Full Course Description List:

MATH Courses

5 credits

Students in this course have the opportunity to gain fundamental skills needed for College Math. Through weekly lab assignments, students engage in problem-solving, use of formulas, number operations and notations, exponents and exponential expressions, variation, linear and nonlinear equations and graphs, polynomials, rational and radical expressions, and basic geometry. They also collaborate with peers through discussions in which they complete solutions to more challenging math problems.

Note: This course is considered an elective.

5 credits

In this course, students have the opportunity to gain requisite skills needed for College Algebra Concepts. Through weekly lab assignments, students work through algebra problems involving exponents and exponential functions, linear and absolute value equations and inequalities, quadratic and polynomial functions and their graphs, rational and radical equations, and systems of linear equations. The course also provides students with an introduction to complex numbers.

Note: This course is considered an elective.

5 credits

Students in this course are provided with accessible mathematical tools to analyze and solve real-world problems. Using these tools, students build skills in critical thinking and numerical, logical, and statistical reasoning as applied to workplace, academic, professional, and personal topics. They engage in conceptual and applied assignments on such topics as inequalities, statistics, and financial literacy. Through this course, students gain the knowledge and skill to apply inductive and deductive reasoning to real-world problems in mathematics.

5 credits

Students in this course are provided with accessible mathematical tools to analyze and solve real-world problems. Using these tools, students build skills in critical thinking and numerical, logical, and statistical reasoning as applied to workplace, academic, professional, and personal topics. They engage in conceptual and applied assignments on such topics as inequalities, statistics, and financial literacy. Through this course, students gain the knowledge and skill to apply inductive and deductive reasoning to real-world problems in mathematics.

Prerequisites

• ENGL 1010A

5 credits

This course provides students with a solid foundation in key algebraic reasoning skills. Students will cultivate perspectives and analytical skills required for efficient use, appreciation, and understanding of algebraic concepts in the professional world. Topics include solving and graphing linear, quadratic, and polynomial functions; composition and inverses of functions; rational and radical functions; modeling of exponential and logarithmic data; and solving systems of equations and inequalities.

3 semester credits

Understanding rational numbers is the foundation for understanding other critical mathematic concepts and their application to everyday life. In this course, middle-level mathematics teachers explore exciting ideas to help students determine appropriate operations for solving problems and becoming more proficient in working with factors, multiples, fractions, decimals, percents, and negative numbers. Teachers develop problem-based activities to engage students in using common algorithms and other mathematical reasoning and sense-making strategies for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational numbers. Strategies for estimation and using the number line to represent and solve problems are also provided in this course.

3 semester credits

Understanding the relationship among geometry and measurement and solving problems using day-to-day real life experiences can motivate and guide students' thinking and reasoning around these concepts. In this course, middle mathematics teachers learn strategies to connect geometric thinking and measurement to other topics and develop their own conceptual understanding of geometry and measurement by learning what it means to estimate and measure attributes of objects and how to develop fundamental measurement concepts and skills. In this course educators are challenged and supported as they engage in opportunities to foster students' mathematical processes, proficiencies, and habits of mind around the concepts of shape, spatial relationships, and measurement, including estimation.

3 semester credits

Algebra builds on a strong understanding of arithmetic and its properties in the real number system. Middle mathematics teachers have opportunities to move beyond the traditional teaching of algebra to the idea of algebraic thinking as an important component of all mathematics and everyday life. The use of tools, such as manipulative materials, calculators, and other emerging technological resources, provides educational professionals with concrete examples of how to incorporate the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice into their teaching. The goal of this course is to deepen educators' understandings of the role algebra plays in problem-solving and decision making so that they can apply this knowledge to support their students in developing similar knowledge and understandings. Educators explore a range of topics, including reasoning and sense-making; various types of functions; multiple uses of variables; pattern recognition; mathematical modeling; estimation; and the development of linear functions from rates, ratios, and proportional reasoning.

3 semester credits

Understanding data, probability, and statistics is critical to making sense of the vast amounts of information available in today's world. Educators taking this course have authentic contexts for collecting, representing, and interpreting data, and they reinforce essential number concepts in promoting students' ability to think statistically. Middle mathematics teachers focus on using data as a context for developing a variety of mathematical topics and as an important step toward understanding statistical ideas and processes. The goal of this course is to develop educators' understanding and pedagogical practices so that they can promote their students' ability to use data, probability, and statistics to better understand real-world issues and to solve a wide range of relevant and engaging problems in many contexts.

3 semester credits

To foster high levels of learning and achievement in math, teachers must first have a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and know how best to teach them. In this course,  teachers of K—8 mathematics are introduced to exciting ideas and practices to address their own learning and teaching of mathematics. Authentic and engaging mathematics experiences, including modeling, representing mathematical ideas in multiple ways, and identifying and addressing student misconceptions, are emphasized. Educators engage in effective practices for fostering students' ability to reason, analyze conceptual relationships, and persist in solving challenging problems. Connections across mathematics topics, skills, and levels as well as educational policies that impact the learning and teaching of mathematics are emphasized in this course. The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, including the Standards for Mathematical Practice, and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) practices are frameworks for addressing fundamental principles and skills.

3 semester credits

Effective elementary mathematics instruction requires a deep understanding of numbers and operations, the real-world situations in which these arise, and how children learn these ideas. In this course, teachers refine their knowledge of the structure of the base-ten number system and how it is used in addition and subtraction. They examine various methods of multi-digit calculations, including methods commonly created by students and variations of standard algorithms. Teachers extend their own conceptual understanding by modeling mathematics visually and explaining relationships between visual representations and mathematical notation. Teachers also learn how to develop appropriate interventions by diagnosing common student misconceptions.

3 semester credits

Developing students' mathematical habits of mind and leading them to become mathematical thinkers is an important goal of elementary mathematics education. In this course, educators extend their own understanding of the base ten number system and the relationships among addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Educators explore various interpretations and meanings of these operations while working with properties of multiplication, division, and proportionality. They investigate students' misconceptions and struggles and develop effective intervention strategies. Educators further develop their own mathematical habits of mind as they engage in challenging tasks and solve real-world mathematical problems.

3 semester credits

Measurement and geometry are often challenging topics for elementary students, but they represent some of the most visible uses of mathematics in students' day-to-day lives. In this course, educators learn strategies for connecting these topics to other mathematical concepts, including fractions, decimals, and the number system. In geometry, educators move beyond strategies for developing a familiarity with basic shapes and their properties to explore higher-order tasks that involve geometric thinking, measurement concepts, and proportional relationships. Using data as a context to support students' learning of these mathematical ideas, educators have the opportunity to explore real-world problems and collect, represent, and interpret data.

3 semester credits

Understanding fraction concepts is a critical foundation for learning about proportional relationships and developing algebraic concepts. In this course, educators learn how to extend students' knowledge of whole numbers and basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division—to fractions and decimals. Educators learn instructional practices to help students understand, represent, develop, and engage in rational number operations with meaning, proficiency, and precision. They also investigate ways to foster deep conceptual understandings of ratios, rates, and proportional relationships, thus building in students the critical skill of proportional reasoning. Educators consider how proportional reasoning builds a bridge to the study of other important mathematical topics, including geometry, measurement, and data as well as the use of proportionality as a connecting thread throughout the elementary and middle math curriculum.

3 semester credits

Developing students' mathematical habits of mind and leading them to become mathematical thinkers are important goals of elementary mathematics education. In this course, teachers extend their own understanding of the base ten number system and the relationships among addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Teachers explore various interpretations and meanings of these operations while working with properties of multiplication, division, and proportionality. They investigate students' misconceptions and struggles and develop effective intervention strategies. Teachers further develop their own mathematical habits of mind as they engage in challenging tasks and solve real-world mathematical problems.

5 credits

To foster high levels of learning and achievement in math, teachers must first have a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and know how best to use them. This course introduces K-8 mathematics teachers to exciting ideas and practices to address their own learning and teaching of mathematics. It emphasizes authentic and engaging mathematics experiences, including mathematical modeling, representing mathematical ideas in multiple ways, and identifying and addressing student misconceptions. Teachers engage in effective practices for fostering students' ability to reason, analyze conceptual relationships, and persist in solving challenging problems. The course emphasizes connections across mathematics topics, skills, and levels as well as educational policies that impact the learning and teaching of mathematics. The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, including the Standards for Mathematical Practice, and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) practices are frameworks for addressing fundamental principles and skills.

5 credits

Effective elementary mathematics instruction requires a deep understanding of numbers and operations, the real-world situations in which these arise, and how children learn these ideas. In this course, teachers refine their knowledge of the structure of the base-ten number system and how it is used in addition and subtraction. They examine various methods of multi-digit calculations, including methods commonly created by students and variations of standard algorithms. Teachers extend their own conceptual understanding by modeling mathematics visually and explaining relationships between visual representations and mathematical notation. Teachers also learn how to develop appropriate interventions by diagnosing common student misconceptions.

5 credits

Developing students’ mathematical habits of mind and leading them to become mathematical thinkers is an important goal of elementary mathematics education. In this course, educators extend their own understanding of the base ten number system and the relationships among addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Educators explore various interpretations and meanings of these operations while working with properties of multiplication, division, and proportionality. They investigate students’ misconceptions and struggles and develop effective intervention strategies. Educators further develop their own mathematical habits of mind as they engage in challenging tasks and solve real-world mathematical problems.

5 credits

Understanding rational numbers is the foundation for understanding other critical mathematic concepts and their application to everyday life. In this course, middle-level mathematics teachers explore exciting ideas to help students determine appropriate operations for solving problems and becoming more proficient in working with factors, multiples, fractions, decimals, percents, and negative numbers. Teachers develop problem-based activities to engage students in using common algorithms and other mathematical reasoning and sense-making strategies for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational numbers. Strategies for estimation and using the number line to represent and solve problems are also provided in this course.

5 credits

Understanding the relationship among geometry and measurement and solving problems using day-to-day real life experiences can motivate and guide students’ thinking and reasoning around these concepts. In this course, middle mathematics teachers learn strategies to connect geometric thinking and measurement to other topics and develop their own conceptual understanding of geometry and measurement by learning what it means to estimate and measure attributes of objects and how to develop fundamental measurement concepts and skills. In this course educators are challenged and supported as they engage in opportunities to foster students’ mathematical processes, proficiencies, and habits of mind around the concepts of shape, spatial relationships, and measurement, including estimation.

5 credits

Algebra builds on a strong understanding of arithmetic and its properties in the real number system. Middle mathematics teachers have opportunities to move beyond the traditional teaching of algebra to the idea of algebraic thinking as an important component of all mathematics and everyday life. The use of tools, such as manipulative materials, calculators, and other emerging technological resources, provides educational professionals with concrete examples of how to incorporate the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice into their teaching. The goal of this course is to deepen educators’ understandings of the role algebra plays in problem-solving and decision making so that they can apply this knowledge to support their students in developing similar knowledge and understandings. Educators explore a range of topics, including reasoning and sense-making; various types of functions; multiple uses of variables; pattern recognition; mathematical modeling; estimation; and the development of linear functions from rates, ratios, and proportional reasoning.

5 credits

Understanding data, probability, and statistics is critical to making sense of the vast amounts of information available in today’s world. Educators taking this course have authentic contexts for collecting, representing, and interpreting data, and they reinforce essential number concepts in promoting students’ ability to think statistically. Middle mathematics teachers focus on using data as a context for developing a variety of mathematical topics and as an important step toward understanding statistical ideas and processes. The goal of this course is to develop educators’ understanding and pedagogical practices so that they can promote their students’ ability to use data, probability, and statistics to better understand real-world issues and to solve a wide range of relevant and engaging problems in many contexts.

5 credits

Measurement and geometry are often challenging topics for elementary students, but they represent some of the most visible uses of mathematics in students’ day-to-day lives. In this course, educators learn strategies for connecting these topics to other mathematical concepts, including fractions, decimals, and the number system. In geometry, educators move beyond strategies for developing a familiarity with basic shapes and their properties to explore higher-order tasks that involve geometric thinking, measurement concepts, and proportional relationships. Using data as a context to support students’ learning of these mathematical ideas, educators have the opportunity to explore real-world problems and collect, represent, and interpret data.

5 credits

Understanding fraction concepts is a critical foundation for learning about proportional relationships and developing algebraic concepts. In this course, educators learn how to extend students’ knowledge of whole numbers and basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division—to fractions and decimals. Educators learn instructional practices to help students understand, represent, develop, and engage in rational number operations with meaning, proficiency, and precision. They also investigate ways to foster deep conceptual understandings of ratios, rates, and proportional relationships, thus building in students the critical skill of proportional reasoning. Educators consider how proportional reasoning builds a bridge to the study of other important mathematical topics, including geometry, measurement, and data as well as the use of proportionality as a connecting thread throughout the elementary and middle math curriculum.