Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mathematics Education is a planned program that allows a student to develop depth in mathematics education, mathematics, and related fields. The goals of doctoral study in Mathematics Education at Florida State University are to help students:

Acquire greater competence in mathematics education and better understanding of the teaching-learning process;
Develop abilities for research in the field of mathematics education;
Gain depth and breadth of knowledge in mathematics; and
Advance a broadened professional background in areas related to mathematics education, such as educational psychology, educational policy, technology, and the history, philosophy, and sociology of education.

The primary mission of the Ph.D. program in Mathematics Education at Florida State University is to prepare individuals for careers as college or university professors in Schools/Colleges of Education or in Departments of Mathematics where the primary responsibilities will be to conduct and direct basic research on the teaching and learning of mathematics, to teach courses to prospective and in-service mathematics teachers, and to provide service to the field at large. Graduates would also be qualified to assume positions as mathematics curriculum consultants in school districts, researchers in educational laboratories, or staff members in educational publishing companies. The Ph.D. program is designed to produce individuals who have the knowledge, competencies, and skills which enable them to (1) conduct, direct, and evaluate research related to the teaching and learning of school mathematics, (2) educate prospective and in-service teachers on the principles of teaching and learning mathematics, and, (3) teach K-16 mathematics.

Admissions

To be admitted into the Ph.D. program you will need to complete an application to The Florida State University. The application process begins with the submission of a university application found at http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/admissions/requirements/gradreq.html. All university minimum requirements must be met.

In addition to submitting an application, applicants need to send a personal statement about personal, educational and professional goals, 3 letters of recommendation, official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework, and official record of scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A grade point average of 3.0 on previous graduate work AND a minimum combined score of 1100 on the GRE with a minimum quantitative score of 600 and a minimum verbal score of 500 is needed to be admitted into the program. Official TOEFL results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied in an English-speaking country for at least one academic year. A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the internet-based test is required for admission to the program. All admission materials should be sent directly to the Mathematics Education Doctoral Coordinator, Department of Middle and Secondary Education, Florida State University, 209 Carothers Hall, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4490.

The following website provides a timeline which should be followed in order to ensure timely completion of all the university requirements necessary for regular admission to the program: http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/admissions/requirements/timeline.html

Please see the Graduate Bulletin for updated information, or http://admissions.fsu.edu/.

Curriculum

A course of study is planned under the supervision of the student's major professor. The dissertation is planned and conducted under the supervision of a dissertation committee chaired by the major professor. The curriculum for the doctoral student is designed on an individual basis. Typically, students take courses in mathematics education, mathematics, statistics and educational research methods, educational foundations, and a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research. Students coming into the program with graduate hours in the above areas can typically reduce their overall course work hours in the doctoral program. There are four core doctoral seminar courses required of all doctoral students, and are offered on a rotating two-year sequence. The courses are:

MAE 6938 Mathematics Learning (3)
MAE 6939 Seminar in Mathematics Teacher Education (3)
MAE 6148 Curriculum in Mathematics Education (3)
MAE 6797 Advanced Seminar on Research in Mathematics Education (4)

Additional mathematics education courses are described in the Graduate Bulletin at http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/grad/depts/middlesecond_ed.htm#thirteen

Research-oriented Ph.D. study in the program prepares students for different forms of intellectual leadership in education. These different forms of intellectual leadership include research, teacher education and other teaching in higher education, and leadership positions in educational agencies. These different forms of leadership are not mutually exclusive, but the relative emphasis of each varies among students and areas and as such programs of study are very individualized with a common set of core courses.

Participation in the doctoral program requires more than coursework and a dissertation. It includes, among other things, participation in a scholarly community and collaboration with peers. In addition, a program carries with it an implicit understanding that its graduates will have both a broad and a deep understanding of the canon of knowledge that makes up our field. Such an understanding is not achieved solely from course content.

Graduate students have opportunities to take part in supervising middle and secondary mathematics student teachers, teaching undergraduate mathematics education or mathematics courses, working on state and national projects, conducting research with professors, and collaborating with Ph.D. students from around the world.

Financial Opportunities

The Mathematics Education Program will attempt to support as many doctoral students as possible, but with the large demand by students for graduate work at Florida State University, we are unable to provide assistantships for all qualified students. However, if you are accepted into the program, we will make every effort to identify a source of financial assistance for you. There are Graduate Research Assistantships, College of Education Fellowships/Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, and possibilities of working on research grants. Applications for teaching assistantships in the department must be completed and returned by the deadline indicated in order to be considered. Teaching assistantships are typically awarded during fall and spring semesters. Students with a GRE above 1250 are encouraged to discuss possible teaching assistantships with the Mathematics Department. Students may qualify for a tuition fee waiver. If so, students must enroll for the minimum number of credits each academic semester (9 hours). Summer financial support varies depending on grant activity of faculty. Additional sources of fellowships and funding may be found at http://gradstudies.fsu.edu/funding.html or http://www.coe.fsu.edu/finaid/

For More Information, call the Department of Middle and Secondary Education Office at (850) 644-6553, or contact

Doctoral Coordinator
Mathematics Education Program
Department of Middle and Secondary Education
Florida State University
209 Carothers Hall
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4490


	MSE Home Mathematics Education Home -Undergraduate Programs -Master's Programs -Specialist Programs -Doctoral Programs -Faculty -Links			Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mathematics Education is a planned program that allows a student to develop depth in mathematics education, mathematics, and related fields. The goals of doctoral study in Mathematics Education at Florida State University are to help students: Acquire greater competence in mathematics education and better understanding of the teaching-learning process; Develop abilities for research in the field of mathematics education; Gain depth and breadth of knowledge in mathematics; and Advance a broadened professional background in areas related to mathematics education, such as educational psychology, educational policy, technology, and the history, philosophy, and sociology of education. The primary mission of the Ph.D. program in Mathematics Education at Florida State University is to prepare individuals for careers as college or university professors in Schools/Colleges of Education or in Departments of Mathematics where the primary responsibilities will be to conduct and direct basic research on the teaching and learning of mathematics, to teach courses to prospective and in-service mathematics teachers, and to provide service to the field at large. Graduates would also be qualified to assume positions as mathematics curriculum consultants in school districts, researchers in educational laboratories, or staff members in educational publishing companies. The Ph.D. program is designed to produce individuals who have the knowledge, competencies, and skills which enable them to (1) conduct, direct, and evaluate research related to the teaching and learning of school mathematics, (2) educate prospective and in-service teachers on the principles of teaching and learning mathematics, and, (3) teach K-16 mathematics. Admissions To be admitted into the Ph.D. program you will need to complete an application to The Florida State University. The application process begins with the submission of a university application found at http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/admissions/requirements/gradreq.html. All university minimum requirements must be met. In addition to submitting an application, applicants need to send a personal statement about personal, educational and professional goals, 3 letters of recommendation, official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework, and official record of scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A grade point average of 3.0 on previous graduate work AND a minimum combined score of 1100 on the GRE with a minimum quantitative score of 600 and a minimum verbal score of 500 is needed to be admitted into the program. Official TOEFL results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied in an English-speaking country for at least one academic year. A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the internet-based test is required for admission to the program. All admission materials should be sent directly to the Mathematics Education Doctoral Coordinator, Department of Middle and Secondary Education, Florida State University, 209 Carothers Hall, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4490. The following website provides a timeline which should be followed in order to ensure timely completion of all the university requirements necessary for regular admission to the program: http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/admissions/requirements/timeline.html Please see the Graduate Bulletin for updated information, or http://admissions.fsu.edu/. Curriculum A course of study is planned under the supervision of the student's major professor. The dissertation is planned and conducted under the supervision of a dissertation committee chaired by the major professor. The curriculum for the doctoral student is designed on an individual basis. Typically, students take courses in mathematics education, mathematics, statistics and educational research methods, educational foundations, and a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research. Students coming into the program with graduate hours in the above areas can typically reduce their overall course work hours in the doctoral program. There are four core doctoral seminar courses required of all doctoral students, and are offered on a rotating two-year sequence. The courses are: MAE 6938 Mathematics Learning (3) MAE 6939 Seminar in Mathematics Teacher Education (3) MAE 6148 Curriculum in Mathematics Education (3) MAE 6797 Advanced Seminar on Research in Mathematics Education (4) Additional mathematics education courses are described in the Graduate Bulletin at http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/grad/depts/middlesecond_ed.htm#thirteen Research-oriented Ph.D. study in the program prepares students for different forms of intellectual leadership in education. These different forms of intellectual leadership include research, teacher education and other teaching in higher education, and leadership positions in educational agencies. These different forms of leadership are not mutually exclusive, but the relative emphasis of each varies among students and areas and as such programs of study are very individualized with a common set of core courses. Participation in the doctoral program requires more than coursework and a dissertation. It includes, among other things, participation in a scholarly community and collaboration with peers. In addition, a program carries with it an implicit understanding that its graduates will have both a broad and a deep understanding of the canon of knowledge that makes up our field. Such an understanding is not achieved solely from course content. Graduate students have opportunities to take part in supervising middle and secondary mathematics student teachers, teaching undergraduate mathematics education or mathematics courses, working on state and national projects, conducting research with professors, and collaborating with Ph.D. students from around the world. Financial Opportunities The Mathematics Education Program will attempt to support as many doctoral students as possible, but with the large demand by students for graduate work at Florida State University, we are unable to provide assistantships for all qualified students. However, if you are accepted into the program, we will make every effort to identify a source of financial assistance for you. There are Graduate Research Assistantships, College of Education Fellowships/Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, and possibilities of working on research grants. Applications for teaching assistantships in the department must be completed and returned by the deadline indicated in order to be considered. Teaching assistantships are typically awarded during fall and spring semesters. Students with a GRE above 1250 are encouraged to discuss possible teaching assistantships with the Mathematics Department. Students may qualify for a tuition fee waiver. If so, students must enroll for the minimum number of credits each academic semester (9 hours). Summer financial support varies depending on grant activity of faculty. Additional sources of fellowships and funding may be found at http://gradstudies.fsu.edu/funding.html or http://www.coe.fsu.edu/finaid/ For More Information, call the Department of Middle and Secondary Education Office at (850) 644-6553, or contact Doctoral Coordinator Mathematics Education Program Department of Middle and Secondary Education Florida State University 209 Carothers Hall Tallahassee, FL 32306-4490