The primary mission of the Ph.D. program in Mathematics Education at Illinois State University is to prepare individuals for careers as college or university professors in Schools 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 school mathematics and to teach courses to prospective and in-service mathematics teachers. Graduates will 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
- conduct, direct, and evaluate research related to the teaching and learning of school mathematics,
- educate prospective and in-service teachers on the principles of teaching and learning mathematics, and
- develop and evaluate mathematics curricula.
Students in the program will acquire these skills through
(1) a combination of coursework in mathematics education, mathematics, and a cognate area;
(2) the completion of a professional project;
(3) the acquisition of research tool skills;
(4) the completion of a dissertation; and
(5) the demonstration of competence in teaching prospective or practicing mathematics teachers.