Mathematics Education
Graduate Student Handbook
This Handbook, although not an official publication of the Graduate School, has been developed by the Mathematics Education Department at the University of Georgia as a guide for both new and current graduate students who are in the M.Ed., MA, Ed.S., and Ph.D. programs. Information on admission, program requirements, examinations, minimum standards for satisfactory progress toward the degree, and transfer of credits reflects current policies of the Department and of the Graduate School. They are, however, subject to change.
Applicants and graduate students are responsible for reading and following these Departmental policies, but should also consult the most recent Graduate Handbook which includes official statements of Graduate School regulations. Additional information may also be obtained from faculty advisors, the departmental Graduate Coordinator, and the Graduate School office.
Faculty & Staff Information
ATHENS
Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, is located 61 miles northeast of Atlanta. Well-known for its beautiful ante-bellum homes and world-famous music scene, Athens is a classic college town with great southern charm. Athens is a "college town," large and modern enough to provide resources for pleasurable living, but still small enough to be "home." Athens-Clarke County has a combined population of approximately 90,000. Athens' elevation is 600 to 800 feet above mean sea level, and because of its geographic location, the city is sheltered from much of the extreme weather of the winter season. Average minimum and maximum temperatures for January are 33 and 53 F., and for July, 68 and 89 F. Average rainfall is 50.42 inches. Two hospitals offer comprehensive health careservice in addition to the University's health center on campus. There are more than 80 churches in the area. Athens' location allows easy access to the cultural, sporting, and entertainment activities in Atlanta; the ski slopes in North Carolina; the beaches in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina; and to numerous state parks and scenic areas.
UNIVERSITY of GEORGIA
The University of Georgia, the nation's first state-chartered university, was founded in 1785 on the premise that higher education should be available to the citizens of the state of Georgia. In 1801, the first classes were held in a rough, one-room wooden building erected on a hill overlooking the Oconee River. Today, this dynamic institution of higher education has grown to a campus of more than 600 acres, enrolling more than 30,000 students from all 50 states and more than 130 foreign countries. The university is made up of thirteen schools and colleges offering a full array of educational opportunities from baccalaureate through doctoral and professional degrees in a wide range of disciplines. Ranked 20th among 100 American public universities based on quality and cost by Kiplinger's magazine and 26th on U.S. News & World Report's list of 50 top public universities, this historic institution is in its third century of service.
COLLEGE of EDUCATION
The College of Education offers a vision of education as a significant expression of human resource development. It offers exemplary programs for the preparation of teachers and other personnel for elementary and secondary schools. Additionally, it offers programs to prepare professionals to design, manage, and implement instructional and training programs in settings such as business and industry and to utilize new technologies such as the computer. In its role of educational leadership, the College provides pre-service and in-service training programs, conducts research to solve educational problems, and offers outreach services to all types and levels of educational institutions. The College's programs are accredited by the appropriate state, regional, and national accrediting bodies. Over the past few years, the College has gained wide recognition as one of the country's foremost educational institutions. Rankings in both popular and professional publications consistently place the College among the top tier of public and private schools. This status is also reflected in the faculty's ability to attract external funding for research, instruction, and service projects.
MATHEMATICS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
The Department of Mathematics Education, founded in 1966, is one of the most active departments of mathematics education in the world. The faculty includes regular faculty, visiting faculty, affiliated mathematics education faculty members in other departments and four professor emirate. This group has diverse interests in mathematics education and has provided leadership in many areas; the faculty include two former editors of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education; authors for various school mathematics series; authors of college textbooks and research books; editor of the Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education; and present and past leaders in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, School Science and Mathematics Association, and Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The department's instructional program serves undergraduate prospective elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers of mathematics, inservice mathematics teachers, and full time graduate students. There are approximately 35 prospective secondary teachers who complete the program each year and approximately 30 full time graduate students.
Research and Development Interests
Scholarly inquiry characterizes any productive university department. Because of its size and diversity this department has an unusually broad range of research interests represented. These include: curriculum development in mathematics, analysis of policy issues, research on problem solving in mathematics, concepts of variable and function, learning of algebra, children's number concept development, computers in mathematics education, classroom interaction in mathematics classes, children's counting strategies and algorithm development, teacher education in mathematics, evaluation of mathematics programs, assessment in mathematics classrooms, and leadership in mathematics education. Some of these interests have led to funded research and development projects with Mathematics Education faculty serving as Project Directors or Principal Investigators.
Our Address
The University of Georgia, Mathematics Education
105 Aderhold Hall, Athens, GA 30602-7124
Telephone: 706-542-4194
Fax: 706-542-4551
Information on admission to the Graduate school can be found on the Graduate School Web Site. Correspondence concerning admission to the Graduate School should be addressed to the Office of Graduate Admission, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-7402 or E-mailed to gradadm@arches.uga.edu. Inquiries about facilities for advanced study and research, programs of study, and specific departmental requirements should be addressed to Mathematics Education. For more information on admission, check the Graduate Bulletin.
Entrance Tests
Entrance test scores appropriate for each application must be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions directly by the responsible testing agency. All test scores are subject to a five-year time limitation. Scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required for admission as a prospective candidate for mathematics education graduate degrees. For information on test administration at the University of Georgia, contact the Office of Testing and Evaluation, Clark Howell Hall, 706-542-3183.
International Applicants and Language Requirement
Since several months may be required to process an application from abroad, foreign nationals are urged to submit complete application materials as early as possible, but no more than one year in advance. The application must include the application form, two official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, two official copies of test scores on an approved entrance test, a non-refundable application fee, and three letters of recommendation. Applicants for the Ph.D. degree must also submit to the department a resume and a sample of writing. International applicants, for whom English is not their native tongue, must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores in addition to scores on an approved entrance examination. Consult the departmental Graduate Coordinator for specific details.
Application for Readmission
A student who has been out of school more than three semesters, including the summer semester, and who wishes to return for the same admission classification and major must submit an application for readmission to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Note: Students who have not enrolled during the previous six years must submit an application for admission. Check the Graduate Bulletin for more details.
Change of Degree Objective
A student wishing to change his or her degree objective may do so with the approval of the departmental Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate School. Check the Graduate Bulletin for more information.
Registration
A graduate student using University facilities and/or staff time must register for a minimum of three hours of credit each semester. A student who holds an assistantship must register for a minimum of nine hours of credit fall and spring semesters, and six hours for the summer semester.
Course Load
A full-time course load is nine hours per semester during the academic year and six hours during the summer semester. The minimum/maximum course load for which a graduate student may enroll can be found in the Graduate Bulletin. Graduate students may enroll for up to 18 semester hours per semester with approval by an advisor. The maximum course load for an eight-week summer session is 18 hours. A graduate student can earn 24 semester hours in the summer if 6 semester hours are taken during the Maymester. However, a load of more than 3 semester hours in the Maymester or 12 semester hours in the 8 week session should be considered carefully with an advisor.
Course Numbers
Courses numbered 8000-9999, taught by members of the graduate faculty, are advanced graduate courses and seminars which provide educational experiences at the highest level in a graduate student's program of study. Courses numbered 6000-6999 are fundamental knowledge courses; those numbered 7000-7999, except master's research (7000) and thesis (7300), are professional courses. Courses numbered 6000-7999 are normally taken early in the graduate student's program of study.
The Department offers programs leading to the following graduate degrees: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Education (M.Ed.), Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Doctor of Education (Ed. D.). The curriculum for all degree programs is broad and flexible, and operates with considerable interaction with the Mathematics Department in the College of Arts and Sciences. Departmental emphases include the study of mathematics curriculum, problems of mathematics instruction, instructional computing, the history of mathematics, problem solving, and research on mathematics teaching and learning.
Ph.D.
Residence
At least two consecutive semesters of full-time work must be spent in resident study on this campus.
Time Limit
All requirements for this degree, except the dissertation and final oral examination, must be completed within a period of six years.
Coursework (esp. Mathematics)
The amount of coursework in mathematics depends on previous work and the interests of the candidate. Substantial study of mathematics is expected 1. Depth of study through at least one 8000-level sequence or 2. Breadth of study through 6000-level sequences.
Grade Average
A graduate student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on all graduate courses taken.
Advisory Committee
The committee will consist of at least 3 graduate faculty members. The department can recommend additional faculty for the committee or a person from outside the faculty with appropriate expertise.
Program of Study
Required: The program of study must show all graduate courses relevant to the doctoral program (including courses from the master's degree and courses transferred from other universities.) A minimum of three hours of 9300, doctoral dissertation, must be included.
Credit by Transfer
There is a possibility of transfering nine semester hours of graduate coursework provided that the courses to be transferred constitute a logical part of the student's program of study.
Admission to Candidacy
Required: This application is a certification by the department that the student has demonstrated ability to do acceptable graduate work and that shows all prerequisites set, research skills requirements, the program of study approved, grade average satisfied, and written and oral comprehensive examinations passed. After admission to candidacy, a student must register for at least two additional semesters and a total minimum of ten hours of dissertation.
Prospectus
A prospectus must be approved by the advisory committee and filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
Prospectus
N. A.
Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation required.
Examinations
1. Comprehensive written and oral examinations must be passed before being admitted to candidacy. 2. The defense of the dissertation, and the final oral examination must be passed.
Ed.S.
Residence
Not Required.
Time Limit
All requirements for this degree must be completed within six years from the first registration on the program of study.
Coursework (esp. Mathematics)
Teaching Field-Mathematics: must complete a master's degree in mathematics or mathematics education. Two requirements in the teaching field must be met for the completion of the EdS degree program.
Grade Average
A graduate student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on all graduate courses taken.
Advisory Committee
A three-person committee, including a major professor will administer an examination.
Program of Study
The program of study is prepared by the student and the major professor during the first semester in residence. The program for the degree shall consist of a minimum of 30 semester hours of study at the graduate level beyond the master's degree.
Credit by Transfer
There is a possibility of transfering six semester hours of graduate coursework provided that the courses to be transferred constitute a logical part of the student's program of study.
Admission to Candidacy
On the completion of four or five courses, the student has the responsibility to see that an application for admission to candidacy is filed with the Graduate School. The specific requirements for admission to candidacy are: 1. All prerequisites set, 2. The program of study approved by the major professor, the Graduate Coordinator, and the Deal of the Graduate School, and 3. 3.0 (B) grade average.
Prospectus
N. A.
Thesis
Applied Project Required
Examinations
Final Examination: The candidate must pass a written and/or oral comprehensive examination administered by the department.
M.Ed.
Residence
Not Required.
Time Limit
All requirements for this degree must be completed within six years from the first registration on the program of study.
Coursework (esp. Mathematics)
Teaching Field-Mathematics: Courses must be selected from 6000-7000-8000 courses in mathematics, mathematics education, statistics, or courses in related fields approved by advisor.
Grade Average
A graduate student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on all graduate courses taken.
Advisory Committee
An advisor will oversee progress.
Program of Study
An organized program of study approved by an advisor in Mathematics Education must be completed.
Credit by Transfer
There is a possibility of transfering six semester hours of graduate coursework provided that the courses to be transferred constitute a logical part of the student's program of study.
Admission to Candidacy
Not Required.
Prospectus
N. A.
Thesis
Not Required.
Examinations
Final Examination: The candidate must pass a written and/or oral comprehensive examination administered by the department.
MA
Residence
Not Required.
Time Limit
All requirements for this degree must be completed within six years from the first registration on the program of study.
Coursework (esp. Mathematics)
Teaching Field-Mathematics: Courses must be selected from 6000 or 8000 level mathematics courses including at least one two-semester sequence.
Grade Average
A graduate student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on all graduate courses taken.
Advisory Committee
A three-person advisory committee including the student's advisor supervise thesis and conduct a final oral examination.
Program of Study
An organized program of study approved by an advisor in the Mathematics Education must be completed.
Credit by Transfer
There is a possibility of transfering six semester hours of graduate coursework provided that the courses to be transferred constitute a logical part of the student's program of study.
Admission to Candidacy
Not Required.
Prospectus
N. A.
Thesis
Thesis required.
Examinations
The student must pass a final oral examination and successfully defend the thesis.
Graduate assistants are expected to concentrate on their studies under the direction of faculty mentors with the aim of developing knowledge of their field of study and their professional skills. The primary goal of an assistantship is to permit orderly progress, academically and financially, through a graduate degree program. Assistantships are academic awards generally made in the spring to begin in the fall of the following academic year. Selections are based on the applicant's academic record, test scores, recommendations and other pertinent information.
Application for assistantships is made to the Department through the Graduate Coordinator. The department will then recommend the candidate for all relevant assistantship competitions.
Presidential Scholars Fellowships
Approximate 5 awards are made each year in a University-wide competition designed to attract the most outstanding young scholars. The awards combine funds from the Graduate School, the University Research Foundation, and the Department. Candidates with a master's degree are funded for 3 years; candidates without the master's degree are funded for 5 years. These awards carry a stipend that is about 150 percent of the regular assistantship stipend.
Graduate Recruitment Opportunity Assistantships
The GRO program is designed to attract new students to the university from underrepresented populations. These include students who are first generation graduate students, students from economically or educationally disadvantaged situations, or students with special background to contribute to the discipline.
Graduate School Assistantships
A limited number of assistantships are awarded via university-wide competition. The department can recommend only a few highly qualified candidates for this competition. No more than three years of support can be provided on these assistantships and must be earned each year in a new competition. Occassionaly, the department is given an option to supplement an award
Departmental Graduate Assistantships
The Mathematics Education Department can award a number of assistantships to help with the work of the Department. Often these assistantships involve working with a faculty member in some instructional setting. These assistantships are awarded on the basis of students' productivity and expertise and the needs of the Department.
Project Assistantships
The mathematics education faculty often secure funds from sources outside the University to support a wide variety of research and development initiatives. Often these funds include support for graduate students who facilitate the work of the project. These projects have included but are not limited to developing materials for teachers, studying children's understanding of rational numbers, developing uses of technology for teaching mathematics, developing strategies to enhance the teaching of problem solving, creating tools for teachers to better assess students' understanding of mathematics, and creating materials for multicultural-oriented approaches to the teaching of mathematics.
FDIG awards
The Faculty Development in Georgia (FDIG) awards are granted to faculty of colleges in Georgia who pursue full time study for the doctorate. The application process is started at the home institution of the candidate.
Fellowships
Fellowships, when available, generally come from outside the university and application procedures depend on the source of the funding.
College of Education Scholarships
There are announcements of College of Education Scholarships in the bulletin board of the College of Education. The office is in the G-10 of Aderhold Hall.
Out-of-state Tuition Waivers
The Graduate School awards out-of-state tuition waivers to students who are classified as non-residents of the State of Georgia. The awards are based upon applicants' academic records and recommendations by department. These awards waive only the non-resident portion of a student's tuition. Students interested in being nominated for this award should contact the Graduate Coordinator. The academic record should reflect at least a 3.5 GPA.
Other Information
The following information on scholarship opportunities is available in the University of Georgia library:
- Main Ref. LB 2338. D51 1991: Directory of Research Grants. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1991
- Main Ref. LB 2337.2 B58 1990: Free Money for Graduate School: A directory of Private Grants by Laurie Blum, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 19990
- Main Ref. LB 2337.2 B593 1987: Free Money for Professional Studies. by Laurie Blum. New York: Paragon House Publishers, 1987
- Main Ref. LB 2337.2 C36 1990: The Graduate Scholarship Book: The Complete Guide to Scholarships, Grants and Loans for Graduate and Professional Study. 2nd ed. by Daniel J. Cassidy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990
Getting Started
During the first semester of the doctoral program, the Ph. D. student should take advantage of the EMAT 8990 Seminar where each faculty member in the department will have an opportunity to share current scholarly work with the seminar. The goal of this seminar is to acquaint the doctoral students with some of the range of research options and faculty interests.
Any faculty member can advise the Ph. D. students on registration in the first two semesters. It is highly recommended, however, that the student select a major professor, and perhaps an advisory committee, by the end of the second semester. The selection of a major professor should involve extended consultation and mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member.
Doctoral Advisory Committee
The Doctoral Advisory Committee is charged with planning and approving the student's program from entrance into the program through the written preliminary and oral examinations. The major professor, acting as the chairperson of the advisory committee, and at least two other members of the Doctoral Advisory Committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty. The minimum committee has three graduate faculty as members. The department may recommend additional members of the advisory committee. A member of the committee may be from outside the faculty if the appropriate expertise is demonstrateed. The Doctoral Advisory Committee must be approved by the departmental Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate Dean.
Program of Study
Doctor of Philosophy students develop a program of study with the advice of a major professor and an advisory committee. The program of study is a detailed account, by fields, of the coursework the student has or will complete as required for the Ph.D. degree in mathematics education. The program of study should be prepared as soon as possible to insure that coursework taken will satisfy the requirements necessary for graduation. A student's program of study must be approved and signed by all members of the student's advisory committee and the Graduate Coordinator.
Reading List
The reading list is a convenient tool for preparation for the Preliminary Examinations and for communicating to the Advisory Committee, via the reading list organization, the Ph. D. Student's view of the discipline of mathematics education. This list is prepared and submitted to the Advisory Committee as an indication of the student's preparation for the written examinations. The reading list should demonstrate breadth as well as depth of reading in mathematics education and in related fields. Typically, students generate these lists based on a combination of independent reading and readings assigned through their coursework. The structure the student has provided in the reading list helps the Advisory Committee organize the written preliminatry examinations.
Preliminary Examinations for Ph.D.
A student must pass formal written and oral preliminary examinations before being admitted to candidacy for the degree. These examinations are administered by the student's advisory committee. The written examination will cover a range of research and development topics in mathematics education and in related fields, as negotiated by the reading list, the candidate, and the advisory committee. The written administration format can vary with the wishes of the candidate, the topic, and the advisory committee members, from short term closed book format to extended take-home examinations.
The oral preliminary examination will be an inclusive examination within the student's field of study. An examination of the student's dissertation prospectus may follow the oral comprehensive examination but may not take the place of the oral comprehensive examination. The oral comprehensive examination is open to all members of the university community and is announced by the Graduate School. The departmental Graduate Coordinator must notify the Graduate School, in writing, of the time and place of this examination at least two weeks before the date of the examination.
Following both the written and oral examinations, each member of the advisory committee will cast a written vote of pass or fail on each examination. At least four out of a possible five positive votes are required to pass each examination. The results of both examinations will be reported to the Graduate School.
Admission to Candidacy
The student is responsible for initiating an application for admission to candidacy which is filed with the Dean of the Graduate School at least two semesters before the date of graduation. This application certifies that the student has demonstrated an ability to do acceptable graduate work in the chosen field of study and that:
- all prerequisites set as a condition to admission have been satisfactorily completed;
- the final program of study has been approved by the advisory committee, the Graduate Coordinator, and the Dean of the Graduate School;
- an average of 3.0 (B) has been maintained on all graduate courses taken and on all completed graduate courses on the program of study (no course with a grade below C may be placed on the final program of study);
- written and oral comprehensive examinations have been passed and reported to the Graduate School;
- the advisory committee, including any necessary changes in its membership, is confirmed and all members have been notified of the appointment; and
- the residence requirement has been met.
After admission to candidacy, a student must register for a minimum of three hours of dissertation or other appropriate credit for each of two semesters. A student must register for a minimum of three hours of credit in any semester when using University facilities and/or staff time.
Dissertation
Dissertation Planning
A student pursuing the Ph.D. must present a dissertation on some subject connected with his or her major field of study. The dissertation must represent originality in research, independent thinking, scholarly ability, and technical mastery of a field of study. The conclusions must be logical, the literary form must be acceptable, and the contribution to knowledge should merit publication.
The major professor has the primary responsibility for guiding the research, but the student should consult all members of the advisory committee to draw upon their expertise in relevant areas.
The major professor and advisory committee shall guide the student in the development of a dissertation prospectus and planning the dissertation. When the major professor certifies that the dissertation prospectus is satisfactory, it must be formally considered by the advisory committee in a meeting with the student. This formal consideration may not take the place of the comprehensive oral examination. Approval of the dissertation prospectus signifies that members of the advisory committee believe that it proposes a satisfactory research study. The approved prospectus is filed with the graduate coordinator.
Dissertation Approval and Defense
When the major professor is satisfied with the completed dissertation, he or she will certify that it has his or her approval and is ready to be read. The major professor will then distribute copies of the dissertation to the remaining members of the advisory committee, schedule a final oral defense, and notify the Graduate School. Subsequently, the Graduate School will announce the time and place of the defense of the dissertation to the University community. The committee members will have three weeks to read and evaluate the completed dissertation. The announcement of the defense of the dissertation must be sent to the Graduate School, in writing, by the graduate coordinator at least two weeks prior to the defense and the results of the defense must be reported to the Graduate School at least one week prior to graduation. The defense of the dissertation will be chaired by the student's major professor and attended by all members of the advisory committee. The defense is open to the university community.
Once the dissertation has been approved by the advisory committee and the final oral defense has been satisfactorily completed, the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School for final approval no later than the last day of classes of the following semester. Dissertations which are not submitted by this deadline must be defended again and approved by the Advisory Committee before they will be considered by the Graduate School for final approval.
Electronic filing of the dissertation
Beginning in 2001, students are required to submit the dissertation in electronic format using pdf files (Adobe Acrobat). Instructions are available on-line from the graduate school. Binding of paper copies for personal interest and use is an option.
Other Requirements
Before the degree will be awarded, the student must file a copy of the abstract of the dissertation (not more than 350 words) with the Graduate School and the library. At the same time, the student must submit a receipt showing that he or she has deposited with the treasurer of the University the amount of $50 (as of 1999) to cover the cost of microfilming the dissertation. If the student desires to have the dissertation copyrighted, an additional charge of $35 must be paid. This fee must be presented at the University Library in the form of a certified check or money order made payable to University Microfilms.
All requirements for the degree must be completed and reported to the Graduate School no later than one week prior to graduation. A student must enroll for a minimum of three hours of credit the semester in which graduation requirements are completed.
IRB Human Subject Research Approval
The University of Georgia and the University of Georgia Research Foundations, Inc. give assurance that they will comply with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations for the protection of Human Research Subjects. This assurance applies to all activities carried out by, in or on behalf of the institution which, in whole or in part, involve the use of human beings as subjects of research.
It is the policy of this institution that research projects involving human subjects will not be carried out until a complete research protocol describing the project has been submitted and approved. Contact IRB (Institutional Review Board) or call 542-3199 for more information.
Clarke County Approval for Human Research
A similar procedure like an IRB approval is required if a study is to be done in Clarke County schools. Contact the program specialist in G-4 of Deans Office or call 542-4693 for detailed information.
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