Total Hours for Emphasis 4, Probability and Statistics: 44-45
Internship opportunities in statistics are available with many employers, including pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, manufacturing companies, and government agencies.
Emphasis 5. Mathematics Education
Successful completion of the emphasis in mathematics education leads to certification to teach at the 6-12 grade levels. In addition to the course work and certification requirements in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, students must complete other course work and certification requirements outside the department. A minor which includes a teaching endorsement in a teaching area outside of mathematics is highly desirable to enhance placement opportunities. All students who wish to pursue the emphasis in mathematics education and to seek teacher certification should consult with an adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences before the end of the sophomore year. Transfer and postbaccalaureate students should see an adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences on arrival. Graduate students majoring in the mathematical sciences, graduate students majoring in secondary education, and students-at-large should consult the Graduate Catalog.
Special Departmental Requirements for Certification
Apply for admission to teacher certification in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. This is usually done three semesters prior to the semester of student teaching.
Pass the Basic Skills Test of the Illinois Certification Testing System in order to be formally admitted to the teacher certification program. This should be accomplished before taking MATH 412. The Mathematics Area Test of the Illinois Certification Testing System must be completed before the beginning of student teaching (MATH 413). An informational booklet about the test and registration materials for the test can be obtained from the Office of Testing Services.
Obtain departmental approval for admission to teacher certification. This is normally done through a conference with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics two semesters prior to the semester of student teaching.
Satisfy the minimum GPA requirements established by the department for the undergraduate emphasis in mathematics education: an overall NIU GPA of at least 2.50, a GPA of 2.25 or higher in all courses counted for credit toward the major, and a GPA of 2.25 or higher in all courses counted for credit toward the major numbered above MATH 231.
For Illinois certification students must complete 100 clock hours of clinical experiences prior to student teaching. The requirement may be satisfied by completing the following sequence of courses.
1 Students should consult with an adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences before enrolling in courses to fulfill this requirement.
2 Undergraduates must consult with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics about admission to ILAS 201 at the beginning of the second semester of their sophomore year. Postbaccalaureate students should consult with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics upon arrival.
3 Students must consult with the coordinator of teacher certification in mathematics about admission to ILAS 300, ILAS 301, and MATH 401.
4 If MATH 401 is not completed at the student teaching school, MATH 411, Secondary School Mathematics Clinical Experience (0), may be required.
5 Admission to MATH 413 is dependent on the availability of resources. Students are normally admitted to MATH 413 only after satisfactory completion of MATH 412 at NIU and all other course work required for certification.
Additional Requirements (36-39)
In some cases these additional requirements exceed those required by the university for a baccalaureate degree. Therefore, students should consult with an adviser within the department as early as possible about meeting these requirements.
The teacher certification requirements are the same for undergraduate mathematical sciences majors with an emphasis in mathematics education and for postbaccalaureate students seeking certification in mathematics without becoming a candidate for a degree.
Core Competency (9)
Written communication, or equivalent of ENGL 105 (6)
Oral communication (3)
Humanities (12)
U.S. History (3)
English course or literature course taught in English (3)
Other approved course work (6)
Science (9)
Course work in at least two science fields with a minimum of two courses in one science field; must include at least one science laboratory course
Documentation of the completion of a first aid course, experience with drug abuse education, or an education experience with other social issues in schools (may be satisfied by course work or an approved experience).
Other Requirements
See “Teacher Certification Requirements.”
Exit Examination
All students seeking certification must pass the Illinois certification examination. Information about this test may be obtained from the Office of Testing Services.
Emphasis 6. Actuarial Science
This interdisciplinary track prepares students for careers in the actuarial profession and helps them learn material included in the Exams P / 1 (Probability), FM / 2 (Financial Mathematics) and M / 3 (Actuarial Models) of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) / Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). A few courses relevant to Exam C / 4 (Construction and Evaluation of Actuarial Models) of the SOA / CAS are also available to actuarial students. Interested students should contact the Division of Statistics for advising in this emphasis.
Note: A student seeking to attain membership with the SOA and/or CAS is required to complete the Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) requirements of the societies in three areas: applied statistics, economics, and corporate finance. Although not a requirement for completion of this emphasis, a student may receive VEE credits by completing STAT 473, STAT 478, ECON 260, ECON 261, FINA 330 and FINA 340 with a grade of B or better in each course.
Total Hours for Emphasis 6, Actuarial Science: 74-77
Special Requirement
At least 65 semester hours of the total hours required for the baccalaureate degree must be taken in courses other than those in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Division of Statistics.
Recommendations for Actuarial Students
Students should see their advisors in the Division of Statistics before scheduling these additional courses in their individual programs of study.
The following additional courses
The following additional courses cover some of the important topics in, and will help students who plan to take, Exam C / 4 of the SOA / CAS.
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