MST in Mathematics

Admission Requirements

Transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

  • Baccalaureate Field (Elementary School Option) Mathematics or a related field.
  • Baccalaureate Field (Secondary School Option) Mathematics or a related field that includes three semesters of calculus plus two courses from the following:
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study, and an average of 3.00 in all mathematics courses beyond calculus.

  • Minimum English Competency Test Score

    • TOEFL 100, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test), OR,

    • IELTS 7.0, with subscores of 7.0 for all four subscores, OR,

    • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic work.

  • Personal Statement Required.

  • Other Requirements Applicants for the Elementary School Option must hold a valid K–8 Illinois Teaching License or the equivalent.

Degree Requirements

Elementary School Option

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

  • Minimum Semester Hours 36 hours.  At least 12 hours of course work must be at the 500 level, excluding independent study. 
  • Course Work 
Required Courses:
Concepts and Methods in Elementary and Middle School Mathematics I
Teaching Algebra for Understanding
Introduction to Calculus and the Graphing Calculator
Introduction to Number Theory with Application
Geometry with Applications for Middle Grade Teachers
Electives must be approved by the Office of Mathematics Education, and other courses may be substituted with the permission of the Office of Mathematics Eduction.

Secondary School Option

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

  • Minimum Semester Hours: 32 hours.  At least 12 hours of course work must be at the 500 level, excluding independent study. 
  • Course Work 

Required Courses
Advanced Euclidean Geometry
Abstract Algebra
Foundations of Number Theory
Complex Analysis with Applications
Introduction to Probability
The remaining courses must be approved by the Office of Mathematics Education, and other courses may be substituted with the permission of the Office of Mathematics Education.

Other Requirements 

  • Comprehensive Examination None.

  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Course work only. No other options are available.

  • Additional Requirements for Secondary Teacher Licensure Students who wish to seek teacher licensure must take additional courses in the College of Education and complete student teaching to be eligible for state licensure. Such students are also more restricted in their choices of courses. Courses should be selected in consultation with an advisor. Contact the department for the current requirements. At the time of this writing, in addition to the MST requirements, students seeking licensure must complete:

Required Courses for Secondary Teacher Licensure
Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics I
Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics II
Educational Practice with Seminar I
and Educational Practice with Seminar II
Education Courses
Philosophy of Education and Urban School Policy
Policy Issues in the History of American Education
Adolescence and the Schools
Advanced Educational Psychology
Secondary Literacy
Exceptional Learners
Instruction and Assessment in the Urban Secondary Classroom
  • The teaching license is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of degree and licensure requirements. For more information on application procedures for the teaching license, contact the Council on Teacher Education.