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By upper level math do you mean Calculus for science and math majors? This is the first time that I have heard that Calculus for science and math majors was required for education majors. Calculus, by the way, is a fundamental gateway course to upper levels of science and math. Personally I don't consider Calculus to be “advanced”.
Personally, I think all teachers in our socialist K-12 schools should be required to take the **same** calculus I course as science and math majors ( sitting side by side with them). No, most teachers do not need calculus for the subjects they teach but it will assure two things: 1) they are smart enough to be worthy of the job, 2) they won't communicate their math phobia to their students.
I’m talking about a high school math teacher. And, yes, the upper level courses in high school end with calculus and/or AP calculus.
But, sometimes it’s just easier to be contrary.