BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Education

KEY FACTS

Title
BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Education
Course type
Full-time
Duration
3 years (optional placement)
Award
Bachelor of Science - BSc (Hons)
Faculty
Faculty of Science and Technology
School
School of Computing and Mathematics
UCAS codes
Institution P60
Course G1X3
Location
Plymouth

Academic Excellence Awards associated with this course

MATHEMAtICS WITH EDUCATION

This is a course for students who are considering a career in mathematics teaching. It contains high-level mathematical and statistical modules from our other mathematics degrees. This gives graduates both a very solid background and also flexibility in their future career choices. Furthermore the degree provides a foundation of concepts and skills to support the teaching of mathematics in the National Curriculum and at A-level.

There is a severe shortage of mathematics teachers in this country. A recent survey revealed that one in four secondary mathematics lessons were given by teachers who were not mathematics specialists. The career prospects for good mathematics teachers are therefore excellent.

The video below offers an introduction to studying mathematics with us at Plymouth.

Mathematics with Education with Plymouth University

This course covers the central ideas and developments of pure and applied mathematics and offers opportunities to work in schools. It thus offers an ideal start for anyone wanting to pursue a mathematics teaching career. Throughout the degree students have the opportunity to work with school children on the mathematics enrichment courses run by our Centre for Teachings Mathematics. The degree is designed to develop your analytical and strategic thinking skills as well as equipping you with experience with professional software and in applying mathematics to solve a wide variety of problems.

The first year develops and strengthens topics previously met at A-level, such as calculus, but also introduces completely new material such as the number theory underlying internet security. Professional software such as Maple, a computer algebra system, and R, a programming language and software environment are also introduced in the first year. This experience ensures that our students are prepared to tackle numerical mathematics and mathematical programming. In the second year our students can master more advanced mathematical techniques. After this sound base is established, the final year features include a year-long schools based module working alongside an experienced mathematics teacher and a project module in mathematics education.

This is a highly practical degree which lets you master many technical skills as well as exploring the beauty of mathematics. It also gives you the essential school experience required to be accepted onto a mathematics teacher training (PGCE) course. We are very proud of the support we offer to our students. Our lecturers are at the forefront of their subjects and the degree is strongly informed by their research. Graduate positions include advanced skills teacher, post-16 network leader and head of the mathematics department in a school.

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED LEARNING - iPad mini

As a mathematics student at Plymouth, we use technology to support your learning. Our first year students have already received an individual Apple iPad mini. This will give you access to various additional resources that support your modules (e.g. podcasts, online videos and electronic copies of lecture notes), as well as enabling you to participate in interactive activities such as in-class voting and feedback, and to access various University online systems such as module sites, the electronic library, and of course email.

What our students say

”The course at Plymouth was superb. I was able to consolidate and extend my mathematics skills whilst at the same time gaining enough experience in schools to decide if teaching was a career I wanted to pursue. The education side of the degree involved both the practical side of teaching and the theoretical aspects of the profession. I was able to go into a school on a regular basis, observe lessons and gradually build up to leading a class. At the same time I was also looking in detail at the theory behind how teachers teach and how pupils learn, a vital aspect of teaching.

For me, the Mathematics with Education degree was an excellent route into teaching, ensuring that my subject knowledge was sound and giving me a rounded view of what a career in teaching would be like. The experience I gained was invaluable during my PGCE year and the ideas and knowledge I gained during the course are used every day whilst teaching my classes."

Nathan Riseborough
Head of Department

Professional accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. After sufficient professional experience graduates can apply for Chartered Mathematician status.

Projects

Our degrees feature a variety of final-year project modules. Recent project topics from this course include:

Assessment for Learning in the Mathematics Classroom
Teaching Mathematics at Secondary School: A Comparative Study between France and England
A Case Study: Using Tactile Resources as a Kinaesthetic Approach to Algebra at Key Stage 3
An Investigation into the Problem-Solving Strategies Adopted by Children
What Engages Children in the Mathematics Classroom?
How Can the Move From Primary to Secondary School be Made Easier?
Leading Students to the Target Concept Through Questioning

Support for Our Students

We are very proud of the support we offer to our students. In two recent National Student Surveys we scored 100% for student satisfaction.

We have an open-door policy and a personal tutor system where your tutor is a lecturer whom you will also be seeing regularly in the lecture theatre. Additionally our SumUP mathematics and statistics drop-in centre is open in the main library from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday during term.

Academic Excellence Awards

Applicants are eligible for one of the two following awards. There is no need to make an application for them.

Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence: £2,000 for any applicant for this course who has made Plymouth University their first choice by Wednesday 8 May 2013 and who achieves the equivalent of ABB in three A Levels (or equivalent) and enrols here in September 2013. Students are eligible if they have at least one of the following combinations listed in the qualification/grade table as well as satisfying all our entrance criteria.
Mathematics Scholarship: students who do not obtain the Dean’s Award are eligible for a £500 automatic scholarship if they have a grade A* in A Level Mathematics plus £500 for an A in Further Mathematics up to a total of £1,000. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must put us as their first choice before 1st August. The scholarship is paid in term one of the first year. There are additional prizes and certificates to reward high marks in later years.

Optional Placement Year

Students on this degree have the opportunity to take a 48-week placement year with a suitable organisation. This is done between the second and final years. Recent placements have been in the Department of Communities and Local Government, leading IT services company Fujitsu, Europe's largest accountancy firm KPMG and in Jagex Ltd a computer gaming company.

Placement salaries are currently typically around £16-17,000 for the year. Placements offer you an opportunity to apply some of the skills from your degree in a commercial or industrial setting. After a placement your CV demonstrates that you have experience in industry and it can help you obtain the job you want.