If you’re ready to deepen your understanding of mathematics and mathematics education, UMaine-Farmington has the right program for you.
Our Master’s in Mathematics Education (M.S. Ed.) provides a unique combination of mathematics content and pedagogy that you won’t find in other programs. That’s because we believe content and pedagogy have to be taught in combination with one another—teachers need to understand the ins and outs of mathematics if they’re going to teach it well.
UMF is rated by University Headquarters as having some of the Best Master’s Degrees in Maine (#2 overall). University Headquarters is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that compiles a comprehensive set of information for students who wish to pursue a higher education.
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Program at a Glance
- Convenient blended format: 70% online / 30% face-to-face
- 33 graduate credit hours, including 21 credit hours from the core curriculum
- Emphasizes school improvement knowledge and skills grounded in action research
Which Track Gets You Where You Want to Go?
There’s a high need for mathematics educators and leaders in Maine. That means you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to choosing where you want to go and what you want to do.
UMF’s M.S.Ed. in Mathematics Education program is specially designed for those who wish to deepen their understanding of mathematics leadership as well as for those who wish to become classroom math teachers at the secondary level. Which track is right for you?
Leadership Track Outcomes
Over the course of the program, you will:
- Master research skills to help you study and tackle any educational problem
- Become confident in your leadership skills
- Gain an understanding of and best ways to implement Maine’s State Standards
- Design and refine a K-8 math coaching practice
- Know how to use data to support all math students
- Understand how to lead the RTI process in mathematics
- Complete a capstone research project
Initial Licensure Track Outcomes
Over the course of the program, you will:
- Learn the best methods for 7-12 mathematics education
- Master mathematics education content from operations, algebra, and functions to geometry, data analysis, statistics, and more
- Understand how to teach individuals with exceptionalities
- Complete a capstone research project
- Complete a student teaching/internship
In-Person and Online: The Best of Both Worlds
The master’s program is taught in-person and online, with roughly 30% of the program taught in-person and 70% online. Typically, the 30% face-to-face instruction takes place over the course of 3 Saturday classes.
Our graduates have consistently told us that this format allows them to experience the best of both worlds: the convenience of online education with the ability to make connections and expand your professional network through face-to-face interaction.
Curriculum
Core Curriculum: Both Tracks (21 credits)
Both the Leadership Track and Initial Licensure Track include the following courses:
- EDU 524: Advanced Mathematics Methods for Elementary Teachers OR EDU 561 Methods for Middle/Secondary Mathematics Education
- EDU 529: Mathematics Leadership in K-12 Settings: Understanding and Implementing Maine’s State Standards
- EDU 582: Research Methods
- EDU 586 Capstone Research Course
Plus credits in Mathematics Education Content
- EMA 500: Number, Operations, Algebra, & Functions PK-12
- EMA 501: Geometry & Measurement PK-12
- EMA 502: Data Analysis, Statistics, & Probability PK-12
Leadership Track (12 credits)
- EDU 532: Mathematics Leadership K-12
- EDU 525: Developing Formative Assessment Practices in the Mathematics Classroom
Math Coaching Specialization
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- EDU 594: Theories of Mathematics Coaching
- EDU 596: Mathematics Coaching in Practice
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Math Intervention Specialization
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- EDU 527: Mathematics Intervention: Theory and Data Informed Decision Making
- EDU 528: Mathematics Intervention: Implementation and Assessment
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Leadership Track: Self-Designed (12 credits)
- In addition to the core curriculum outlined above, students choosing the self-designed track complete a 12-credit set of graduate level education courses appropriate for their interests. The student will work with their advisor to choose these courses, which are not limited to those offered in mathematics education.
Initial Licensure Track (12 credits)
- SED 561: Teaching Individuals with Exceptionalities in the General 7-12 Classroom
- EDU 531: Mathematics Pedagogical Knowledge: Effective Instructional Practices for Teaching Maine’s State Standards
- Student Teaching / Internship (6 credits)
Application Process & Due Dates
All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Division of Graduate & Continuing Education office prior to application to discuss the program and professional goals. Call us at 207-778-7502 or email us at gradstudies@maine.edu.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and will be considered when complete. Students may enroll in some courses as a non-matriculated student prior to acceptance into the program.
Due Dates
- Spring Term: December 9
- Summer Term: April 24
- Fall Term: August 14
How to Apply
To apply for the Master’s in Mathematics Education (M.S. Ed.), you will need to provide the following:
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Leadership Track Prerequisites:
- Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years teaching experience
- Applicants must be employed or seeking employment as a classroom teacher or other educational professional.
Initial Licensure Track Prerequisites:
- Applicants must have a minimum of 15 credits in mathematics at the undergraduate or graduate level, including calculus 1, calculus 2, geometry, and statistics.
If you have a foreign degree, it must be validated by World Educational Services, Center for Educational Documentation, Inc., or other appropriate agency. The decision to accept the degree is made on a case-by-case basis by the UMF Director of Graduate Programs in Education.
Download our Application (pdf) >
Please email completed forms to: gradstudies@maine.edu
Please provide official transcripts from each institution you have attended (including both the undergraduate and graduate level). Official transcripts must be sent directly from the institutions to the UMF’s Office of Graduate Studies.
If you attended a UMaine System school (UMA, UMF, UMFK, UMM, UM, UMPI, or USM), the Office of Graduate Studies can obtain your transcript for you.
There are several requirements for entry into the Leadership Specialization program:
1. Essay
Applicants must write a 500-word essay on the following:
Begin by describing your philosophy for teaching and learning mathematics. Then explain how UMF’s Master of Education in Mathematics Education will support your work as a mathematics educator. (500 words)
2. Teaching Certificate
Please include a copy of your teaching certificate with your application.
3. Recommendations
Please include 2 recommendations with your application using the form below. One should be filled out by a current administrator or supervisor. One should be filled out by a professional colleague. Please provide each reference with a copy of the blank Recommendation Form.
Download Recommendation Form for M.S.Ed. in Math Education>>
Note: This is a fillable form, and you may need to download it to enable it.
There are several requirements for entry into the Initial Licensure Track program:
1. Essay
We are looking for candidates with a strong mathematics background (at least 15 undergraduate credits) and the potential to provide high quality mathematics instruction to students in K-12 schools. Write a brief (approximately 500 words) essay describing your background, your academic and professional goals, and how this degree program addresses these goals.
2. Recommendations
Please include 2 recommendations with your application. One recommendation must be from a university faculty member or recent school employer who can speak to your potential for completing graduate work. Please provide each reference with a copy of the blank Recommendation Form.
Download Recommendation Form for M.S.Ed. in Math Education: Initial Licensure >>
If you are requesting that graduate-level coursework be transferred from another institution into this UMF Master’s program, in addition to your transcript you must submit the syllabi for each course you would like considered for transfer. Transfer decisions are made at the time of admission.
A student, with the approval of the Admissions Committee, may transfer up to 9 graduate credits from another institution into his/her academic program.
These credits must have been earned from a regionally accredited institution, within 5 years prior to admission, and with a minimum grade of B (or equivalent). Graduate credits applied toward an undergraduate degree cannot be used toward the Master’s degree.
University of Maine at Farmington. Make the Most of Your Education.
Getting a master’s is a big deal, so make the most of your education with a quality program at nationally recognized University of Maine at Farmington. Well-known for excellence in teacher education, UMF offers a number of graduate programs for teaching professionals, including 5 on-campus Master’s degree programs, 10 different Graduate Certificate programs, a 100% online Master’s program, a Special Education Alternative Route to Certification, and more. We also offer a new Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a Creative Arts Focus that provides a solid clinical foundation while integrating the creative arts into the practice of counseling and psychotherapy.
The Division of Graduate & Continuing Education is at the center of UMF’s commitment to collaboration with teachers working in Maine’s Pre K-12 schools. This commitment finds life in programs that have a long history of quality, as well as new programs that are developed each year in response to needs voiced by the Pre K-12 community.
The University of Maine at Farmington is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).