Physics B.A. - Physics Education
- This concentration contains additional course requirements designed to meet state standards. Those interested in teaching in K-12 schools must complete the education/teaching concentration of a major in a teaching content area plus the Teacher Education Program through the Department of Teaching and Learning. Additional teaching areas can be added through completion of the education/teaching concentration of a major or education/teaching minor in that content area.
- To complete this concentration, you need to contact the Teaching and Learning Department. Approvals for this concentration must come from the Teaching and Learning Department.
- This major and concentration do not qualify as a single-field endorsement. The demand for teaching in this field is limited. The required second endorsement (either a teaching major or a teaching minor) should be in a field in high demand.
Bachelor of Arts - Physics; Concentration in Physics Education
General Education Requirements
Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Physics | 10 | |
| Upper-Division Physics | 30 | |
| Physics Electives | 6 | |
| Math Requirements | 16 | |
| Computer Science Requirements | 3 | |
| Advanced College Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Physics Education Concentration Requirements | 23-24 | |
| Total Hours | 91-92 | |
Degree Specific Credits: 91-92
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Lower-Division Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following Physics sequences: | 10 | |
| Algebra- and Trigonometry-based Physics: | ||
| College Physics I and College Physics I Laboratory | ||
| College Physics II and College Physics II Laboratory | ||
| Calculus-based Physics (strongly recommended): | ||
| Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus I and Physics Laboratory I with Calculus | ||
| Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus II and Physics Laboratory II with Calculus | ||
| Total Hours | 10 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Upper-Division Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| PHSX 301 | Intro Theoretical Physics | 3 |
| PHSX 311 | Oscillations and Waves | 2 |
| PHSX 320 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHSX 323 | Intermediate Physics Lab | 3 |
| PHSX 343 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHSX 423 | Electricity & Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHSX 444 | Advanced Physics Lab | 3 |
| PHSX 461 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHSX 499 | Senior Capstone Seminar | 1 |
| Complete two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Electricity & Magnetism II | ||
| Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics | ||
| Quantum Mechanics II | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Physics Electives
Note: Other PHSX courses may be substituted with adviser approval.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Einstein's Relativity | ||
or ASTR 142N | The Evolving Universe | |
| Optics | ||
| Communicating Physics | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Electricity & Magnetism II (2 of these 3 courses must be taken in the physics core, the remaining course can be used as an elective) | ||
or PHSX 446 | Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics | |
or PHSX 462 | Quantum Mechanics II | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Math Requirements
Note: M 412 and M 418 are recommended as well
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| M 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
| M 172 | Calculus II | 4 |
| M 221 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
| M 273 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Computer Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Interdisciplinary Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics (strongly recommended) | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Advanced College Writing Requirement
Note: May substitute another advanced writing course as approved by the department chair.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following course: | ||
| PHSX 330 | Communicating Physics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Physics Education Concentration Requirements
Additional Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| ASTR 131N | Planetary Astronomy | 3 |
| ASTR 132N | Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe | 3 |
| CHMY 121N | Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
| CHMY 485 | Laboratory Safety | 1 |
| GEO 101N | Introduction to Physical Geology | 3 |
| or ERTH 101N | Earth Systems Science | |
| GEO 102N | Introduction to Physical Geology Lab | 1 |
| or ERTH 103N | Earth Systems Science Lab | |
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
| Principles of Living Systems | ||
| Principles of Biological Diversity | ||
| Introductory Ecology | ||
| Introduction to Botany | ||
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Oceanography | ||
| Environmental Science | ||
| General Science: Conservation Education | ||
| Total Hours | 21-22 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Teaching Science Methods Course
Note: The EDU 497 course number is used for multiple courses. Students should register for EDU 497 Methods: 5-12 Science.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following course: | ||
| EDU 497 | Teaching and Assessing | 3 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Secondary Teaching Licensure
Note: For endorsement to teach Biology, a student also must gain admission to the Teacher Education Program and meet all the requirements for secondary teaching licensure. For more information, see the Teaching and Learning Department.