University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Physics Education Minor

  • This minor contains 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 track must come from the Teaching and Learning Department.
  • Individuals completing this minor must also complete the education/teaching concentration of a major in another teaching content area.

Minor - Physics Education

Summary

Required Lower-Division Courses10
Upper-Division Core Course12
Mathematics and Statistics18-19
Additional Science Courses13-14
Physics Education Minor Requirement3
Total Hours56-58

Degree Specific Credits: 56-58

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: Mathematics prerequisites for the physics minor are M 171M 172M 273, (and M 221 if needed).

Required Lower-Division Courses

Note: The Physics with Calculus series (PHSX 215N - PHSX 218N) is strongly recommended.

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 Hours10

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Core Course

Complete all of the following courses:
PHSX 301Intro Theoretical Physics3
PHSX 320Classical Mechanics3
PHSX 330Communicating Physics3
PHSX 343Modern Physics3
Total Hours12

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Mathematics and Statistics

Complete all of the following courses:
M 171Calculus I4
M 172Calculus II4
STAT 216Introduction to Statistics3-4
or STAT 341 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
M 273Multivariable Calculus4
M 274Introduction to Differential Equations3
Total Hours18-19

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Additional Science Courses

Complete all of the following:
ASTR 131NPlanetary Astronomy3
or ASTR 132N Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe
BIOB 160NPrinciples of Living Systems3
or BIOB 170N Principles of Biological Diversity
or BIOE 172N Introductory Ecology
or BIOO 105N Introduction to Botany
CHMY 121NIntroduction to General Chemistry4
CHMY 485Laboratory Safety1
CSCI 150Introduction to Computer Science3
or CSCI 151 Interdisciplinary Computer Science I
Total Hours14

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Physics Education Requirement

Note: The EDU 497 course number is used for multiple courses. Students should register for EDU 497 Methods: 5-12 Science.

Complete the following course
EDU 497Teaching and Assessing3
Total Hours3

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