Total Hours for Emphasis 4, Probability and Statistics: 44-47
Internship opportunities in statistics are available with many employers, including pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, manufacturing companies, and government agencies.
Emphasis 5. Mathematics Education
To be licensed to teach secondary school mathematics (9-12 grades), the Illinois State Board of Education requires that students must have passed all the MATH/STAT and professional education courses applicable to their major (Mathematics Education emphasis at NIU) with a grade of C or better. In addition to the course work and licensure requirements in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, students must complete other course work and licensure requirements outside the department. Students who successfully complete the program and pass the state mandated Teacher Performance Assessment will have completed all required ISBE standards for receiving university recommendation for licensure to teach mathematics at the 9-12 grade levels. A minor that includes a teaching endorsement in a teaching area outside of mathematics is highly desirable to enhance placement opportunities. Students who wish to pursue the emphasis in mathematics education and to seek educator licensure should consult with an adviser in the Department of Mathematical Sciences before enrolling in ILAS 201. 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.
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 licensure.
OR an approved computer programming class focused on the use of FORTRAN, C, or C++ that contains a laboratory component (3-4)
Recommendations
Courses in chemistry and physics with at least one laboratory course. These courses satisfy the Nature and Technology general education requirement.
ENGL 350, which satisfies a Creativity and Critical Analysis general education requirement.
Special Departmental Requirements for Licensure
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Secondary Mathematics Educator Licensure Program when they have:
Established an advising file with the Secondary Mathematics Educator Licensure Program and completed satisfactory reviews of progress each semester after establishment of the file;
Completed at least 12 semester hours at NIU with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50;
Earned a minimum GPA of 2.25 in all courses counted for credit toward the major and a minimum grade of C in all Mathematics courses;
Earned a minimum GPA of 2.25 in all courses counted for credit toward the major numbered above MATH 231;
Passed the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) of the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) or met the ACT/SAT/TAP substitution as recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education;
Completed at least 20 clock hours of approved early clinical experiences;
Obtained approval from the Secondary Mathematics Educator Licensure Program.
Retention
Students admitted to the licensure program must:
Maintain a GPA of 2.50 in all course work taken at NIU;
Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 in all courses counted for credit toward the major;
Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 in all courses counted for credit toward the major numbered above MATH 231;
Complete a satisfactory review of progress each semester with a Coordinator of Educator Licensure in the Department of Mathematical Sciences;
Take and pass the ILTS Mathematics Content Exam prior to applying for MATH 401/Student Teaching;
Take and pass the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) before completion of the program
Clinical Requirements
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires a minimum of 100 clock hours of substantial, varied and sequential clinical experiences prior to student teaching. This requirement may be satisfied by completing the following sequence of courses:
If MATH 401 is not completed at the student teaching school, MATH 419, Secondary School Mathematics Clinical Experience (0) may be required.
Undergraduates must consult with the Coordinator of Educator Licensure in the Department of Mathematics about admission to ILAS 201, ILAS 301, and MATH 401. Postbaccalaureate students should consult with the Coordinator of Educator Licensure in the Department of Mathematics upon arrival.
Professional Education Course Requirements
The ISBE and requirements for educator licensure in Mathematics at NIU also specify that candidates must earn a grade of C or better for each course included in required professional course work in human development and learning, and teaching of English Language Learners, teaching exceptional children. Candidates should consult with the Coordinator of Educator Licensure in Mathematics to determine which courses satisfy these additional requirements outside the department.
Please note: the above classes for educator licensure may change to reflect new state requirements.
Additional Requirements
For detailed information, see “University Graduation Requirements.”
In some cases requirements for licensure in secondary mathematics 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 general education requirements.
The educator licensure requirements are the same for undergraduate mathematical sciences majors with an emphasis in mathematics education and for postbaccalaureate students seeking licensure in mathematics without becoming a candidate for a degree.
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).
Exit Examination
Students seeking licensure must pass the edTPA. Students who successfully complete the program and pass the state mandated Teacher Performance Assessment will have completed all required Illinois State Board of Education standards for receiving university recommendation for licensure to teach mathematics at the 9-12 grade levels. Information about this test may be obtained from the ISBE.
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 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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