NSU's math education program teaches valuable critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that, as a math teacher, you'll share with your students.

    About The Program

    NSU's B.S.Ed. degree in math education will prepare you to teach secondary school math or for graduate-level study in mathematics. At NSU, math education students take the same core math classes as general math majors - building an especially strong foundation in mathematics for teaching.

    NSU offers math education students multiple field experiences to help ease you into teacher mode:

    • Yearlong student teaching under the supervision of a current teacher
    • Paid training opportunities starting as soon as your first semester
    • Tutoring opportunities
    • The chance to work as an instructor's assistant in the Math Lab Program

    In the Math Lab Program, students with a strong math background have the opportunity to work as an instructor's assistant, gaining valuable teaching experience by guiding small groups of students as they work through math exercises.

    NSU offers a wide variety of upper-level mathematics courses, including Calculus 1-3, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Abstract Algebra, Probability and Statistics, Modern Geometry, Foundations of Mathematics, History of Mathematics, Complex Analysis, and Advanced Calculus.

     

     

    Careers

    Most mathematics education graduates work as secondary school teachers.

    A significant number work for businesses and corporations as software engineers, computer programmers and systems analysts. Many are self-employed as consultants. Other potential job areas include accounting, statistics, engineering, industry, business and economics. 

    What Can You Do with a Mathematics Degree? - Learn about career opportunities and outlooks in accountancy and finance, banking, statistics, the actuarial field, academia and research and more.

    Bureau of Labor Statistics, Math Occupations - Employment of math occupations is projected to grow 28 percent from 2016 to 2026 - much faster than the average for all occupations - according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

    American Mathematical Society - Find the latest math news, learn about graduate school, and find internships, fellowships and jobs, as well as gain access to forums and networking resources.

    For more information on careers in your major or help choosing a major, contact Career Services.

    Contact Information

    For more information about this degree, contact Jessica Ness, or call 605-626-2272 or 605-626-7900. Or, contact NSU Admissions at 605-626-2544 or admissions@northern.edu.

    Ph.D. Mathematics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
    B.S. Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
     
    Dr. Ricardo E. Rojas is currently an associate professor of mathematics at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He has been serving NSU and the state of South Dakota since 2008. 
     
    Courses Taught
    MATH 095  Pre-College Algebra
    MATH 101  Intermediate Algebra
    MATH 114  College Algebra
    MATH 361  Modern Geometry
     
    Research Interests
    Euclidean geometry
    Incidence geometry
    (Finite) affine planes
    (Finite) projective planes
    Ph.D. North Dakota State University
    B.A. University of Minnesota Morris
     
    Dr. Stacy Tretham is from west central Minnesota. She begin working at NSU in the fall of 2016.
     
    Courses Taught
    Math 101  Intermediate Algebra
    Math 102/114  College Algebra
    Math 102/114  Online College Algebra
    Math 103  Quantitative Literacy
    Math 120  Trigonometry
    Math 123  Calculus 1
    Math 125  Calculus 2
    Math 216  Discrete Structures
    Math 316  Discrete Mathematics
    Math 351  Foundations of Mathematics
    Math 381  Probability and Statistics
    Math 412  Linear Algebra
    Math 413  Abstract Algebra
     
    Research Interests
    Commutative Algebra
     
    Personal Interests
    Reading, experimenting…
    Ph.D. North Dakota State University
    B.A. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
     
    Dr. William Travis Trentham grew up in the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee. Dr. Trentham received his Ph.D. in mathematics from North Dakota State University. He began working at Northern in the fall of 2016.
     
    Courses Taught
    Math 101 Intermediate Algebra
    Math 114 College Algebra
    Math 120 Trigonometry
    Math 123 Calculus 1
    Math 125 Calculus 2
    Math 216 Discrete Structures
    Math 321 Differential Equations
    Math 216 Discrete Structures
    Math 351 Foundations of Mathematics
    Math 412 Linear Algebra
    Math 413 Abstract Algebra 1
     
    Research Interests
    Commutative algebra
     
    Personal Interests
    Playing poker, following…