Any online Math Ed Masters?
Does anyone know of an online masters degree in mathematics education
(intended for practicing math teachers)?
You might try the University of Idaho's M.A. in the Teaching of Mathematics.
The 13th edition of Bears' Guide (p. 136) has it offered nonresidentially
through the engineering outreach program, which can be found here:
http://www.uidaho.edu/evo
depends. outside academia, an earned doctorate commands a higher
market value than masters and bachelors. it is natural to conclude
that some corporations will choose masters and bachelors over phds. in
academia (higher education) an earned phd opens more doors than it
closes, because in addition to being elegible for instructionships,
phds are elegible for postdocs and teaching/research positions. in
lower education, a math phd may be less desirable than a master and
even than a phd in math education.
I would first draw a pretty big distinction between "pure" and
"applied" math. For 'pure', or theoretical, math, there is very tight
competition and I believe a PhD is is not only going to be helpful, but
almost mandatory. There are relatively few people with the actual word
"mathematician" in their job titles. Indeed, strictly speaking there are
more math professors than mathematicians!
Now, for the "applied" (or 'practical' or whatever) math, it is a
different story. Most people with math degrees actually work in 'other
fields' that utilize a lot of math. Outside the government, IIRC the
pharmaceutical industry employs the most "mathematicians". But most people
will have other job titles. More important than your degree level, generally,
is your proven ability (classes or work experience) to 'apply' what math
you've learned to solving the industries problems. Naturally, there is a lot
of math associated with the natural sciences, so some background in Physics
or Chemistry or Biology or whatever can be very helpful. Or there is the
'business' route, with econonmics, finance, actuarial, etc. fields.
If you think you are talented enough to get one of those highly sought
after "blue sky" research jobs -- or a professorship at a top notch research
university -- then by all means go for the PhD and you might want to
emphasize 'pure' math coursework. On the other hand, if you are looking for
math oriented work in the "real world", it is often better/more important
to *diversify* than to pile up knowledge in obscure parts of math that you
might not need. My advice (worth what you pay for it! :-) ) is to get
an undergrad minor in a related field that interests you. And make *certain*
that your record shows that you can handle a computer, including programming.
The burea of labor statistics should have a description and stats
breakdown of the field, but I don't recall the URL offhand. I can sympathize
with the math majors, in history it is a similar story -- "You can get a job
doing almost anything, *except* history."