Secondary Education: Physics (BS / MEd)
The information on the tabs below will help students planning to major in Physics Secondary Education to choose appropriate classes for their first semester. The recommendations below are for your first semester only, so you may have additional Core requirements, for example, that you'll learn more about during your first semester here.
Advising Notes
Important Notes for Physics Secondary Education majors from Advising:
- Students will earn a bachelor’s degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and then earn a master's degree from the School of Education.
- Your ability to complete this major in eight semesters may be impacted if you do not begin with your recommended math placement course.
- Don’t forget to check the AP/IB guide to ensure you know if you have any incoming credit that will count towards your Core requirements.
- Because this is a mid-sized major in terms of the number of credits, students can add a minor and have flexibility to study abroad. A minor and/or study abroad could be affected by math placement.
A note about TLSC courses:
Education majors take TLSC courses in each of their 8 semesters. Those courses make up what are called sequences. Students enroll in Sequence 1 in the first semester, and the Sequence 1 courses are TLSC 110 (1 credit), TLSC 120 (2 credits), TLSC 130 (1 credit), and TLSC 300A (0 credits). In total, the four courses are worth 4 credits; the average ºÚÁÏÃÅcourse is worth 3 credits. Courses worth fewer credits require less time and work than the average 3-credit course.
In addition to Sequence 1 counting more like one class than like four, TLSC classes are different from other traditional ºÚÁÏÃÅclasses because they don’t occur at the same time. Students take them consecutively over the course of the semester. Students will take TLSC 110 first, and once it’s completed, students will take TLSC 120. And so on.
First Semester Course Recommendations
ºÚÁÏÃÅstudents interested in completing certification for secondary physics education will need to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree to meet requirements for the physics major and secondary education certification. Students earn their undergraduate degree in Physics.
As a Physics major, you will enroll in the following courses:
One of the following math courses based on your math placement (3-4 credits):
- MATH 100 or MATH 117 or MATH 118 (3 credits each) or MATH 161 (4 credits)
- Physics majors DO NOT take MATH 131
One Freshman Seminar:
- UNIV 101 (1 credit)
Based on your math placement, you will enroll in either Plan A or Plan B. See those course recommendations below.
The total number of credits you will enroll in for the fall is 15-16 credits.
Plan A: If you have a math placement of MATH 161, you will register for:
- PHYS 121 (3 credits) and PHYS 111L (1 credit)
- Two of the following classes (Pick only one course per category, 6 total credits):
- College Writing Seminar: UCWR 110
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 103, or HIST 104
- Foundational Philosophical Knowledge: PHIL 130
- Foundational Literary Knowledge: UCLR 100M, UCLR 100C, or UCLR 100E
- Foundational Theological Knowledge: THEO 100 or THEO 107
- Foundational Societal & Cultural Knowledge: ANTH 100, PLSC 102, SOCL 101, or WSGS 101
- Ethics Knowledge: PHIL 181, PHIL 182, THEO 185, or THEO 186
- Artistic Knowledge: (see list in LOCUS)
Plan B: If you have a math placement of MATH 118 or below, you will register for:
- Four of the following classes (Pick only one course per category, 12 total credits):
- College Writing Seminar: UCWR 110
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 103, or HIST 104
- Foundational Philosophical Knowledge: PHIL 130
- Foundational Literary Knowledge: UCLR 100M, UCLR 100C, or UCLR 100E
- Foundational Theological Knowledge: THEO 100 or THEO 107
- Foundational Societal & Cultural Knowledge: ANTH 100, PLSC 102, SOCL 101, or WSGS 101
- Ethics Knowledge: PHIL 181, PHIL 182, THEO 185, or THEO 186
- Artistic Knowledge: (see list in LOCUS)
* Students pursuing a pre-health track should choose SOCL 101.
Interdisciplinary Honors First Semester Course Recommendations
ºÚÁÏÃÅstudents interested in completing certification for secondary physics education will need to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree to meet requirements for the physics major and secondary education certification. Students earn their undergraduate degree in Physics.
As a Physics major, you will enroll in the following courses:
One of the following math courses based on your math placement (3-4 credits):
- MATH 100 or MATH 117 or MATH 118 (3 credits each) or MATH 161 (4 credits)
-
- Physics majors DO NOT take MATH 131
One Freshman Seminar:
- UNIV 101 (1 credit)
Interdisciplinary Honors Requirements (6 credits):
- HONR 101
- HONR D101
Based on your math placement, you will enroll in either Plan A or Plan B. See those course recommendations below.
The total number of credits you will enroll in for the fall is 15-18 credits.
Plan A: If you have a math placement of MATH 161, you will register for:
- PHYS 121 (3 credits) and PHYS 111L (1 credit)
- Zero or one of the following classes (Pick only one course per category, 0-3 total credits):
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: Any 100/200/300-level HIST course
- Foundational Societal & Cultural Knowledge: ANTH 100, PLSC 102, SOCL 101, or WSGS 101
Plan B: If you have a math placement of MATH 118 or below, you will register for:
- Two of the following classes (Pick only one course per category, 6 total credits):
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: Any 100/200/300-level HIST course
- Foundational Societal & Cultural Knowledge: ANTH 100, PLSC 102, SOCL 101, or WSGS 101
* Students pursuing a pre-health track should choose SOCL 101.
The information on the tabs below will help students planning to major in Physics Secondary Education to choose appropriate classes for their first semester. The recommendations below are for your first semester only, so you may have additional Core requirements, for example, that you'll learn more about during your first semester here.