KCU To Offer Secondary Mathematics Education Program

Kentucky Christian University has received final approval from the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board for a new program in Secondary Mathematics Education. This program addresses the tremendous need for certified math teachers in our schools. People with talents in mathematics and other technical fields tend to choose other careers over education. According to the Christian Science Monitor, over the next decade, American schools will need as many as 200,000 new science and math teachers.

“We’re very excited about this new program. It is a big step in KCU’s continued growth as an institution, as God opens doors for us to expand in new directions,” said Perry Stepp, KCU’s Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“At one time, KCU had nothing to offer students who were interested in mathematics and technology. Our new Secondary Mathematics Education program, along with our new program in Biology (Pre-Professional Studies), will appeal to a completely new group of potential students—those who want to go into math-related technical fields, medicine, pharmacology, and medical research.”

Dr Karen Ford, Dean of KCU’s Keeran School of Education, observed that teacher education graduates who have completed studies in mathematics education will find their degrees to be extremely marketable. “There is a shortage of math teachers in our region, and the state has targeted mathematics as an area for improvement. This is a very exciting way that we can help to meet the needs of schools in our area, and it has drawn a great deal of interest from prospective students.”

The program in Secondary Mathematics Education prepares students to teach mathematics in grades 8-12 in Kentucky and throughout the nation. With its addition, KCU now offers performance-based teacher preparation programs in Elementary School Education (primary through grade 5), Middle School (English & Communications, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), and High School (English, Social Studies, and the new program in Mathematics.) For further information, please contact the Keeran School of Education at 606-474-3264 or teachered@kcu.edu.

• KCU is now enrolling students in this new program.
• Mathematics is the most challenging intellectual pursuit.
• Degree in mathematics education is highly desired by employers:
  America’s schools will need an estimated 200,000 new teachers in mathematics and science by 2020.
• In some states, as many as 40% of the teachers hired to teach mathematics are not certified in that content area.
• Degree in mathematics education leads to careers not only in education; it also opens the door to graduate work in mathematics and other technical fields, business, economics, etc.
• This degree allows KCU to offer education that leads to technically-oriented careers AND training in how to be part of changing the world for Christ.