Physics B.S. - Secondary Teaching Emphasis – Licensure: Science (Grades 7-12)
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Contact: Cynthia S. Galovich, Ph.D., Department Chair
Location: Ross Hall 0232
Telephone: 970.351.2961
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/physics
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) Credits
Program Description:
The program emphasizes the laws, principles and applications of physics and other sciences, along with the communication skills and teaching methods to effectively teach these concepts at the junior high and high school levels (grades 7-12). Graduates of this degree would help to combat a shortage of physical science teachers and help meet the nationwide goals of excellence in science preparation.
With additional physics and mathematics courses, students could qualify for graduate study in physics or for employment in industry or governmental research laboratories.
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing
Program Requirements:
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A 2.0 GPA or better is required in PHYS prefix courses for graduation.
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In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program.
PTEP Program Requirements:
Teacher candidates who complete an approved content degree and the UNC professional teacher education program, as well as pass the appropriate Colorado Department of Education designated PRAXIS exam (if applicable), will be eligible for recommendation from UNC for a Colorado Department of Education teaching license.
If you are seeking licensure in your program area, the following items are required to complete your program.
- Completion of Application for Initial Admission to PTEP
- Completion of Full Admission to PTEP
- Completion of Application for Student Teaching
- Completion of content specific PRAXIS test prior to Student Teaching
- Candidates may not take extra courses with Student Teaching without prior approval from the Program Coordinator and the STE Director.
- All PTEP Field Experiences and methods courses need to be successfully completed prior to Student Teaching.
- Student Teaching outside the supervision of UNC Faculty may or may not be approved.
- Teacher Candidates will not be placed in a school where they were once students or where they have a close relative attending and/or working.
- Teacher education and educator preparation licensure programs do not accept Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) or field based courses that are more than ten years old. PLEASE NOTE: Teacher Candidates have the right to petition this policy at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Please work with your content advisor to determine when these requirements will be completed throughout your program.
Degree Requirements — 123 Credits
1. Required Specified LAC — 25 credits
LAC area 2 — Mathematics
LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences
Remaining LAC — 21 credits
See “Liberal Arts Core”
NOTE: Students need to select courses from Areas 7 and/or 8 that also count for Areas 3, 4, or 5.
2. Required Major — 42 credits
Take all of the following courses:
| PHYS 241 | General Physics II | 5 |
| PHYS 320 | Mathematical Methods I | 3 |
| PHYS 321 | Elementary Modern Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 340 | Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 341 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 345 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 347 | Optics | 4 |
| CHEM 112 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 112L | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| SCED 440 | Strategies in Teaching Secondary Science | 1 |
| | Elective Credits in Biological Sciences (consent of advisor) | 3 |
| | Elective Credits in Earth Sciences (consent of advisor) | 3 |
Choose one of the following courses:
| AST 301 | Classical Astronomy and the Solar System | 3 |
| AST 302 | Stars and the Milky Way | 3 |
3. Required PTEP — 35 credits
Phase I (6 credits taken concurrently).
| STEP 161 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching I | 2 |
| EDF 366 | Conceptions of Schooling: Context and Process | 3 |
Phase II (8 credits taken concurrently)
| STEP 262 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching II | 2 |
| EDSE 360 | Adaptation, Modification, and Integration of Curriculum for the Secondary Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| PSY 349 | Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers | 3 |
Phase III (8 credits taken concurrently)
| STEP 363 | Clinical Experience: Secondary | 2 |
| EDRD 340 | Academic Language/Literacy Development in the Content Areas at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| SCED 441 | Methods of Teaching Secondary School Science | 3 |
EDRD 340 may be taken outside of Phase III.
Phase IV (14 credits)
NOTE: PHYS 343 Electronics (4) is strongly recommended.