Offered jointly by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and School of Educational Studies, the Master’s in Mathematics and Preliminary Credential trains skilled, conscientious educators who present mathematics as a living subject in which students can participate actively.

Designed for those who wish to pursue careers as secondary or community college mathematics instructors, our Master’s program in Mathematics and Preliminary Credential emphasizes mathematical modeling and problem solving while allowing graduates to work toward a preliminary single-subject teaching credential in math. CGU’s Teacher Education Internship Program emphasizes clinical training, letting program participants experience the demands and rewards of full-time teaching under the direction of a CGU mentor-advisor.

Your preliminary credential allows you to teach in public secondary schools, while the Master’s in Mathematics allows teaching in public two-year community colleges. In addition, our program’s built-in Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) emphasis provides specialized training for graduates who wish to teach individuals for whom English is a second language.

Program Highlights
  • Admission into the program requires a BA or BS, preferably in mathematics or a related field, as well as passage of educational tests such as the CBEST. Students may elect to receive either a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MS) degree, each with identical requirements.
  • Because the Institute of Mathematical Sciences is part of the Claremont Center for the Mathematical Sciences, you’ll have access to one of the largest mathematical science communities in California.
  • IMS students can gain first-hand experience in solving significant mathematical problems for industry and government clients through our internationally recognized Engineering & Computational Mathematics Clinic.
  • You will benefit from accessible and affordable program pricing to address the urgent need for teachers in California.
Program Details

Program at a Glance

UNITS
52 units

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME
2–3 years

COURSES BEGIN
Fall | Spring

DEGREE AND CREDENTIAL AWARDED
MA/MS in Mathematics, Preliminary Single-Subject Teaching Credential

Featured Courses

MATH 294
Methods of Applied Mathematics

Studies derivation of classical equations of applied math including quasilinear hyperbolic equations, Laplace, Poisson and Helmholtz equations, among others, in various orthogonal curvilinear coordinate systems.

MATH 388
Continuous Mathematical Modeling

Explores the construction, simplification, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of mathematical models that shed light on problems arising in the physical and social sciences.

MATH 251
Probability

Introduces the main elements of probability theory at an intermediate level. Topics include combinatorial analysis, conditional probabilities, discrete and continuous random variables, probability distributions, central limit theorem, and numerous applications.

MATH 387
Discrete Mathematical Modeling

Explores techniques in discrete mathematical modeling, including combinatorial analysis, Markov chains, graph theory, optimization, algorithmic behavior, and more.

EDUC PCU382
Problem-Based Mathematics for Teachers

Illustrates a problem-based approach to engaging a broad range of students and enlarging their understanding of what it means to do mathematics.

EDUC 301
TLP 1: Teaching/Learning Process for Social Justice & Equity

Develops a foundation of shared understanding and language regarding prevalent harmful practices and hidden curriculum in schools, and supports candidates in adopting humanizing and empowering habits of mind and practice to disrupt them.

Curriculum

The program requires 52 units:

  • 32 units in the Teacher Education Program (30 academic units are required for a credential; two units of math can be accepted toward the 30 unit requirement)
  • 20 in the mathematics program

The particular course plan for each student will be selected to meet his or her individual background. The choice will be made by the student in consultation with the student’s advisors from both the Education and Mathematics programs.

Accelerated Degree Option

If you are an undergraduate student at the Claremont Colleges (Pomona, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer), you can obtain a graduate degree on an accelerated track through the Claremont Graduate Scholars Program, working toward your master’s requirements simultaneously with the completion of your undergraduate degree. Up to 16 units of transferable credit can be earned upon admission to one of our master’s degree programs. You are eligible for a minimum fellowship award of $5,000 per semester at CGU, based on 12 units of enrollment. Learn how to apply

Consider this opportunity if:

  • Your longer-term plans include a PhD in a math-related field (e.g. physics, engineering, computer science)
  • You are seeking a teaching career in math or science
  • You would like to get involved in ongoing research with CGU Math faculty during your senior year
  • You would like to earn your Master’s degree in half the usual time

Resources

Engineering & Computational Mathematics Clinic
CGU’s internationally recognized Engineering & Computational Mathematics Clinic offers first-hand experience solving significant mathematical problems for industry and government clients.

Recent projects include:

  • Optimizing Transmission of Renewable Energy–Southern California Edison
  • Hardware-Software Codesign–Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Data Cohort Analysis–Fair Isaac
  • Optimizing Smart Power Grids–Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Credit Risk in a Network Economy–Fitch Rating
  • Isogeometric Analysis–Boeing
  • Gate to Base Capacitance Modeling for Nanoscale MOSFETs–USC Information Sciences Institute
  • Practical Semi-Analytic Model for the Substrate Current of Short Channel MOSFETs with LDDs–USC Information Sciences Institute

Learn More

Claremont Center for the Mathematical Sciences
Through the Claremont Center for the Mathematical Sciences (CCMS), you’ll have access to one of the largest mathematical science communities in California, as well as to workshops, conferences, and seminars, including:

  • Southern California Analysis Seminar
  • Math-in-Industry Workshop
  • Michael E. Moody Lecture Series
  • History and Philosophy of Mathematics Seminar
  • Claremont Mathematics Weekend
  • CCMS Software Lab
  • and more

Learn More

Faculty & Research
  • DeLacy Ganley profile image

    DeLacy Ganley

    Dean, School of Educational Studies
    Professor of Education

    Research Interests

    Culturally relevant education; resiliency and achievement of marginalized populations; intersection of families, community, and school; language acquisition; social capital theory; systems theory

  • John Angus profile image

    John Angus

    Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Probability, Statistics, Computing, Algorithms, Navigation, Systems Engineering, Mathematical Finance

  • Marina Chugunova profile image

    Marina Chugunova

    Professor of Mathematics
    Director, Institute of Mathematical Sciences
    Program Director, PhD in Engineering & Computational Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Surfactant-driven thin film flows in biomedical applications; Nonlinear parabolic equations; Stability problems in fluid dynamics; Scientific computations; Applied operator theory; Sturm-Liouville problems

  • Hrushikesh Mhaskar profile image

    Hrushikesh Mhaskar

    Research Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Approximation theory, Computational harmonic analysis, Machine learning, Signal processing

  • Ali Nadim profile image

    Ali Nadim

    Professor of Mathematics
    Joseph H. Pengilly Chair in Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Fluid Dynamics, Mathematical Modeling, Scientific Computing

  • Andrew Nguyen profile image

    Andrew Nguyen

    Adjunct Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Stochastic processes, Statistics, Risk management, Financial derivatives, Actuarial sciences, Statistical software

  • Qidi Peng profile image

    Qidi Peng

    Research Associate Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Statistical inferences, Stochastic differential equations, Stochastic modeling, Simulation, Machine learning, Approximation theory, Graph theory

  • Allon Percus profile image

    Allon Percus

    Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Discrete optimization; Network models; Statistical physics; Random combinatorial structures

  • Claudia Rangel-Escareño profile image

    Claudia Rangel-Escareño

    Adjunct Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Probabilistic methods in computational biology, Statistical inference of genetic networks, Bioinformatics

  • Henry Schellhorn profile image

    Henry Schellhorn

    Professor of Mathematics
    Academic Director, Financial Engineering Program

    Research Interests

    Financial engineering, Credit risk, Stochastic analysis, Traffic models

  • Rebecca Hatkoff profile image

    Rebecca Hatkoff

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Research Interests

    Critical Social Justice Teaching Competencies; Classroom and School Ecology; Effective and Empowering Pedagogy for all Students, Teacher Candidates, and Teachers; Strength-Based Views of Schools, Teachers, Students, Households, and Communities

Extended Faculty

In addition to CGU core faculty, you will have access to Math faculty across the Claremont Colleges, including Pomona, Scripps, Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Keck Graduate Institute, as well as faculty who are part of the W.M. Keck integrated science department.

View Full Faculty List

Harvey Mudd
View Math Faculty

Pomona
View Math Faculty

Claremont McKenna
View Math Faculty

Scripps
View Math Faculty

Pitzer
David Bachman
Jim Hoste

W.M. Keck Integrated Science Department
(Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, Scripps)
Adam Landsberg
John Milton

Keck Graduate Institute
Animesh Ray
James Sterling

Where You Can Find Our Alumni

Request information about the Mathematics | Preliminary Teaching Credential program

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Gabriela Krupa

Associate Director of Admissions
T: 909-607-9101
E: gabriela.krupa@cgu.edu