A Combined Degree program enables undergraduate students to enroll in graduate courses in their senior year, which can be counted towards the completion of both their Bachelor's and Master's degree requirements. The ability to take these "swing courses" allows students to earn both their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a shortened period of time, typically within five years of intensive study. Undergraduate students interested in this option can find more information regarding program requirements on the University's Combined Programs website.
The Combined Degree with Dual Certification program is a 5-year program that leads to teacher certification in Physical Science (grades P-12), teacher certification in Teacher of Students with Disabilities, a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree. Interested students must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program as an undergraduate.
Students must successfully complete the undergraduate portion of the program in order to be admitted to the Graduate School and complete the one-year master’s portion of the program. Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required undergraduate professional sequence of courses, overall course outline, and other important Program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 14 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | 66 | |
| Teacher Education Requirements (including Graduate Swing Courses) | 36 | |
| Free Electives | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
Requirements for the graduate portion of this combined program can be found here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Physics Core | ||
| PHYS 191 | University Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 192 | University Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 198 | Introductory Physics Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 210 | Intermediate Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 220 | Oscillations, Waves, and Optics | 3 |
| PHYS 230 | Intermediate Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 300 | Junior/Senior Physics Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 320 | Statistical and Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 330 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 340 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHYS 360 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Complete 3 credits from the list below. | 3 | |
| Collateral Requirements | ||
| CSIT 104 | Python Programming I | 3 |
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 230 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 232 | Experimental Organic Chemistry I | 2 |
| Complete an additional 2 credits of CHEM courses. | 2 | |
| AMAT 120 | Applied Calculus A | 4 |
| or MATH 122 | Calculus I | |
| AMAT 220 | Applied Calculus B | 4 |
| or MATH 221 | Calculus II | |
| MATH 222 | Calculus III | 4 |
| Total Credits | 66 | |
Major Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 180 | Astronomy for Everyone | 4 |
| PHYS 245 | Fundamentals of Electronics | 4 |
| PHYS 280 | Astronomy for Physicists | 4 |
| PHYS 310 | Advanced Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 325 | Computational Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 341 | Electronics and Digital Circuits | 4 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Optics | 4 |
| PHYS 368 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 377 | Mathematical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 380 | Observational Astronomy | 4 |
| PHYS 399 | Special Topics in Physics | 1-4 |
| PHYS 451 | Radiation and Medical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 461 | General Relativity | 3 |
| PHYS 462 | Nuclear Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 464 | Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 470 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 480 | Astrophysics | 3 |
| PHYS 495 | Research or Independent Study in Physics | 1-4 |
Teacher Education Program Requirements
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 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 | ||
or MATH 122 | 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 Perspectives | 0 | |
| 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 Credits | 14 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | 3 | |
| World Cultures | 0 | |
| Fulfilled by either the K1 or K2 General Education category. | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree(s)
This recommended five-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within five years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
Fifth year courses are taken at the graduate level, after matriculation into the graduate portion of this combined degree program.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 |
| 4 | 6 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SASE 320 | 3 | SASE 322 | 3 |
| SASE 321 | 3 | SPED 469 | 3 |
| SPED 279 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 6 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SPED 483 | 3 | SPED 566 | 3 |
| SPED 488 | 3 | SPED 586 | 3 |
| SPED 690 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 9 | ||
| Total Credits 40 | |||
| Fifth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SASE 526 | 3 | SASE 529 | 6 |
| SASE 527 | 3 | SASE 543 | 3 |
| SPED 584 | 3 | ||
| Teaching Methods Course | 3-4 | ||
| 12-13 | 9 | ||
| Total Credits 21-22 | |||