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2010-2011 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Requirements for a Major in Mathematics (not for teacher certification)

Students planning a major in mathematics not seeking teacher certification must complete the following:

Degree Cognate Requirements

Completion of MTH 201, 202, and STA 312 satisfies the B.S. degree cognate for all mathematics majors. Students completing a B.A. degree must complete these courses plus the foreign language requirement for a B.A.

Mathematics Core Requirements

All mathematics majors must complete the following courses:

Additional Mathematics Course Requirements

All mathematics majors not seeking teacher certification must also complete the requirements listed below in (a) - (c).

a. Required mathematics courses

b. One of the following upper-level two-course sequences:

(Modern Algebra)

(Advanced Calculus)

(Geometry)

(Applied Analysis)

(Discrete Mathematics and Applications)

c. Additional Course(s):

From the following list for a total of 11 courses in mathematics:

Graduate Work Preparation

Majors who plan to complete graduate work in mathematics are encouraged to (1) take as many upper-division mathematics courses from the courses listed above as possible; (2) complete at least one of the two-course upper level sequences in modern algebra or advanced calculus; (3) consult with their advisor about other courses that might be appropriate for their interests and about procedures for applying to graduate school; and (4) complete a B.A. degree by completing the third semester of French, German, or Russian.

Mathematics Cognate Requirements

All mathematics majors not seeking teacher certification must complete the following requirements to satisfy the mathematics cognate requirements:

and one course from the following:

Requirements for a Major in Mathematics with Elementary Certification Emphasis

The mathematics major with elementary certification must be completed with a GPA of 2.7 for admission to the College of Education. Students planning a major in mathematics with elementary certification must complete the following:

Degree Cognate Requirements

Completion of MTH 201, 202, and STA 312 satisfies the B.S. degree cognate for all mathematics majors. Students completing a B.A. degree must complete these courses plus the foreign language requirement for a B.A.

Mathematics Core Requirements

All mathematics majors must complete the following courses:

Additional Mathematics Course Requirements

All mathematics majors seeking elementary certification must also complete the requirements listed below:

Mathematics Cognate Requirements

All mathematics majors seeking elementary certification must complete the following requirements to satisfy the mathematics cognate requirements:

AND one course from the following:

College of Education Requirements

To be approved for student teaching, students must complete at least 24 credit hours in the major, including:

and at least two of:

In addition, students need to be aware of the College of Education requirements for admission to the elementary certification program.

Requirements for a Major in Mathematics with Secondary Certification Emphasis

The mathematics major with secondary certification must be completed with a GPA of 2.7 for admission to the College of Education. Students planning a major in mathematics with secondary certification must complete the following:

Degree Cognate Requirements

Completion of MTH 201, 202, and STA 312 satisfies the B.S. degree cognate for all mathematics majors. Students completing a B.A. degree must complete these courses plus the foreign language requirement for a B.A.

Mathematics Core Requirements

All mathematics majors must complete the following courses:

Additional Mathematics Course Requirements

All mathematics majors seeking secondary certification must also complete the requirements listed below:

Mathematics Elective Requirement

All mathematics majors seeking secondary certification must also complete one elective course from the following list. The elective course must be different than the capstone course.

Mathematics Cognate Requirements

All mathematics majors seeking secondary certification must also complete the following requirements to satisfy the mathematics cognate requirements:

and one course from the following:

College of Education Requirements

To be approved for student teaching, students must complete at least 24 credit hours in the major, including:

In addition, students need to be aware of the College of Education requirements for admission to the secondary certification program.

A student who has graduated from another accredited institution with a completed major or minor in mathematics and who now seeks only teaching certification in mathematics from Grand Valley must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Transfer or complete at Grand Valley all mathematics and cognate courses required for the certification major or minor.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) in mathematics courses from the accredited institution.
  • Completion of the College of Education requirements for certification.

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Mathematics

The following sample mathematics schedules assume the student is in contact with an advisor for appropriate general education requirements and has a strong mathematics background. Students who do not begin with MTH 201 will need to make appropriate changes.

Mathematics Majors (not for teacher certification)

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

  • Two electives for the major
  • Capstone course
  • Appropriate courses for the major

Mathematics Major with Secondary Certification Emphasis

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

  • Elective in the major
  • Student Assisting
  • Cognate course for major
  • Appropriate courses in general education

Fourth Year

Mathematics Major with Elementary Certification Emphasis

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year


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