Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics Education

Qualification code: 90175
NQF level: 8
Total credits: 120
SAQA ID: 117366
APS/AS: 60
Rules:
It is a requirement for students who intend on registering for this qualification to already be professionally qualified as a teacher. This Postgraduate Diploma is not a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and, therefore, is not a teaching qualification. NB: This qualification will not be recognised by the Department of Higher Education and Training should you NOT be in possession of an approved 4 year professional teaching qualification. Students who are already in possession of a completed Honours BEd in a cognate specialisation cannot be admitted to the Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics Education as this qualification will not be recognised by DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training) for salary purposes or for an additional REQV level. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the relevant Education Department districts or Provincial Education Departments on how to upgrade to additional REQV levels. Students may be allowed to, on the completion of a Postgraduate Diploma, be recognised as meeting the minimum entry requirements for a cognate 180 credit Level 9 Master of Education on the condition that holders of Postgraduate Diplomas successfully complete the required research modules namely Research in Education (RSE4801) and Research Project in Education (HREDU82) with a total of 48 credits for Non Degree Purposes to meet the HEQSF research requirements of at least 30 research credits to obtain admission to a Master of Education degree. This is in addition to the prescribed admission requirements for the Master of Education degree.
Purpose statement:
The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics Education is to develop and strengthen learners' knowledge in Mathematics education. This qualification seeks to train learners who demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of Mathematics education and to develop their professional expertise in the field of Mathematics education. Also, learners will develop a deeper understanding of the professional practices of Mathematics education. They will be empowered to achieve some critical distance from the popular and conventional methods and institutions of education. The qualification will foster progressive thinking in the field of Mathematics education by developing a cadre of educators with a broader and more in-depth understanding of the transformation of education, and to enable the qualified teachers and practitioners to conduct their research and interpret research findings to improve practice. The qualification develops and consolidates in an integrated way appropriate disciplinary, practical, pedagogical and situational knowledge. This qualification will use a practical, scholarly teaching approach in strengthening and deepening learners' knowledge in Mathematics education and subsequently open career pathways to learners.
This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.

Who can register?

  • Applicants (new applicants & Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and / or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification. 
  • Re-registering students may register for the 2024 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.


How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

  • Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.

  • Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits / modules per academic year and / or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

  • 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
  • 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
PDM4801 - Curriculum studies in Mathematics Education
PDM4802 - Philosophical and Historical Perspectives in Mathematics Education
PDM4803 - Teaching and Learning in Mathematics Education
PDM4804 - Theoretical Issues in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics
PDM4805 - Using research in Mathematics Education