Master of Mathematics

Enhance your mathematics teaching with an online master’s degree

$Photo of woman in graduation attire with caption "Dani Waldrop, Class of 2020"$

Dani Waldrop, Class of 2020

The University of Tennessee’s Master of Mathematics (MM) program is intended to support teachers as mathematicians through rigorous mathematical training in a broad range of topics. We do this by:

Incorporating evidence-based practices in our course and program design,
Creating an inclusive and diverse community of educators from different backgrounds,
Providing access to relevant material in an easily accessible format, and
Encouraging self-reflection for continued professional growth.

Is this program right for me?

This program is intended for educators interested in expanding the breadth and depth of their mathematical knowledge. Our MM program complements UT’s more traditional Master of Science (MS) programs in Mathematics or in Education by offering rigorous mathematics training paired with practical applications in the classroom.

Most of our classes are in a synchronous online format. We use Zoom video meetings, so that students can have the benefits of interacting with their instructor and classmates as well as the flexibility of attending class remotely. All you need is a computer with a reliable internet connection. Our program is part of Vols Online, so our students have access to all the resources for distance education students at the University of Tennessee (including career development, free mental health and wellness services, and more).

Not ready to commit to an entire master’s program yet? We also have a Graduate Certificate in Mathematics program which entails 18 graduate credit hours and can help with dual enrollment teaching credentials.

Highlights:

Two Years: A full-time working professional can finish their MM degree in two years if taking one to two classes each term (including summers).
Comprehensive Portfolio: Instead of a thesis or timed exam, students compile a portfolio which shows their professional growth and can be used in a job search.
Flexible Admissions: Students can apply for and start the program during the summer or fall.
Distance Education Tuition and Fees: Because our program is a fully online program, the tuition and fees are lower than that of our traditional face-to-face graduate programs.
A History of Ongoing Improvement: The program launched in the 1960s with funding from the National Science Foundation. In the 2010s, the program moved to be fully online. More recently, we have added new courses and updated existing ones. We believe in a growth mindset for our students, and that means we are continually growing as well.

Here’s what a few of our recent grads have to say:

“Going through the MM program has been an extremely positive experience for me as an educator and as a person. Knowing that I did not want to stop working full time while pursuing my master’s degree, the MM program was a perfect fit for me… The professors respected us as working individuals and were very good at creating collaborative learning environments, even through an online learning environment. I was able to build positive connections with my professors and peers even though I have not met many of them in person. Ultimately, I know that I have gained some life-long mentors and friends.”
– Gaby de Jesus, Class of 2023

“The MM program challenged me to be a better mathematician and as a result a better teacher. I am proud to have earned a Master of Mathematics and am excited about the opportunities now available to me because of it!”
– Hayley Stowell, Class of 2021

“The MM program pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me a better teacher by challenging me and modeling current best practices in higher math education. Also, it gave me an amazing network of educators from all over that I know I can bounce ideas off whenever!”
– Megan Warren, Class of 2020

Admissions

Consideration for admission to the program requires:

Certification for teaching and/or teaching experience – In exceptional circumstances, part of this might be satisfied concurrently with course work.
Evidence of success in at least one year of college-level calculus (equivalent to Math 141-142) and a course beyond the calculus sequence (e.g. Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Intro to Proofs).

Don’t meet the admission requirements? Contact us anyway to get advising on the best way to prepare for our program.

Coursework

The program requires 30 semester hours (typically 10 courses) of coursework of which at least 21 must be at the 500 level and at most six may be from outside the Department of Mathematics. Details about required courses can be found in the Academic Catalog.

The department offers these courses in a rotation, so that a teacher working at a full time job can complete the degree in two years (with one or two courses each term, including summers). Summer classes meet during the day. Fall and spring courses typically meet for three hours one evening per week at 6pm-9pm Eastern Time. Popular electives are graduate courses in mathematics education or instructional technology.

Current Course Schedule

Term	Course Number	Course Title
Summer Even Years	Math 504	Discrete Mathematics for Teachers
Summer Even Years	Math 508	Statistics for Teachers
Fall Even Years	Math 503	Mathematical Reasoning and Proofs for Teachers
Fall Even Years	Math 530	Differential Equations for Teachers
Spring Odd Years	Math 506	Algebra for Teachers
Spring Odd Years	Math 509	Seminar – Portfolio Preparation & College Teaching
Summer Odd Years	Math 507	Probability for Teachers
Summer Odd Years	Math 510	Mathematical Modeling for Teachers
Fall Odd Years	Math 550	Linear Algebra for Teachers
Fall Odd Years	Math 509	Seminar – Special Topics Course
Spring Even Years	Math 505	Analysis for Teachers
Spring Even Years	Math 509	Seminar – Portfolio Preparation & College Teaching

The schedule may change based on enrollment numbers.

Portfolio Examination

See Portfolio Examination page for details.