Physics Education, B.S.

Visit the Physics Department page for more information on the program and access to advising.

Program Description

Prepares the student to teach high school physics and AP physics. The program allows for those interested to supplement their studies with extra courses in physics or other science through elective upper division credit. A seminar course provides the student with exposure to careers in physics.

Matriculation Requirements

1. Students are admitted directly to the Baccalaureate degree program in Physics Education upon acceptance to the Secondary Education Program.
2. Students must obtain the departmental Advisor's signature on an approved program plan prior to enrollment in their second semester of study.

Secondary Education Requirements

1. ENGL and MATH QL courses must have a grade C or higher.
2. GPA of 2.7 or higher with no grade lower than a C in content area courses.
3. Completion of all General Education requirements and 70% of content area courses.
4. Pass LiveScan Criminal Background Check.

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Total Credit Hours		120
General Education Requirements		31 Credits
ENGL 1010	Introduction to Academic Writing	3
or ENGH 1005	Literacies and Composition Across Contexts
ENGL 2010	Intermediate Academic Writing	3
MATH 1210	Calculus I	4
Complete one of the following:		3
HIST 1700	American History (3)
HIST 2700 & HIST 2710	US History to 1877 and US History since 1877 (6)
HIST 1740	US Economic History (3)
POLS 1000	American Heritage (3)
POLS 1100	American National Government (3)
Distribution Courses:
Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth		3
Biology: complete one of the following		3
BIOL 1010	General Biology (3)
BIOL 1610	College Biology I (4)
Physical Science		3
Humanities		3
Fine Arts		3
Social/Behavioral Science		3
Discipline Core Requirements 1		85 Credits
PHYS 1100	Introductory Math Techniques for Physics and Engineering	4
CHEM 1210	Principles of Chemistry I	4
CHEM 1215	Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory	1
GEO 1010	Introduction to Geology	3
GEO 1015	Introduction to Geology Laboratory	1
MATH 1220	Calculus II	4
MATH 2210	Calculus III	4
PHYS 2210	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I	4
PHYS 2215	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Lab	1
PHYS 2220	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II	4
PHYS 2225	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Lab	1
PHYS 3010	Physics Experiments for Secondary Education	1
PHYS 3110	Modern Physics I	3
PHYS 3115	Introduction to Experimental Physics I	2
Education Courses:
EDSC 1010	Introduction to Education	2
EDSC 3000	Educational Psychology	3
EDSC 3250G	Equitable Technology Integration	2
EDSC 4200	Classroom Management I	2
EDSC 4250	Classroom Management II	2
EDSC 4440	Content Area Literacies	3
EDSC 4450G	Multicultural and Multilingual Education	3
EDSC 4550G	Secondary Curriculum Instruction and Assessment	3
EDSC 4850	Student Teaching Secondary	8
EDSC 4990	Teacher Assessment Project	2
EDSP 3400G	Exceptional Students	2
Complete the following set:
SCIE 4210	Science Teaching Methods I	3
SCIE 4220	Teaching Methods in Science II	3
PHYSICS:
PHYS 4900R	Seminar (must be repeated two times)	1
Complete 9 credits from the following:		9
ASTR 3050	Astrophysics I (3)
ASTR 3060	Astrophysics II (3)
PHYS 2500	Elementary Fluids and Thermal Physics (3)
PHYS 3120	Modern Physics II (3)
PHYS 3125	Introduction to Experimental Physics II (2)
PHYS 3230	Principles of Electronics for the Physical Sciences (3)
PHYS 3300	Mathematical and Computational Physics I (3)
PHYS 3400	Classical Mechanics (3)
PHYS 3500	Thermodynamics (3)
PHYS 3800	Energy Use on Earth (3)
PHYS 4700	Acoustics (3)
HIST 4320	History of Scientific Thought (undefined)
Elective Requirements		4 Credits
Complete 4 credits of upper division electives.		4

¹

 Must be completed with a grade B- or higher.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 semester credits with a minimum of 40 upper-division credits.
2. Overall Grade of 3.0 (B) or above with no grade lower than a C or better in major required content courses and no grade lower than a B- in Licensure and Methods courses. 
3. Residency hours -- minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
4. Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
5. A minimum of 52 credit hours must be in the major with a minimum of 20 credits taken at UVU. A minimum of 24 chemistry and physics credits must be upper-division.
6. Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
7. Successful completion of at least two Writing Enriched courses.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Semester 1		Credit Hours
EDSC 1010	Introduction to Education	2
ENGL 1010	Introduction to Academic Writing	3
PHYS 1100	Introductory Math Techniques for Physics and Engineering	4
American Institutions		3
GEO 1010	Introduction to Geology	3
GEO 1015	Introduction to Geology Laboratory	1
	Credit Hours	16
Semester 2
ENGL 2010	Intermediate Academic Writing	3
MATH 1210	Calculus I	4
PHYS 2210	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I	4
PHYS 2215	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Lab	1
Biology Distribution		3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Year
Semester 3
MATH 1220	Calculus II	4
PHYS 2220	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II	4
PHYS 2225	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Lab	1
CHEM 1210	Principles of Chemistry I	4
CHEM 1215	Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory	1
Humanities Distribution		3
	Credit Hours	17
Semester 4
MATH 2210	Calculus III	4
Physics Electives		6
Fine Arts Distribution		3
Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth		3
	Credit Hours	16
Third Year
Semester 5
Social/ Behavioral Science Distribution		3
Physics Electives		3
PHYS 4900R	Seminar	0.5
SCIE 4210	Science Teaching Methods I	3
PHYS 3110	Modern Physics I	3
PHYS 3115	Introduction to Experimental Physics I	2
	Credit Hours	14.5
Semester 6
PHYS 3010	Physics Experiments for Secondary Education	1
EDSC 4450G	Multicultural and Multilingual Education	3
Upper Division Elective		4
SCIE 4220	Teaching Methods in Science II	3
PHYS 4900R	Seminar	0.5
Physical Science		3
	Credit Hours	14.5
Fourth Year
Semester 7
EDSC 4200	Classroom Management I	2
EDSP 3400G	Exceptional Students	2
EDSC 4550G	Secondary Curriculum Instruction and Assessment	3
EDSC 3000	Educational Psychology	3
EDSC 3250G	Equitable Technology Integration	2
EDSC 4440	Content Area Literacies	3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester 8
EDSC 4850	Student Teaching Secondary	8
EDSC 4250	Classroom Management II	2
EDSC 4990	Teacher Assessment Project	2
	Credit Hours	12
	Total Credit Hours	120

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate how to teach about how science and physics work in practice by correctly using evidence, experiment and observation, interpretation, physical concepts, etc.
2. Learn to apply and teach about fundamental physical concepts including conservation laws, forces, fields, energy, optics, thermal and statistical physics, relativity, and quantum mechanics.
3. Use mathematics and mathematical models correctly to solve physics problems.
4. Follow practices necessary for safely using laboratory equipment.
5. Demonstrate understanding of the role of computation in physics and appropriate computer skills.
6. Communicate effectively about physics in writing and in presentations, in both formal and informal settings.
7. Demonstrate physics research skills and use ethical research practices.