Online Math Education Degrees
Math education is a high-need area in many states, and earning a math education bachelor's degree online can launch a career as a math teacher.
October 5, 2021 , Modified on May 26, 2022
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Online Math Degree Rankings, Salaries and Courses
Earning an online math education degree can launch a fulfilling, and well-paying career as a math teacher, instructional coordinator, or mathematician. Math education students learn the philosophies and theories of education, best practices for the classroom, the fundamentals of pure math, and age-appropriate strategies for teaching math. According to the U.S. Department of Education, math education is a high-need area in many states, meaning math teachers often have more opportunities than other educators.
Students pursuing a bachelor's in math education online can take courses while working and caring for a family. These learners complete practicums, classroom observations, and student-teaching assignments at approved locations near their homes. Since many school districts face a shortage of math teachers, generous financial aid packages can help pay most, or all, the cost of an online colleges bachelor's in math education.
How to Choose the Best Online Math Education Program
Students choosing a school at which to pursue a bachelor's degree in math education should consider factors including cost, reputation, accreditation, program requirements, faculty, and logistics. Students should also select a regionally accredited institution to ensure employers will recognize their degree. Travel considerations and other practical limitations are also important. Ultimately, prospective students should choose the program that best aligns with their practical needs and academic goals.
An online math education degree can prepare students for classroom teaching and for other education-related careers, such as instructional coaching, curriculum development, and tutoring. Some students teach for a few years before becoming accountants or actuaries, while others pursue graduate education and teach at the college level. Others work in specialized private schools, such as Montessori, Waldorf, or classical schools.
Any student pursuing teacher licensure through a traditional route must complete student teaching. Learners pursuing an online bachelor’s degree in math education often complete student teaching at an approved school near their home. This approach requires diligence from both the student and the lead teacher.
Some education courses require students to observe a math classroom, and some schools require learners to observe several classrooms. Most online programs allow students to conduct observations at local schools. Online learners contact schools and set up the appointments with approval from their professor.
Like most other undergraduate programs, an online math education degree includes free electives. Some students take easy courses to boost their GPA. Others enroll in subjects that interest them. Taking electives in hard sciences or social sciences that overlap with math, such as physics or economics, can be a good choice for math education majors.
Three factors establish the background of a good math education professor: classroom experience, formal education, and depth of research. The best professors have spent time teaching math classrooms; hold a terminal degree such as an Ed.D. or a Ph.D.; and have published several articles or books on pure mathematics, math education, or teaching.
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What Courses Can Be Taken for an Online Math Education Degree?
An online math education degree requires coursework in general education subjects, pure mathematics, educational theory and practice, and elective subjects. Some education courses cover general pedagogical topics, while others focus on topics for math educators. In addition to classroom work, math education students often complete practicums, observations, and student-teaching experiences. Although each school's curriculum is different, the courses below are common in many math education programs.
Students in this course gain fundamental math concepts and skills. The course reintroduces prospective teachers to arithmetic, numeration, and problem solving. This course is often the earliest math education course in the curriculum.Mathematics for Teachers
Students access the latest educational software and hardware. Learners consider how to use technology in light of various educational philosophies and learning theories.Technology in the Educational Setting
Students in this upper-level education course explore how culture influences learning. Students consider diversity of language, race, culture, ethnicity, economics, and intellectual backgrounds.Multicultural Education
In this introductory course, students learn about polynomials, inequalities, and linear and quadratic equations. They also study logarithmic and exponential functions. This course serves as the foundation for other pure math courses.College Algebra
This course introduces collegiate-level statistics and covers topics such as the normal curve, displaying and describing data, regression, statistical inference, and probability. Students learn to test hypotheses with practical applications.Statistics
How Much Can You Make in a Math Education Career?
Many math education graduates teach at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Some graduates begin their careers as classroom teachers before becoming administrators or teacher educators. Others become mathematicians. As the table below illustrates, annual median salaries in the field range from $57,000-$100,000. Most careers in education or mathematical science are growing, so math education majors can enter a field with above-average salaries and consistent Job Growth 2016-2026. Of course, no degree guarantees a specific career or salary, but the table below includes a few typical math education careers and the corresponding median salaries.
| Career | Postsecondary Median Annual Salary | Projected Growth Rate (2019-2029) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Science Teachers | $84,710 | 9.4% | Postsecondary math teachers work in community colleges, universities, and liberal arts colleges. They plan and deliver lectures, grade evaluations, and counsel students. They may also sponsor their institution's mathematics club. Many college professors conduct research in math, education, or mathematics education and present their findings in publications and at conferences. |
| Secondary School Teachers | $59,170 | 7.5% | High school teachers prepare lessons, conduct classroom activities, manage student behavior, and evaluate academic performance. They often sponsor after-school clubs, provide one-on-one counseling and tutoring, and sit on school committees. Math teachers may help lead extracurricular activities such as a robotics program or a competitive business team. Classroom teachers spend most of their day instructing students and complete preparatory work after the school day ends. |
| Middle School Teachers | $57,720 | 7.5% | Middle school teachers instruct students in grades five through nine. These teachers prepare lessons, deliver lectures, oversee classroom projects, manage student behavior, and evaluate learner performance. They may meet one on one with students throughout the day, sponsor math-related clubs, and watch hallways and detention rooms. Middle school teachers often prepare lessons and grade assignments during the evenings. |
Source: BLS
Scholarships and Financial Aid for Math Education Programs
Higher education can be costly, but there are many ways for students to pay for an online bachelor's degree in math education. While student loans are common, borrowers have to repay those loans with interest on a first-year teacher's salary. Grants and scholarships are more valuable, since students do not have to pay them back. Some financial aid packages cover most or all of a student's expenses.
| Scholarship | Amount | Who Can Apply |
|---|---|---|
AFCEA STEM Teacher Scholarships |
$2,500-$5,000 | AFCEA is an information-exchange agency for individuals pursuing a graduate degree or a teaching license in a STEM-related field. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field; must have a minimum 3.5 GPA; and must submit a transcript, a resume, and letters of reference. |
Prospective 7-12 Secondary Teacher Course Work Scholarships |
$2,500-$5,000 | AFCEA is an information-exchange agency for individuals pursuing a graduate degree or a teaching license in a STEM-related field. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field; must have a minimum 3.5 GPA; and must submit a transcript, a resume, and letters of reference. |
TEACH Grant |
Up to $4,000 | This federal grant supports students who plan to teach in high-need fields and low-income areas. Recipients must teach in a high-need subject, such as math education, in an approved area for four years of the first eight years after graduation. Recipients who do not complete this requirement must refund a portion of their TEACH grant through a direct, unsubsidized loan. |
NILRR Applegate-Jackson-Parks Future Teacher Scholarship |
$1,000 | The National Institute for Labor Relations Research sponsors this scholarship, which recognizes three Michigan teachers. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate education majors at any accredited U.S. institution. Applicants must demonstrate scholarship and an interest in teacher union issues. Applicants must submit a 500-word essay and a transcript demonstrating academic potential. |
NFB Blind’s Scholarship Program |
$3,000-$12,000 | The National Federation of the Blind offers scholarships to blind students throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The organization provides $120,000 in scholarship funds through 30 merit-based scholarships. Applicants must demonstrate academic prowess, leadership skills, and a commitment to community service. Applicants can be studying many fields, including math education. |
Online Bachelor's in Math Education 2021
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Granite State CollegeLocation
Concord, NH
Tuition$12426
Graduation Rate23%
Part of the University System of New Hampshire, GSC offers a bachelor's in math education that students can pursue entirely online. Enrollees can choose one of five certifications, including a special education certification or a mathematics upper-level certification.
GSC welcomes applications from nontraditional students. The college grants college credits for relevant previous education, military training, and professional certifications. GSC follows a liberal transfer credit policy and maintains a residency requirement of only 30 credits.
The curriculum includes courses in geometric structures, statistics, mathematical proof, and foundations of education. During this field-based program, learners gain hands-on experience and the opportunity to apply their knowledge in actual learning environments.
Granite State College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
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Mayville State UniversityLocation
Mayville, ND
Tuition$12711
Graduation Rate28%
MSU in North Dakota offers a bachelor's in math education that fulfills the educational requirements for teacher licensure in the state. Students can complete the bachelor of science in education degree entirely online.
A transfer-friendly institution, MSU accepts credits from other accredited schools. MSU also participates in articulation agreements with several technical and community colleges throughout the state and in Arizona, Minnesota, Washington, and Wyoming to further facilitate the transfer of credits for enrollees. Students must complete at least 30 credits at MSU to earn a degree from the school.
MSU requires math education majors to complete a minor. Students can fulfill this requirement by choosing a minor in a related field such as accounting, business administration, information science, or special needs. The curriculum includes courses in probability and statistics, modern geometry, differential equations, and theory of numbers.
Mayville State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
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Arizona Christian UniversityLocation
Glendale, AZ
Graduation Rate45%
ACU's Shelly Roden School of Education hosts a bachelor of science in secondary education with an emphasis in several fields, including mathematics. The program meets the educational requirements for secondary teacher certification in Arizona. General education courses cover topics such as educational psychology, classroom management, human development, and curriculum and instruction methods for sixth grade through high school.
The math emphasis includes courses in discrete math calculus I and II, elementary differential equations, and linear algebra. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all education and content coursework with no grade lower than a 2.0 for any class.
Enrollees must complete a semester of directed student teaching in an approved educational setting. Online learners can meet this requirement locally with their program director's permission. Candidates must complete a capstone course prior to graduation.
Arizona Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
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Western Governors UniversityLocation
Salt Lake City, UT
Graduation Rate29%
WGU offers an online bachelor of science in secondary math education that meets the educational requirement for teacher licensure in any of the 50 states. The program follows WGU's competency-based learning approach. In this approach, students progress through a program by demonstrating their skills and knowledge in specific concepts rather than completing a set number of credits or coursework.
The curriculum includes courses in core math subjects such as calculus, probability and statistics, linear algebra, and mathematical modeling and applications. The program also includes 75 hours of in-class observation and 12-20 weeks of Demonstration Teaching (DT), which is a supervised student teaching experience. During DT, clinical supervisors observe and evaluate learners' performance in a classroom setting. Online enrollees must secure departmental approval to fulfill this requirement locally.
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics recognizes WGU's bachelor's in math education program. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
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Ottawa University-Kansas CityLocation
Overland Park, KS
OU offers an online bachelor of arts in mathematics with a concentration in secondary education. Enrollees can transfer up to 80 credits from regionally accredited institutions. OU maintains Transfer Advantage programs with community and technical colleges in nine states, including Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Associate degree-holders from partner institutions can save up to 30% on tuition payments when they enroll in a bachelor's program at OU.
The secondary education math curriculum includes coursework in discrete mathematics, calculus, mathematical statistics, and linear algebra. Courses follow eight-week delivery schedules. The program includes a student teaching component that online enrollees can complete locally with departmental approval. Degree candidates must enroll in a capstone course and complete an integrative project that demonstrates mastery of the major's learning objectives.
Ottawa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
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