COURSE CURRICULUM

The master’s program in Mathematics Education at DePaul University is a unique 18-month graduate program designed to support current and future secondary school mathematics teachers through an intensive, flexible weekend-based format. It is the only program of its kind in the area and is structured to allow working professionals to complete their degree through weekend-only sessions held over five days during the academic year, with additional summer courses scheduled on weekends and weekday evenings. Courses are offered on the Lincoln Park Campus or online, making the program accessible while still maintaining a strong academic and practical focus. A bachelor’s degree in mathematics is not required for admission, allowing educators from diverse backgrounds to enter the field of advanced mathematics teaching.The curriculum is carefully designed to strengthen both mathematical knowledge and instructional ability, with direct connections to secondary school teaching. Students study differential and integral calculus along with numerical algorithms, learning how to implement these concepts using graphing calculators and web-based software tools that can be applied in classroom instruction. The program also includes Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry, supported by educational software that helps teachers connect abstract concepts to high school curriculum standards.In addition, students explore discrete mathematical structures with an emphasis on logic, proof, and mathematical reasoning, as well as probability and statistics with introductory combinatorics. The program also includes historical and theoretical perspectives through topics in the history of elementary number theory, algebra, and geometry. Advanced coursework in abstract algebra is directly linked to high school algebra, geometry, and trigonometry instruction, helping teachers deepen their content knowledge while improving classroom teaching methods. Finally, topics in real analysis are included with a focus on enhancing calculus instruction at the secondary level.Overall, the program is designed to equip educators with strong mathematical foundations, modern teaching tools, and practical strategies that improve how mathematics is taught in high school classrooms, enabling them to help students better understand and apply mathematical concepts.