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**Review** Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

Mathematics M.A. – Teaching Concentration

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Coordinator: Nat Miller, Ph.D.

Email: Nat.Miller@unco.edu

Location: Ross Hall 2239

Telephone: 970-351-2297

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/mathematical-sciences/

This program is designed to prepare teachers to be experts in their own classroom. Upon finishing this program they should be able to teach the content of mathematics, assume leadership roles in mathematics curriculum within their schools, and read and understand the professional literature relating to the teaching and learning of their discipline. The emphasis is on preparing teachers for the 21st century with a dynamic and individualized program of study.

See Mathematical Sciences

Admission

Location: Online

Start Term: Fall, Spring and Summer

General Master's Degree Admission Requirements

Mathematics M.A. - Teaching Concentration

Admission Deadline

For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:

  • Summer term: March 15
  • Fall term: June 15
  • Spring term: Nov. 15

You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact the Admissions Coach for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.

Each applicant must:

  • Possess a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
    • If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
    • If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.

Take the following steps to be considered for admission:

Step 1: Complete the Application

Complete the online application.

  • Answer the application questions.
  • Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
    • Request one (1) academic or professional letter of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
  • Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee. 
    • Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.

Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.

Step 2: Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. 

Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.

Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.

Mailed transcripts should be sent to:

University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639

Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.

The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.

UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.

Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.

Step 3: Note About the GRE

This program does not require GRE scores.

Step 4: Supplemental Items

Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:

  • A statement/essay of approximately 500 words addressing your professional goals, your interest in pursuing a Mathematics Master of Arts with an emphasis in Teaching and a summary of your current teaching position in which you would be able to apply the practical coursework elements. (Please contact the Program Coordinator if you do not have a current teaching position.)
  • Proof of teaching licensure/certification, if you have one.

Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.

International Applicants

International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.

For More Information 
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.

Degree Requirements — 30 Credits

Required Concentration Credits — 9 credits

MATH 534Continuous Mathematics

3

MATH 543Modern Geometry

3

MED 600Introduction to Research in Mathematics Education

3

NOTE: MED 600 satisfies the Graduate School requirements for Introduction to Graduate Studies

Elective Credits — 21 credits

2 credits must be selected from group A, 6 credits must be selected from group B and 3 credits must be selected from group C.

Group A — 12 credits

MATH 520Functions and Equations

3

MATH 528Discrete Mathematics

3

MATH 529Mathematical Problem Solving

3

MATH 537Mathematical Modeling

3

MATH 550Applied Probability and Statistics

3

MATH 564History of Mathematics

3

MATH 591Abstract Algebra and Number Theory

3

MATH 595Topics in Mathematics

1- 3

Group B — 6 credits

MED 523Teaching Algebra

3

MED 543Teaching Geometry

3

MED 550Teaching Applied Probability and Statistics

3

MED 555Teaching Secondary Math for Understanding

3

MED 560Culture in the Math Classroom

3

MED 595Teaching Advanced Topics in Secondary School Mathematics

3

MED 673Teaching and Learning Mathematics on the Elementary Level

3

MED 674Teaching and Learning Mathematics on the Secondary Level

3

Group C — 3 credits

MATH 599Mathematics Action Research Project Seminar

3

MED 599Action Research Project Seminar

3

Additional electives may be chosen from courses offered by the school or other schools with the approval of the student's advisor.

Comprehensive Examinations

A student may select either one of the following options to satisfy the comprehensive examination requirement. Normally, at least three faculty members will be involved in judging whether or not the selected option has been completed satisfactorily.

  • Option 1. A written examination over the three required courses and over one other course from Group B above (student’s choice). Up to two hours of oral examination will be given upon successful completion of the written examination.
  • Option 2. Completion of the Action Research Project involving the selection of a problem, review of relevant literature, plan, data analysis and discussion. A copy of this project must be filed with the School; in addition, the student must make a presentation of the project. Students who choose this option take MED 599 or MATH 599 to support their work on the project.

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