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PhD switch from Math to Education?

Grad Life

By Innovator
Posted Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 11:44:38 PM PDT

I love teaching at the college level and I have specific and workable ideas for teaching calculus better as well as working around general "math phobia" in students.

I am almost three years into a PhD program for math with two to three years left.

What I am wondering is if I should switch to a PhD program in education or stay with one in math?

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I already have BS in math and computer science (top of my class with 4.0 GPA) and finished my MS in math in 2005.

I love teaching and am (as my username suggests) an innovator.

I have specific and workable ideas for teaching calculus with much greater ease as well as working around general "math phobia" in students.

There are textbooks and programs I wish to write and I am almost certain to do so as soon as my time makes this more possible.

I am almost three years into a PhD program for math with two to three years left.

What I am wondering is if I should switch to a PhD program in education (or some other field) or stay with one in math?

I found CS easy and not very challenging.

My original love was physics and chemistry.

Now very little excites and stimulates me more than devising better teaching methods for math and having the direct experience of actually teaching live, breathing students.

Would my interests in devising better math teaching protocols and approaches for calculus be something that an education PhD would allow me to specifically focus on?

Any suggestions on how I could determine what my best path would be?

< Requesting Letters of Recommendation | Mathematics Skills More in Demand Than Ever >

PhD switch from Math to Education? | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)

[new] Math vs. Math Ed (none / 0) (#1)
by aboufade on Mon Jan 16, 2006 at 08:19:32 AM PDT

A degree in Math Education will lead to an academic position either in a mathematics department or a department/school/college of education. Your primary teaching assignment would be teaching future K-12 teachers. I don't know if that is what you want, or not.

If you want to teach calculus, and other mathematics courses at a university, in a tenure-track position, most likely you will need a PhD in Mathematics. Certain universities will praise you for writing a calculus textbook early in your career. Others will wonder about your research program.

There are a few graduate programs in Collegiate Mathematics Education that you could consider, too. I believe Central Michigan University has one.

Some advice, though. If I was on a search committee, I would be concerned that you are a little too sure of yourself when it comes to being an innovator.

[new] do both (none / 0) (#2)
by pavone on Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 06:50:43 PM PDT

i was in your shoes 2 years ago. so i went over to the education department to find out about doing a masters in education, and thats exactly what i did. if you have at least 2 years and take about 2 classes per quarter, you will have enough time. it is very powerful when you begin looking for jobs. you will stand out from the other 200 applicants. i just landed a great tenure-track position, and i know that doing the 2 degrees was instrumental.

PhD switch from Math to Education? | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)

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