Secondary School Education Concentration (B.A. or B.S.)

This page describes the major requirements for the Mathematics undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) with a secondary school education concentration. You may also check the bulletin entries: B.A. and B.S..

In addition to completing the calculus sequence (20100, 20200/21200 and 20300/21300), students must complete the Major requirements listed below.

Students on this track will also likely want to complete the School of Education's BS in Adolescent Mathematics Education Program (7-12), which when combined with this BS degree will lead to initial certification to teach in New York State. Majors should contact the Mathematics Education Office early to ensure they are completing the necessary coursework.

Total credits for Specialization: 30-32

Additional requirements for the BS

For the BS, students need to complete four “Lab Sciences” intro courses from: BIO 10100, 10200; CHEM 10301, 10401; EAS 10600, 22700; PHYS 20300, 20400, 20700, 20800.

CLAS Requirements

Students must also meet the requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences which include GPA requirements (both overall and in the major) as well as residency requirements.

Additional requirements all degrees

In addition to major requirements, students must complete the general requirements of the college. For more information, please consult the chapter entitled Degree Requirements at the end of the Bulletin.

Degree Maps (Four-year graduation plans)

Some possible pans for graduating in four years with a Mathematics degree with a concentration in Secondary School Education can be found here:

• Bachelors of Arts (BA)
• Bachelors of Science (BS)

Note that the degrees have a great deal of flexibility and there are many ways to meet the requirements.

New Requirements (possibly starting Fall 2026)

The following requirements may be in place starting in the Fall 2026 semester. The department has approved the change but there are several more levels of approval before these become official. We expect those approvals to be granted in due course but are not sure about the timing.

CLAS Requirements

Students must also meet the requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences which include GPA requirements (both overall and in the major) as well as residency requirements.

Additional requirements for the BS

For the BS, students need to complete four “Lab Sciences” intro courses from: BIO 10100, 10200; CHEM 10301, 10401; EAS 10600, 22700; PHYS 20300, 20400, 20700, 20800.

Additional requirements all degrees

In addition to major requirements, students must complete the general requirements of the college. For more information, please consult the chapter entitled Degree Requirements at the end of the Bulletin.

FAQ about the Secondary Education concentration for a Mathematics major

I am interested in becoming a New York math high school teacher. Should I major in Mathematics with a concentration in Secondary School Education?

Yes! This option is designed to serve future math school teachers well in terms of learning important material and satisfying requirements.

What are the additional requirements for teaching grades 7-12 mathematics? Shouldn't I be an Education major?

Certification to teach math at the 7-12 level requires a major in Mathematics. It also requires some pedagogical and education-focused courses as well. The School of Education offers the BS in Adolescent Mathematics Education Program (7-12) which is designed to complement our Secondary Education concentration to meet the certification requirements. So the required major is in the subject area of Mathematics, which is complemented by the program in the School of Education.

Are there additional requirements to become a certified high school or middle school math teacher?

Yes- our School of Education faculty are experts in meeting the requirements, selecting appropriate courses, finding placements for both student teaching and full-time teaching. The webpages at the Mathematics Education Program are a good place to start.

Will I be able to get a job as a high school math teacher?

That is very likely! There is an insatiable demand for qualified teachers of mathematics, and many students like the idea of getting a good job, in the neighborhood they grew up in, doing something that they love and is rewarding.

The School of Education program seems focused on New York state teaching certification. I am interested in teaching high school mathematics, but not in New York. What should I do?

Our School of Education faculty know the requirements for certification for teaching in nearby states as well as New York. The webpages at the Mathematics Education Program are a good place to start.

When should I become a math major?

Students interested in becoming a major generally have made progress in the calculus sequence, getting a C or better in 201 and/or 212. It is good to declare early and to reach out to the Secondary Education Major Advisor at mathedadvisor@ccny.cuny.edu" to take advantage of guidance and help with planning appropriate courses to meet the requirements.

What courses should I take early to prepare for a Secondary Education concentration?

308 Bridge to Advanced Mathematics develops students ability to work logically and form correct mathematical proofs, and is a prerequisite for many upper-division math courses. So that may be a good choice for early completion. 346 Elements of Linear Algebra is required and also serves as a prerequisite for many required courses.

I'm a transfer student, how does that affect majoring in mathematics?

Because most calculus sequences have generally about 12 credits, that can complicate meeting the minor requirements residency requirement of 60% of the required major credits at CCNY. Consult with your advisor about issues that can arise with many transfer credits.

I'd like to take a graduate level math course, can that count toward a major?

Yes, and most of the graduate courses have a corresponding undergraduate version. Many of the graduate courses have prerequistes that can often count towards the major as well. Consult with the your advisor and/or the graduate advisor about good choices for that. Note that there are sometimes different fees for the graduate versions of the advanced undergraduate courses which can complicate funding.

I'm a transfer student, and I took a course at another institution that should satisfy a prerequisite for a course, but I can't register for it. What do I do?

CUNY First and Degree Works sometimes do not count courses appropriately, so you should email your advisor explaining your situation so that you can register as appropriate.

I want to be a Secondary Education Mathematics concentrator, but CUNY First and Degree Works do not show a concentration for me. What do I do?

You can declare your concentration in Secondary Education Mathematics in Degree Works, and you should do that sooner so that you get useful information and advice about your course selections.

I want to be a Secondary Education Mathematics major, but I do not want to take the education courses. Are those required?

No, the Secondary Education concentration does not require any courses from the School of Education. Though the programs work together well, some students prefer to focus on completing their math degree as quickly as possible, and can wait for the other requirements afterwards. For students not as much interested in teaching right away in New York State, decisions about required education courses can wait but may delay eventual certification.

Degree Works shows that a requirement is not met, but I think I have already satisfied that. What do I do?

Degree Works is an approximation and does not cope well with many situations. You should meet with your advisor and decide how best to proceed. Note that sometimes Degree Works shows that a requirement is satisfied when it is not, so please make sure that you are meeting with your advisor to have a good plan for progress in your degree.

I met with my advisor and still have an ADV hold on my account. I would like to register now- what do I do?

We can ask for those holds to be lifted to make registration possible. Send email to your advisor with your request.

Other questions

Questions about the requirements should be directed to the student's advisor in the Math Department, or to the Lead Secondary Education Mathematics Advisor by email to mathedadvisor@ccny.cuny.edu.. Questions related to the certification for eventual secondary school teaching, requirements for certification, placement, and timing, should be directed to the Math Education program in the School of Education