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

Students who wish to pursue P-12 teacher certification in 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. Physics majors, with some additional chemistry courses, can qualify for Physical Science Teacher Certification. Courses specific to the Physics 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 Requirements65-67
Teacher Education Program Requirements37
Free Electives1-0
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
PHYS 464Quantum Mechanics3
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
MATH 122Calculus I4
or AMAT 120 Applied Calculus A
MATH 221Calculus II4
or AMAT 220 Applied Calculus B
MATH 222Calculus III4
AMAT 350Applied Mathematics I3-4
or MATH 325 Ordinary Differential Equation
or PHYS 377 Mathematical Physics
Total Credits65-67

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 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
GENERAL EDUCATION K1, K2 or WORLD CULTURES course3GENERAL EDUCATION D, F1 or F2 course3
MATH 2224AMAT 350, MATH 325, or PHYS 3773-4
PHYS 2103CSIT 1043
SASE 2103PHYS 3203
 PHYS 3403
 13 15-16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 2203GENERAL EDUCATION: (J) Physical Education1
PHYS 2304World Language 13
PHYS 3001PHYS 3603
SASE 3203PHYS Elective course3
SASE 3213SASE 3223
 Free Elective1-0
 14 14-13
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHYS 3304SASE 4523
PHYS 4643SASE 4539
SASE 4024Students may not take additional courses during the Clinical II semester.
SASE 4503 
SASE 4513 
 17 12
Total Credits 120