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Physics Specialty, Science Education Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure)

 This program is designed to meet the requirements for Science teacher licensure with a specialty in Physics in the State of Minnesota. Students who complete this major will be eligible for teacher certification in Physics in grades 9-12 and for teaching all sciences in grades 5-8. Students should consult their academic advisor in Physics prior to developing their program.

Students should complete the science core courses listed below prior to beginning the Physics specialty. Consult with your academic adviser if you wish to have an alternative method of satisfying this requirement considered or wish to begin a specialty prior to completion of the science core courses.

I. Core Courses for Science Teaching in Grades 5-8:

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I (4 credits)
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II (4 credits)
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I
or CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II
or CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II (4 credits)
GEOL 1110 Physical Geology
or GEOL 1120 Historical Geology (4 credits)
PHYS 1101 General Physics I (4 credits)
or PHYS 2101 Physics I (5 credits)
SCI 3100 Integrative Science for Teachers (4 credits)
SCI 3450 Science Methods for Grades 5-8 (4 credits)

Total Science Credits 32-33 Credits

II. Required Professional Education Core

33 Credits

III. Physics Specialty

Note: Asterisked (*) courses either have prerequisites not included in the major or require consent of instructor.

MATH 2471 Calculus I (5 credits)
*PHYS 2102 Physics II (5 credits)
PHYS 2500 Electronics I (4 credits)
*PHYS 3600 Modern Physics (4 credits)
*PHYS 4580 Optics or other approved elective (4 credits)
PHYS 4980 Research (3 credits)

Select the following from the Physics options in the core:
PHYS 2101 Physics I

 Total Credits for Physics Specialty 25 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 90-91 Credits

 A Total of 128 Semester Credits is Required for a Bachelor’s Degree

SUGGESTED SEMESTER SCHEDULE FOR PHYSICS SPECIALTY, SCIENCE EDUCATION MAJOR, B.S. (TEACHER LICENSURE)

The following suggested schedule includes the courses required in the Science (Physics) Major, B.S., arranged by year. There is some flexibility, but because of the sequential nature of Physics courses, it is very important that Calculus I and Physics I be taken as early as possible.

Freshman

MATH 2471 Calculus I*
MATH 2472 Calculus II (recommended but not required)
PHYS 2101 Physics I*
PHYS 2102 Physics II
Liberal Education requirements

*Students not scoring sufficiently high on the Mathematics Placement Exam should complete Precalculus (MATH 1470) before taking Calculus I and Physics I. This may delay taking other required Physics courses. Consult your Physics advisor.

Sophomore

PHYS 2500 Electronics I
PHYS 3600 Modern Physics
Required Biology, Chemistry, or Geology core courses
Liberal Education requirements

Junior

PHYS 4580 Optics or other approved elective
PHYS 4980 Research
Required Biology, Chemistry, or Geology core courses
Liberal Education requirements

Senior

Physics courses not completed previously
SCI 3100 Integrative Science for Teachers
SCI 3450 Science Methods for Grades 5-8
Liberal Education requirements
Complete Professional Education requirements