Program Overview

The Mathematics Education major in the Curriculum and Instruction degree program is designed to prepare you to bridge research and practice in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Offering an online master’s in mathematics education, as well as in-person master’s, specialist (Ed.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees, the program features core courses that highlight historically based introductions to theories of learning and curriculum development. As you complete your Ph.D., Ed.S. or master’s in mathematics education, you will gain methodologically focused contemporary perspectives on teachers’ professional learning and students’ mathematical learning.

There are three key features of our graduate programs:

  • Students in our program are exposed to a broad view of the landscape of mathematics education, taking courses from faculty whose research interests range from special education to undergraduate mathematics education.
  • A common focus across our program is the consideration of teachers’ professional growth across a variety of contexts, with a particular emphasis on the ways in which teachers attend to student thinking to support the learning of all.
  • Our college is well-situated to support students’ exploration of their interests through coursework and collaborative projects across disciplines; as a student, you are encouraged to pursue these opportunities.

DEGREES

Online Master’s in Mathematics Education

Designed for current educators, the online master’s in Curriculum & Instruction with a major in mathematics education allows you to continue working while earning an advanced degree. The program enhances mathematics teachers’ professional knowledge and skills through an emphasis on the analysis and application of relevant research through a program of core courses (taken by teachers from across disciplines and educational contexts) and elective courses, as part of a cohort model. Faculty members provide opportunities for you to further your pedagogical and subject matter knowledge and skills by focusing on research-based best practices and developing leaders in schools. Learn more.

Doctoral (On Campus)

In the doctoral program, we select students with the necessary preparation and dedication needed to succeed in this content-focused and research-intensive major. The program has been designed to maximize interactions between faculty and students and to focus on current issues of research and practice. It also provides you with considerable flexibility as you pursue your developing goals and interests. A central feature of the program is including scaffolded teaching and research apprenticeships that allow you to become a productive researcher and scholar in mathematics teacher education.

As a doctoral student, you are encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary collaborations that leverage your rigorous mathematical preparation. Such collaborations have the potential to offer new insights, theoretical perspectives, and methodological approaches to pivotal challenges facing the field of mathematics education. Learn more.

Please note: These are advanced programs designed for current teachers or other educational professionals. If you are seeking teacher certification for Mathematics (grades 6-12), please see our FSU-Teach program.

Our Faculty

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Admission Requirements

In order to meet minimum University admission requirements, applicants must have:

  • A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
  • GRE test scores*. Official test results are required from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). These scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency. Examinee copies are not considered official. Graduate Record Exam (GRE): http://www.ets.org/ – FSU Institution Code: 5219. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) do not retain scores longer than five years. If your test scores are older than five years, you may have to retake the test to have official scores sent directly to FSU from the testing agency. If you have the report that was mailed to your home address for older scores, then FSU will accept that report.
    • M.S. and Ed.S. applicant target scores: Verbal – 146+, Quantitative – 140+
    • Ph.D. applicant target scores: Verbal – 151+, Quantitative – 145+, Writing – 3+
    • *NOTE: The GRE admission requirements for master's and specialist programs have been waived through Fall 2026.
  • Language proficiency test (international students only) – FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)
  • Transcripts  Applicants must submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope:
    • Florida State University
      Office of Graduate Admissions
      314 Westcott Building
      P.O. Box 3061410
      Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
    • Admission to graduate study is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University, and the academic department, program, or college determines admissibility to the degree program. University graduate admissions requirements are found at https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions. Academic programs have additional requirements.
    • Florida State University requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants that have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. See the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on University transcript requirements for graduate admission.

Applicants must upload the following REQUIRED supporting documents to the Admissions Application Portal:

  • Statement of purpose – should describe your purpose for pursuing a degree, qualifications and long-term career goals.
    • At least one (1) page for M.S. and Ed.S. applicants
    • At least two (2) pages for Ph.D. applicants
  • Letters of recommendation
    • Two (2) for M.S. and Ed.S. applicants
    • Three (3) for Ph.D. applicants
  • One-page resume/curriculum vitae
  • Writing Sample – it is acceptable to submit a paper used in another class, or one that was published. (PhD applicants who do not have a suitable writing sample may submit a writing response.) 

Doctoral applicants - click here to learn more

Application Deadlines
  • Online master’s program:
    • Fall: July 1
  • Specialist program:
    • Fall: July 1
    • Spring: November 1
    • Summer: March 1
  • Doctoral program:

    • Fall: December 1 (priority deadline); July 1 (final deadline)

If you are interested in applying, please contact STE-GradCoord@fsu.edu.

Tuition & Aid

Information about tuition and fees at Florida State is available here. You can learn more about the scholarship and aid opportunities for Anne's College students here.

Contact(s)
Career Opportunities

Curriculum choices in our master’s and specialist programs are designed to enable students to become teacher leaders, college instructors, as well as curriculum specialists, state testing specialists and textbook company representatives. Doctoral program graduates are prepared to become university professors, researchers and leaders in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job outlook for high school teachers is expected to grow 7.5%  through 2026, which equates to approximately 79,500 new jobs. The job outlook for instructional leaders/coordinators is expected to grow up to 10.5% through 2026. That translates into over 17,000 new jobs nationwide. The median national annual salary range for instructional leaders/coordinators is $64,450 per year.  In the state of Florida, mathematics teachers are identified as one of the critical shortage areas. For university or college professors, the Bureau predicts a 9.2% increase in jobs by 2026, totaling 5,300 new jobs. The median national salary is $73,230 per year.

A career in mathematics education can be very rewarding, and a typical path offers ample opportunities for professional development and growth. Educators make a difference in the lifelong learning experience of their students, as well as, the quality and standards of the programs they teach.