Physics Teaching

Physics Teaching
BS
Hours74.5 - 77.5 Credit Hours
MAPMajor Academic Plan

Program Requirements

For students accepted into the major after August 1, 2014, grades below C in any required coursework in a teaching major or teaching minor will not be accepted. Teacher candidates must maintain a total GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program and to qualify for student teaching. For details on admission and retention requirements for teaching majors and teaching minors, see Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Requirements.
Contact Education Student Services for entrance requirements into the licensure program.
A teaching minor is not required for licensure. However, it is strongly recommended.
requirement 1 Complete 9 courses
Note: Phscs 191 should be taken the first semester.
requirement 2 Complete 1 option
requirement 3 Complete 1 course
requirement 4 Complete 12.0 hours from the following option(s)
Physics electives:
Complete an additional 12 hours from the following (any physics course already taken will not double count).
option 4.1 Complete up to 6.0 hours from the following course(s)
HIST 291 - (Not currently offered)
PHIL 423R - History and Philosophy of Science 3.0
You may take this course up to 1 time.
PHSCS 137 - (Not currently offered)
PHSCS 167 - Descriptive Acoustics of Music and Speech 3.0
PHSCS 281 - Principles of Solid State Physics 3.0
PHSCS 310 - Physics By Inquiry: Mechanics 3.0
PHSCS 311 - Physics By Inquiry: Electricity 3.0
PHSCS 313R - Special Topics in Physics 3.0v
You may take this course up to 1 time.
option 4.2 Complete up to 12.0 hours from the following course(s)
Complete AT LEAST 6 hours from 300-, 400-, or 500-level physics courses, not including 310 or 311 or 399R (Phscs 321, 461, and 471 are highly recommended).
PHSCS 313R - Special Topics in Physics 3.0v
PHSCS 318 - Introduction to Mathematical Physics 3.0
PHSCS 321 - Mechanics 3.0
PHSCS 329 - Observational Astronomy 3.0
PHSCS 330 - Computational Physics Lab 2 1.0
PHSCS 360 - Statistical and Thermal Physics 3.0
PHSCS 391R - Seminar in Current Physics 1.0
PHSCS 416 - Writing in Physics 3.0
PHSCS 427 - Introduction to Astrophysics 3.0
PHSCS 428 - Introduction to Astrophysics 3.0
PHSCS 430 - Computational Physics Lab 3 1.0
PHSCS 441 - Electrostatics and Magnetism 3.0
PHSCS 442 - Electrodynamics 3.0
PHSCS 451 - Quantum Mechanics 3.0
PHSCS 452 - Applications of Quantum Mechanics 3.0
PHSCS 461 - Introduction to Acoustics 3.0
PHSCS 471 - Principles of Optics 3.0
PHSCS 492R - Capstone Project in Applied Physics 2.0
PHSCS 497R - Research in Physics 3.0v
PHSCS 498R - Senior Thesis 3.0v
PHSCS 500 - (Phscs-Chem-C S-Geol-Math-MthEd-Stat) Business Career Essentials in Science and Math 1.5
PHSCS 540 - Electrical Engineering Principles and Practices for Physicists 2.0
PHSCS 561 - (Phscs-Me En) Fundamentals of Acoustics 3.0
PHSCS 571 - Lasers and Atoms 3.0
PHSCS 581 - Solid-State Physics 3.0
PHSCS 583 - Physics of Nanostructures, Surfaces, and Interfaces 3.0
PHSCS 585 - Thin-Film Physics 3.0
PHSCS 586 - Transmission Electron Microscopy for Physical Science and Engineering 3.0
PHSCS 587 - Physics of Semiconductor Devices 3.0
PHSCS 588 - Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for Physical Science and Engineering 3.0
PHSCS 599R - Academic Internship 9.0v
requirement 5 Complete 2 options
Professional Education Component:
Licensure requirements: Contact Education Student Services, 350 MCKB, 422-3426, to schedule the final interview to clear your application for the secondary teaching license. You should be registered for your last semester at BYU prior to the scheduled appointment.
option 5.1 Complete 7 courses
Note: FBI fingerprint and background clearance must be completed prior to enrollment in Phy S 276.
option 5.2 Complete 12.0 hours from the following course(s)
Student teachers/interns must complete three forms in their LiveText accounts (PIBS, CDS, FED) and attach their TWS to the LiveText account for their program. All four must be completed to be cleared for graduation.
Program Outcomes

Teaching Physical Science and Problem Solving

Able to teach concepts and problem solving at the high school and advanced placement level in astronomy, classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, quantum mechanics and special relativity.

Classroom Management and Lab Design

Manage high school classroom in teaching setting. Direct high school student labs, and build simple lab equipment and demonstrations.

Physics Theory and Application

Apply principles at an introductory college level from the primary physical theories (classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, special relativity, thermodynamics, electromagnetism and optics) to solve representative problems.

Instruction Design

Students will be able to design, develop and administer inquiry-based science units.

Addressing Student Diversity

Able to adapt teaching to adolescents and students with different cultural backgrounds.

Guiding Principles

Understand and apply the BYU's McKay school of Education Guiding Principles.