The PhD in Education with a specialization in Mathematics Education Leadership (MEL) is individualized, interdisciplinary, and experiential. Students plan their own programs to meet self-defined goals with the guidance and support of faculty advisors. MEL courses can be applied to primary or secondary specialization areas.
If you have questions about this specialization, please contact the specialization representative, Theresa Wills.
The MEL specialization prepares individuals for leadership, research, and university teaching positions in mathematics education. This specialization focuses on research, curriculum, technology, and professional development for mathematics teaching, learning, and leadership. Many students receive secondary specializations in instructional technology, teacher education, or education policy with opportunities to collaborate with faculty and fellow doctoral students in ongoing research, grants development, and professional networking activities.
What Will You Learn?
The specialization features coursework and applied internships that enable you to learn:
- Theory and research in mathematics education
- Foundational knowledge about mathematics education
- Research methodologies to address a variety of mathematics education topics
- Specialized knowledge in mathematics education related to your area of interest
How Will You Learn?
Your advisor will guide your doctoral experience by supplementing coursework with professional experiences, including:
- Attending and/or presenting at professional conferences
- Independent study
- Teaching and/or co-teaching
- Writing, editing, and reviewing for scholarly journals
Where Can This Specialization Take You?
Graduates of this specialization hold professional positions such as:
- School or central office leaders
- College or university faculty or researchers
- Curriculum and instructional materials developers
- State or national agency leaders
- Professional organization leaders
Each student prepares an individual program of study in consultation with their Program Advisory Committee. The following courses can be taken as part of a student’s primary or secondary specialization coursework:
See additional coursework required as part of the PhD in Education degree.
Monique Williams, PhD 2021
- Dissertation Title: Quantifying Relevance: The Development and Validation of an Initial Scale to Measure Secondary Students’ Perceptions of the Relevance of Mathematics Content
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Toya Frank
Sarah DeLeeuw, PhD 2020
- Dissertation Title: Using a Systems Perspective of Value Creation to Analyze, Critique, and Extend Frameworks for Teacher Professional Development
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Margaret Hjalmarson & Dr. Jennifer Suh
Daria Gerasimova, PhD 2020
- Dissertation Title: Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure Multidimensional, Instruction-Specific Student Engagement in Undergraduate Mathematics
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Angela Miller & Dr. Margaret Hjalmarson
Katherine Bolluyt-Meints, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Emergence and Sustainability of Teachers' Productive Disposition through Professional Development Experiences Viewed through an Andragogical Lens
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh
Terrie Galanti, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Hyper-acceleration of Algebra I: Narrating Opportunity to Learn from a Situative Perspective
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Toya Frank
Kimberly Leong, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Elementary Mathematics Specialist Coaches' Construction of a Hypothetical Learning Trajectory for Rational Number Equipartitioning
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh & Dr. Margret Hjalmarson
Kimberly Morrow-Leong, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Elementary Mathematics Specialist Coaches' Construction of a Hypothetical Learning Trajectory for Rational Number Equipartitioning
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh & Dr. Margret Hjalmarson
Kathleen Matson, PhD 2018
- Dissertation Title: Teachers' Perspectives on How They Learn Mathematical Modeling
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh
Theresa Wills
Courtney Baker
Toya Frank
Jennifer Suh