Because calculus classes can be offered at various levels and for various purposes, a person who wants to become a calculus teacher has a variety of options. Calculus classes are typically offered in high schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges. Each of these has its own set of teaching requirements. Individual schools can also vary greatly depending on their location, size, and tradition. To work as a calculus teacher, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and some prior experience in the field, such as a teaching internship.
A bachelor’s degree is typically required for anyone interested in becoming a calculus teacher. Some colleges offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in education with a secondary math concentration. Another option is to get a BA in math and then go on to a teaching program or degree. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is a specialized program that includes supervised teaching experience and is often offered as a fifth-year program. For people with a bachelor’s degree, many educational systems offer special teacher preparation programs.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, preferably in mathematics or engineering, is typically required to become a calculus teacher at a four-year college or university. Another aspect of university teaching is that professors are expected to participate actively in the publication of professional papers and research. Non-majors’ precalculus and calculus classes are frequently taught by graduate students in a university’s mathematics department. While pursuing a graduate degree, this could be a good way to gain experience.
A Master’s Degree in Mathematics is required for many two-year colleges to hire calculus instructors. Applicants are usually not required to have taken education courses or have prior teaching experience. Teachers at community colleges are rarely required to participate in research.
To teach calculus in most government-funded school systems, as well as many private schools, a person must first obtain a teaching certificate. This usually necessitates a specific score on a standardized test. A certain number of college credits or specific college courses are frequently required for certification. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate that he or she has some teaching experience. Most college education programs include at least one semester of student teaching, which may suffice.
Calculus used to be the prerequisite for higher mathematics and engineering classes. It took hours of memorization, plotting complex graphs, and calculating to solve equations. Calculus classes have changed dramatically as a result of the use of computers and scientific calculators in the classroom. A candidate for a position as a calculus teacher must typically demonstrate knowledge of current technology as well as a desire to be innovative and creative in incorporating new technological advances.