Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education (MEDD)

Advisor: See Mathematics Office,
Room 3319, Everett Tower

The Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education focuses on mathematics curricula, teaching and learning mathematics, and research and evaluation in mathematics education. Programs may focus on preparation for mathematics education faculty positions in colleges and universities, supervision and curriculum development positions in school systems, or evaluation positions in education-related institutions.

Admission Requirements

Most candidates for admission will have completed a master’s degree in mathematics or mathematics education and have classroom teaching experience. Candidates must have a mathematics background at least equivalent to that provided by the secondary mathematics teaching major at Western Michigan University. Those admitted to the program without prior teaching experience or without course work in teaching and learning will be required to obtain such experiences or courses during their program of study. Admission will be determined by review of the following: a) academic background and transcripts, b) professional experience, c) three letters of recommendation, d) resume, e) written statement of at least 500 words indicating professional goals and purpose for seeking a doctoral degree, f) an interview with the Mathematics Education Faculty (when requested), and g) satisfactory completion of the general admission requirements of the Graduate College.

Program Requirements

This degree program requires a minimum of 75 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. Most students work half-time as research or teaching assistants and spend at least two years on campus. Assistantship experience is a significant part of the doctoral program. In addition to teaching assistantships, other opportunities may be available on faculty research grants and projects. Students are expected to satisfy the following program requirements.

1. Complete required course work:

At least 20 approved graduate credit hours in mathematics and statistics. Students must take geometry (MATH 6490) and algebra (MATH 6160 or MATH 6300). To complete the additional required hours, mathematics and statistics courses are selected from this list: general topology (MATH 5220), linear algebra (MATH 5300), linear algebra with applications (MATH 5310), advanced calculus I (MATH 5700), number theory (MATH 5800), graph theory (MATH 6400), combinatorics (MATH 6460), and statistics (STAT 6120 or STAT 6620).
At least six approved graduate credit hours in research methods including a course in quantitative methods (STAT 6620, PSY 6340, or EMR 6450) and a course in qualitative methods (EMR 6480).
At least 21 approved graduate credit hours in mathematics education including issues and trends in mathematics education (MATH 6570), psychology of learning mathematics (MATH 6580), research in mathematics education (MATH 6590), and two advanced teaching methods courses (selected from MATH 6510, 6530, 6560, and 6561).
Additional approved graduate credit hours selected from mathematics, statistics, mathematics education, psychology, and professional education sufficient to meet the minimum program requirements.

2. Faculty-mentored research experience

Students must work with a faculty member on a research area of interest within the first two years of the program. Work may include reading literature in a research area, generating research questions, designing research methodology, and analyzing a set of data.

3. Submit two satisfactory comprehensive program reflection portfolios:

Comprehensive program reflection portfolios will be submitted, and an oral defense conducted at the end of the first year of the program and at the end of the second year of the program if required. Portfolios will include an analytical paper that synthesizes mathematics education readings from coursework and experiences up to the time of submission.

4. Acquire competence in three research tools:

Students must demonstrate competence in the use of technological tools for: (1) quantitative research, (2) qualitative research, and (3) student learning.

5. Internship

Complete a Teaching Practicum involving an approved undergraduate course in mathematics or mathematics education approved by the department.

MATH 7120 - Professional Field Experience Credits: 2 to 12 hours

6. Complete and successfully defend a dissertation in mathematics education

Requiring 15 credit hours of:

MATH 7300 - Doctoral Dissertation Credits: 1 to 15 hours

Procedures

Upon admission a student will, within the first year of enrollment, work with a two-member advisory committee to design a Plan of Study for completing the Ph.D. At this time, any course requirements already satisfied through prior master’s level work will be determined by the advisory committee. The Plan of Study may be reviewed and adjusted as necessary throughout the program.
A student will submit a comprehensive program reflection portfolio at the end of year 1 and year 2 of the program with an oral defense at the end of year 1, and also at the end of year two if required. A review committee consisting of at least two faculty members will provide feedback in both year 1 and year 2. Feedback in year 1 will specify any areas that need attention. If the year 2 portfolio submission/oral defense does not adequately attend to the feedback from year 1, the student will be dismissed from the program.
By the time a student has satisfactorily completed the second portfolio submission defense, the student may take a readings course from a potential dissertation advisor with the goal of developing a proposal for dissertation research. Depending upon the nature of the proposed research, the student may be required to conduct a pilot study.
In consultation with the chosen dissertation advisor, the student will form a dissertation committee. The chosen dissertation advisor will become the student’s program advisor. The dissertation committee shall consist of the dissertation advisor, a second reader, at least one other faculty member, and a member from outside the department. At a time mutually convenient to the student and the dissertation committee, the student will give an open public presentation of the proposed dissertation research and answer questions on the proposal. A student will be allowed to take MATH 7300 credits only after a dissertation committee has been formed and the dissertation proposal is accepted by all its members.
After completing a dissertation and all other requirements for the Ph.D., a student will present an open public defense of the dissertation followed by an open question period. The dissertation committee will then meet in private to decide acceptance or rejection of the dissertation and defense. All committee members must agree on acceptance.