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.
- Secondary Education Licensure Program
- Licensure Degree Requirements
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

Degree Specific Credits: 91-92

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.

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

Code	Title	Hours
Complete one of the following Physics sequences:		10
Algebra- and Trigonometry-based Physics:
PHSX 205N & PHSX 206N	College Physics I and College Physics I Laboratory
PHSX 207N & PHSX 208N	College Physics II and College Physics II Laboratory
Calculus-based Physics (strongly recommended):
PHSX 215N & PHSX 216N	Fund of Physics w/Calc I and Physics Laboratory I w/Calc
PHSX 217N & PHSX 218N	Fund of Physics w/Calc II and Physics Laboratory II w/Calc
Total Hours		10

Minimum Required Grade: C-

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
PHSX 425	Electricity & Magnetism II
PHSX 446	Thermodyn & Stat Mech
PHSX 462	Quantum Mechanics II
Total Hours		30

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Note: Other PHSX courses may be substituted with adviser approval.

Code	Title	Hours
Complete two of the following courses:		6
PHSX 141N	Einstein's Relativity
or ASTR 142N	The Evolving Universe
PHSX 327	Optics
PHSX 330	Communicating Physics
PHSX 333	Computational Physics
PHSX 425 or PHSX 446 or PHSX 462	Electricity & Magnetism II or Thermodynamics & Stat Mech or Quantum Mechanics II	Note: 2 of these 3 courses must be taken in the physics core, the remaining course can be used as an elective
Total Hours		6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Note: M 317, 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-

Code	Title	Hours
Complete one of the following courses:		3
CSCI 100	Intro to Programming
CSCI 150	Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 151	Interdisciplinary Computer Science I
PHSX 333	Computational Physics (strongly recommended)
Total Hours		3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

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-

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	3
CHMY 485	Laboratory Safety	1
GEO 101N or ERTH 101N	Intro to Physical Geology or Earth Systems Science	3
GEO 102N or ERTH 103N	Intro to Physical Geology Lab or Earth Systems Science Lab	1
Complete one of the following courses:		3-4
BIOB 160N	Principles of Living Systems
BIOB 170N	Principles of Biological Diversity
BIOE 172N	Introductory Ecology
BIOO 105N	Introduction to Botany
Complete one of the following courses:		3
GEO 105N	Oceanography
GEO 108N	Climate Change
ENSC 105N	Environmental Science
ENST 472	General Science: Conservation Education
Total Hours		20-21

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-

Note: For endorsement to teach physics, 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.