How to Become Certified to Teach Mathematics

Undergraduate Programs

You may earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics, certifiable for Secondary Certification.  Secondary certification enables you to teach mathematics classes in grades 6 through 12.  This major consists of 48 credits in mathematics, plus some additional requirements.  In addition you must apply to and be accepted by the School of Education and Professional Studies, complete a 30-credit sequence of professional courses including Student Teaching, and pass the Praxis II examination for secondary mathematics.

For Elementary Certification you may earn a Bachelor’s of Science in any subject area approved by the State Department of Education.  At Central Connecticut State University there are three elementary majors in mathematics that meet this requirement:  mathematics (33 credit hours), mathematics with biology (24 credit hours in mathematics with 18 in biology), and mathematics with earth science (24 credit hours in mathematics with 18 in earth science).  Students seeking elementary certification must apply to and be accepted by the School of Education and Professional Studies, complete a 44-credit sequence of professional courses including student teaching, and pass the Praxis II examination for elementary education.  For more information, please contact the School of Education and Professional Studies. 

Graduate Programs Leading to Initial Certification

For Secondary Certification we have a post-baccalaureate certification program in mathematics.  The number of mathematics courses that are required depends upon which courses you have already taken and how recently the credit was earned.  Like the B.S. for secondary teaching, the professional program consists of a 30-credit sequence of courses including student teaching.  For more information on this program contact Dr. Robin S. Kalder, Director of Mathematics Certification Programs, kalderr@ccsu.edu.

Cross Endorsement

If you already hold a valid Connecticut teaching certificate in another subject you may apply for cross-endorsement  in an area or at a level for which are not yet certified.   Regulations concerning cross-endorsement may be found at the State Department of Education web site http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2613&q=321254.

The most popular cross endorsement level is Middle Grades Mathematics.  At the present time to qualify for this endorsement you must have at least 15 credit hours in mathematics including a course in calculus, pass the Praxis II examination for middle grade mathematics, and earn at least 12 credit hours in courses related to middle grades curriculum and instruction.  The latter requirement may be met through a four course sequence of graduate study in the Department of Mathematical Sciences:  MATH 536 Teaching Number Concepts in the Middle Grades, MATH 537 Teaching Geometry and Measurement in the Middle Grades, MATH 538 Teaching Probability and Statistics in the Middle Grades, and MATH 539 Teaching Algebraic Thinking in the Middle Grades.  Those four courses constitute the core for the middle level track in the program for the Master of Science in Mathematics for Certified Elementary Teachers.