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.
General Degree Requirements
To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information.
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
BACHELOR OF ARTS - PHYSICS; CONCENTRATION IN PHYSICS EDUCATION
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Physics | ||
| 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 | ||
| Upper-Division Physics | ||
| 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 | ||
| Physics Electives 1 | ||
| Complete two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Einstein's Relativity | ||
or ASTR 142N | The Evolving Universe | |
| Optics | ||
| Communicating Physics | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Electricity & Magnetism II | ||
or PHSX 446 | Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics | |
or PHSX 462 | Quantum Mechanics II | |
| Math Requirements 2 | ||
| 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 |
| Computer Science Requirements | ||
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Interdisciplinary Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Advanced Writing Requirement 3 | ||
| Complete the following course: | ||
| PHSX 330 | Communicating Physics | 3 |
| Physics Education Concentration Additional Science Requirements | ||
| 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 | ||
| Teaching Science Methods Course | ||
| Complete the following course: | ||
| EDU 497 | Teaching and Assessing (Methods: 5-12 Science) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 92-93 | |
Secondary Teaching Licensure
For endorsement to teach this subject, 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 webpage.