Physics with Teacher Certification in Physical Science (Preschool-Grade 12) (B.S.)

Students who wish to pursue P-12 teacher certification in Physical Science must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Once admitted, students will be matriculated into the B.A. in Secondary Education program as a second major.

Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required professional sequence of courses and other important Program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook. Students majoring in physics have two teacher certification options to choose from – Physical Science or Physics – and should consult with an advisor to determine which certification program they wish to complete. Courses specific to the Physical Science teacher certification program are listed below.

120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA.  Major GPA requirements differ depending on field of study. Consult the Teacher Education Program Handbook for more information.

Program Requirements Overview

General Education Requirements14
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3
Major Requirements66-67
Teacher Education Program Requirements37
Total Credits120-121

Major Requirements

Physics Core
PHYS 191University Physics I4
PHYS 192University Physics II4
PHYS 198Introductory Physics Seminar1
PHYS 210Intermediate Mechanics3
PHYS 220Oscillations, Waves, and Optics3
PHYS 230Intermediate Physics Laboratory4
PHYS 300Junior/Senior Physics Seminar1
PHYS 320Statistical and Thermal Physics3
PHYS 330Advanced Physics Laboratory4
PHYS 340Electricity and Magnetism3
PHYS 360Modern Physics3
Physics Electives
Complete 3-4 credits from the list below.3-4
Collateral Requirements
CSIT 104Python Programming I3
CHEM 120General Chemistry I4
CHEM 121General Chemistry II4
CHEM 230Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 232Experimental Organic Chemistry I2
Complete an additional 2 credits of CHEM courses.2
AMAT 120Applied Calculus A4
or MATH 122 Calculus I
AMAT 220Applied Calculus B4
or MATH 221 Calculus II
MATH 222Calculus III4
Teacher Education Sequence
See requirements below.
Total Credits66-67

Major Electives

PHYS 180Astronomy for Everyone4
PHYS 245Fundamentals of Electronics4
PHYS 280Astronomy for Physicists4
PHYS 310Advanced Mechanics3
PHYS 325Computational Physics3
PHYS 341Electronics and Digital Circuits4
PHYS 350Modern Optics4
PHYS 368Fluid Mechanics3
PHYS 377Mathematical Physics3
PHYS 380Observational Astronomy4
PHYS 399Special Topics in Physics1-4
PHYS 451Radiation and Medical Physics3
PHYS 461General Relativity3
PHYS 462Nuclear Physics4
PHYS 464Quantum Mechanics3
PHYS 470Solid State Physics3
PHYS 480Astrophysics3
PHYS 495Research or Independent Study in Physics1-4

Second Major in Secondary Education

Secondary Education (B.A.)

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course.1
C. Communication
1. Writing 3
2. Literature3
D. Fine and Performing Arts or F. Humanities
Complete one course from D. Fine and Performing Arts, F1. Great Works and Their Influences or F2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives.3
G. Computer Science
Python Programming I (Fulfilled in the major.)
H. Mathematics
Fulfilled in the major.
Applied Calculus A
Calculus I
I. Natural Science Laboratory
University Physics I (Fulfilled in the major.)
J. Physical Education
Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course.1
K. Social Science
Complete one course from K1. American and European History or K2. Global and Cultural Perspectives or IIB. World Cultures.3
3. Social Science Perspectives0
Psychological Foundations of Education (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.)
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
Public Purposes of Education: Democracy and Schooling (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.)
Total Credits14

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages3
World Cultures0
Fulfilled by either the K1 or K2 General Education category.
Total Credits3

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar1GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing3AMAT 220 or MATH 2214
AMAT 120 or MATH 1224CHEM 1214
CHEM 1204EDFD 2003
PHYS 1914PHYS 1924
 PHYS 1981
 16 19
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM 2303Complete one course from one of the following categories:3
MATH 2224GENERAL EDUCATION: (D) Fine and Performing Arts
PHYS 2103GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences
SASE 2103GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives
 CHEM 2322
 CSIT 1043
 PHYS 3203
 PHYS 3403
 13 14
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 2203GENERAL EDUCATION: (J) Physical Education1
PHYS 2304Complete one course from one of the following categories:3
PHYS 3001GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History
Chemistry Elective Course3GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives
SASE 3203World Cultures3
SASE 3213PHYS 3603
 Physics Elective Course3
 SASE 3223
 17 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 3304SASE 4523
SASE 4024SASE 4539
SASE 4503Students may not take any additional courses during the Clinical II semester.
SASE 4513 
 14 12
Total Credits 121