waiver forms are completed.
3. To help plan your
schedule, consult the department
schedule of classes, which shows when (day or evening) and which
semester(s) each upper division course is offered: http://www.csun.edu/math/course.html.
4. The field experience course is Math 391. This course provides observation and
participation in a nearby public school.
One of the requirements for entry into the Credential Program is 45
hours working with school-aged children.
Math 391 satisfies this requirement and can be taken as soon as upper
division standing is achieved (or earlier if a student is in the FYI-Math
Program). Ask the Math Department
secretary for additional information.
5. Approved upper division math electives:
Math
340 Introductory
Probability
Math 441 Introduction to Statistical
Inference
Math 450 Advanced Calculus
Math 460 Abstract Algebra II
Math 470 Topics in Geometry
Math 463 Number Theory
Math
462 Advanced Linear Algebra
Math
481A Numerical Analysis
Math 351 Differential Equations (only as a first course in differential
equations)
Astr
301 The Dynamical Universe
(offered by the Physics and Astronomy Department spring of odd numbered years
only; also counts as an upper division G.E., Section NS/SE).
6. If you want to keep your options open and
prepare for a career in business and industry as well as for teaching, take
more statistics, numerical analysis, and applied mathematics.
PREPARING FOR GRADUATION
1. To obtain a degree, a GPA of 2.0 is required
in each of the following areas: a) total course work; b) all courses taken at
CSUN; and c) all upper division coursework in the major. However, a
minimum GPA of 2.6 is required for
all math courses in the Academic Program
in order to waive the CSET. (The Academic
Program consists of all courses
required for the math major in the secondary teaching option.) Math grades below a C are not permitted for
waiving the CSET (although some passing grades below a C are permitted in the
degree). In addition, in order to be
readmitted to the University after graduation, you must have a 2.5 GPA in the
final 60 units before graduation.
2. You should apply for graduation approximately
one full year in advance of your anticipated graduation date. See the Schedule of Classes for
deadlines. Plan to see an advisor at
least 10 days prior to the deadline for filing, since time is needed for the
necessary paper work. In particular, make
sure your advisor fills out a course substitution form declaring any courses
not reported correctly on your DPR.
3. After you have
applied for graduation, it takes several months for Admissions and Records to
verify your files and update your DPR. You
should print a DPR from SOLAR 8-12 weeks after filing your graduation application;
use the DPR to determine which graduation requirements you have yet to fulfill
and to plan your remaining undergraduate semester(s) accordingly.
4. Any changes made in the major after
the Graduation Application is filed must be approved by an advisor and a Course
Substitution Form filed with Admissions and Records. It is the student's responsibility to see
that this is done.
5. Fulfillment of the General Education
Requirements is the student's responsibility.
Follow carefully the requirements given for your catalog year. Note that Math 150A, Phys 220A/L, and Phil
230 are all requirements of the major that can also satisfy sections of
GE.
SPECIAL
PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL HELP FOR FUTURE TEACHERS
There are many programs,
scholarships, and loan programs available to students interested in teaching
careers. For example, the Assumption Program of Loans for Education
(APLE) provides up to $19,000 in assumption of educational loans for students
planning to teach mathematics or science.
Juniors, seniors and credential
students are eligible. For more
information about APLE, visit the website: http://www.csusuccess.org/scholarship. For additional scholarship and loan
possibilities, inquire at CSUN’s Financial Aid Office.
THE CREDENTIAL PROGRAM
1. As
soon as possible after you achieve junior standing, you should attend a
Credential Program Information Session; dates and times are posted on the
Internet: http://www.csun.edu/coe/cred/advisement/credential/ss/ss-advisement-sessions.html.
2. All credential candidates must have taken (or
registered for) the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) prior to submitting an application to the
program. The test examines the
basic skills in mathematics, reading, and writing. (The Academic Program is a waiver only of the
CSET, not the CBEST.) Take the CBEST as
early as possible so that your admission to the Credential Program will not be
delayed. (Information about the CBEST is
on their website: http://www.cbest.nesinc.com/.)
3. You should apply for the Credential Program
as soon as possible during your senior year.
You may want to take a credential course in your last semester before
graduation and many of these courses are restricted to those admitted to the
program. This means that during your
junior year you must take care of the CBEST and Field Experience mentioned
earlier. (Note: As of January 2006, you
cannot usually be accepted to the Credential Program until you have completed
your major or passed the CSET at the foundation or full level; however, special
exceptions are sometimes made: check with the Credential Program.)
4. One of the requirements for your Clear
Credential is 30 units of postgraduate work.
If, in your last semester before graduation, you take units that are not
needed for your degree (such as courses in the Credential Program), you may
petition to have some or all of those units counted toward the 30-unit
postgraduate requirement. The necessary
forms are available in the Admission & Records Office.