This is a 30-credit program intended for teachers already certified in elementary education, special education, or in ESOL who are or plan to teach in subject matter classrooms in the middle grades (4th - 9th grade). This is a cohort-only program offered in partnership with the Mathematics Department at the University of Maryland and local school districts.
History
Mathematics education faculty joined efforts with University faculty in the Department of Mathematics and with mathematics specialists from Montgomery County and Prince George’s Public Schools to define a cohort master's degree program. This degree program initiated with the support of several Improving Teacher Quality grants from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, which allowed its development through collaboration across disciplines and research.
What is this program?
This multi-year, content-based masters’ program prepares teachers to become highly qualified middle grades mathematics teachers. This research-based program involves coursework in mathematics content, mathematics education, curriculum-based integrated content and pedagogy courses, as well as an action research course.
What is the outcome?
In addition to the Master’s Degree from the UMCP, MSDE has recognized our program as a suitable set of courses to be used by certified teachers seeking an add-on endorsement in middle grades mathematics. This recognition will allow teachers to submit credits of our coursework as part of the 30 credits needed to request an add-on endorsement to their elementary certification for middle school mathematics.
What pedagogical experiences do we include?
The structure of the program includes school-based components including: teachers visit each other’s classrooms; strands on inquiry, analysis of assessments, case studies, etc.
Graduate School Minimum Requirements
The Graduate School at UMD requires a minimum GPA of 3.0. If you do not meet the Graduate School minimum requirement of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all prior Undergraduate and Graduate work, please submit a petition for a letter of support from the program coordinator, contact Sara Kirschner at skirschn@umd.edu to make this request.
As required by the Graduate School, all application materials are to be submitted electronically:
• Graduate application
• Transcripts (upload an unofficial copy to application). Please note that upon admission by The Graduate School applicants are required to submit an official transcript for enrollment at the University of Maryland, College Park.
• *Statement of Purpose (see details in application guide)
• Resume
• Letters of recommendation (provide recommender's name & email on application-the -recommender will be contacted by auto-generated email to submit their electronic recommendation)
• Non-refundable application fee ($75) for each program to which an applicant applies
The electronic submission of application materials helps expedite the review of an application. Completed applications are reviewed by an admissions committee in the graduate degree program to which you apply. The admission recommendations from the programs/departments are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School. Thus, all degree-seeking applicants must be formally admitted to the University of Maryland Graduate School. To ensure the integrity of the application process, the University of Maryland authenticates submitted materials through TurnItIn for Admissions.
The official transcript should be sent to the graduate school.
University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operation – Attn: Graduate Admissions
Room 0130 Mitchell Building College Park, MD 20742
For detailed information please refer to the Application Guide for the Middle School Math M.Ed. program.
Apply at gradapply.umd.edu.
Please refer to the Guide to Applying for instructions on how to apply for graduate admission. If you have questions or concerns, we ask you to first review our list of Frequently Asked Questions. International applicants should visit the International admissions webpage for additional information.
For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu.
The off-campus tuition is about the same rate of the in-state campus tuition, regardless of residency, the additional on-campus graduate fees do not apply. The graduate tuition rates can be found at University of Maryland Tuition and Fees page.
Many school districts offer tuition reimbursement. For example, MCPS offers tuition reimbursement and scholarship opportunities. Learn more about MCPS University Partnerships. It is not a requirement to be in MCPS to join this cohort.
Financial Support & Scholarships
AFCEA Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Teachers for America's Future - Graduate Scholarship
For more information about the Teaching and Learning Mathematics in the Middle Grades, please contact:
Sara Kirschner, Ph.D. Program Director
email: skirschn@umd.edu