Mathematics Education Courses
Note: The definitive UTRGV course listing, which includes course description and prerequisites, is available via ASSIST.
MATE 3301 - Fund Middle School Math
This course advances knowledge and skills from MATH 1350 and MATH 1351 and involves analyses of intermediate mathematical structures, their construction, and synchronous mappings into multiple embodiments (e.g., symbolic, situational, technological, geometric, and others). Clinical, laboratory, and field experiences provide opportunities to construct and assess selected structures according to established theories. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3302 - Fund Measurement & Geometry I
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. It extends fundamental geometry and measurement concepts and principles, with use of technology, across an array of topics: length, area, volume, transformations, symmetry, congruency, similarity, coordinate and measurement systems. Emphasis is on developing structured knowledge up to the van Hiele model level of order/informal deduction for geometric thinking. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3303 - Fund Measurement & Geometry II
This course is a continuation of MATE 3302 as an in-depth study of measurement and geometry. This course studies Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries through axiomatic systems. It characterizes middle school geometry in terms of logical and axiomatic structure emphasizing the development of structured knowledge at the van Hiele model level of deduction. Prerequisites: MATE 3302 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3304 - Fund Algebraic Stuctures
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. Topics include meaningful learning of concepts and properties of relations, functions, binary operations, groups, rings, and fields, using technology when appropriate. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3305 - Fund Stats & Probability
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. Topics include meaningful learning of concepts and properties of descriptive statistics, probability, and inferential statistics, using technology when appropriate. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 or MATH 2413 (or MATH 2487) with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3306 - Middle School Math Tech Envr
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. This course studies mathematics that can be developed and explored in an environment in which calculators and computers are primary investigative tools. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3307 - Fund Problem Solving
This course is a study of mathematical problem solving using heuristics to investigate problems drawn from algebra, geometry, probability, statistics, and calculus using technology when appropriate. Topics include Poyla's problem-solving model; teaching for, about and via problem solving; and problem posing. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3311 - Fund Discrete Math
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. Topics include meaningful learning of concepts and properties of election theory, fairness, apportionment methods, recursion, mathematical induction, graph theory, and combinatorics, using technology when appropriate. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3312 - Fund Number Theory
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. Topics include meaningful learning of concepts and properties of the divisibility relation, primes, linear Diophantine equations, multiplicative functions, modular arithmetic, linear congruences, Pythagorean triples, and introductory cryptography using technology when appropriate Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3313 - Fund Math History
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. An introductory study of history of mathematics. The mathematics of various civilizations will be studied and will include topics from number systems, Euclidean geometry, number theory, algebra, analytic geometry, calculus, and non-Euclidean geometries. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 and MATH 2412, each with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3314 - Fund Math Structures & Proc
This course is intended for middle school mathematics teacher certification students. Topics include concepts, principles, skills, proofs, and applications of logical, axiomatic, and algorithmic mathematical structures and processes. Prerequisites: MATH 1351 with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3317 - Perspectives in Math & Sci
This upper-division course explores a selection of topics and episodes in the history of mathematics and science. It provides an overview of the history of mathematics and science, and puts these historical perspectives to work in pedagogy. Also, it promotes intellectual curiosity and enhances students’ critical thinking skills, and improves their presentation and writing skills. Students will design and prepare two 5E lessons plans of 1200 words each and make a presentation of one lesson plan to a group of peers and critique presentations of others. Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C in one of the following: MATE 3321, BIOL 3330, or PHYS 3330.
MATE 3321 - Functions & Modeling
This course focuses on enhancing students’ mathematics content knowledge, with an emphasis on concepts needed to teach secondary mathematics at various levels. The course consists of four instructional units: 1) Functions, 2) Modeling, 3) Overlooked Topics and Explorations, and 4) Geometry of Complex Numbers. Specific topics of investigation include function properties and patterns, complex numbers, parametric equations, polar equations, vectors, and exponential growth and decay. Explorations involve the use of multiple representations, transformations, data analysis techniques (such as curve fitting) and interconnections among topics in algebra, analytic geometry, statistics, trigonometry, and calculus. The lab investigations include use of various technologies including computers, calculators, and computer graphing software. Prerequisites: MATH 2413 (or MATH 2487) and UTCH 1102, each with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 3322 - Secondary Math in Tech Envr
This course is intended for secondary mathematics teacher certification students. This course studies mathematics that can be developed and explored in an environment in which calculators and computers are primary investigative tools. Prerequisites: MATH 2414 (or MATH 2488) with a grade of 'C' or better.
MATE 4392 - Res Methds Mid & Sec Schl Math
This course is intended for middle and secondary school mathematics teacher certification students. In this course, students will design and carry out a set of independent inquiries, through which they learn to combine skills from mathematics, statistics and science in order to solve research problems. In these inquiries, students will learn to design a research project, write and review papers, and use quantitative reasoning. The inquiries will enable students to learn how researchers develop and communicate new knowledge and insights and to develop critical thinking skills in conducting research projects. Prerequisites: One of the following: MATE 3305, STAT 3337, STAT 2334 , or STAT 3301.
MATE 4423 - Adv Studies in Secondary Math
This course is intended for secondary mathematics teacher certification students. It examines connections of secondary mathematics content and processes to logical and axiomatic structures in modern geometry at the van Hiele model levels of deduction and rigor. It also examines connections of secondary mathematics content and processes to numerical and algebraic structures in modern algebra and Usiskin's characterization of algebra. Prerequisites: MATH 3352 and MATH 3363, each with a grade of 'C' or better.