Physics, Physics Teaching Concentration, B.S.

Department of Physics and Astronomy
615-898-2130
Ron Henderson, program coordinator
Ron.Henderson@mtsu.edu

All physics majors must choose to concentrate in Professional Physics, Physics Teaching, Applied Physics, or Astronomy. Each concentration specifies additional upper-division electives in physics and astronomy and other disciplines which vary by concentration. A minimum of 12 upper-division semester hours in the physics major must be taken at MTSU.

The physics core consists of 25 semester hours of physics and astronomy. Other requirements include 8 semester hours of chemistry and 8 semester hours of mathematics.

The Physics Teaching concentration offers preparation for careers as physics teachers, as well as serving as an appropriate degree path for other physics majors who do not plan to attend graduate school. In addition to the physics common requirements, the following courses are required:

Required Courses (8 hours)

PHYS 3930 - The Teaching of Physics 3 credit hours
PHYS 3950 - Physics Licensure I 1 credit hour
PHYS 3960 - Physics Licensure II 1 credit hour
ASTR 1030 - Exploring the Universe 3 credit hours

Supporting Courses (26 hours)

BIOL 1110 - General Biology 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 1111 - General Biology Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours
MATH 2050 - Probability and Statistics 3 credit hours
MATH 3120 - Differential Equations I 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3150 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics I 3 credit hours

Note:

Contact the Physics and Astronomy department office for scholarship opportunities for Physics Teaching students.

Teacher Licensure in Physics

Students seeking a license to teach physics in secondary schools (grades 7-12) must complete (1) a major in physics with a concentration in Physics Teaching, and/or (2) a minor in Secondary Education through MTeach.

Students must contact their Secondary Education Minor advisors for approval of appropriate courses.

Physics Common Requirements

The common requirements required of ALL Physics majors consist of

Physics Core (25 hours)

PHYS 1010 - Physics Colloquium 1 credit hour
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2110 - Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2111 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory I 4 credit hours
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2120 - Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2121 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory II 4 credit hours
PHYS 3100 - Modern Physics I 3 credit hours * OR
PHYS 3070 - Concepts in Modern Physics I 3 credit hours
PHYS 3110 - Modern Physics II 3 credit hours * OR
PHYS 3080 - Concepts in Modern Physics II 3 credit hours
PHYS 3111 - Modern Physics Laboratory 1 credit hour
PHYS 3610 - Thermodynamics 3 credit hours * OR
PHYS 3510 - Concepts in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3400 - Intermediate Physics 3 credit hours
PHYS 3800 - Physics Seminar 1 credit hour
PHYS 3900 - Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
PHYS 4850 - Physics Research 2 credit hours OR
ASTR 4850 - Astronomy Research 2 credit hours
PHYS 4900 - Physics Senior Thesis 2 credit hours OR
ASTR 4900 - Astronomy Senior Thesis 2 credit hours

NOTE:

* Substitutions are allowed as follows: PHYS 3100 (PHYS 3070), PHYS 3110 (PHYS 3080), and PHYS 3610 (PHYS 3510 or PHYS 3400).

Curriculum: Physics, Physics Teaching

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman

PHYS 1010 - Physics Colloquium 1 credit hour
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci)
OR
PHYS 2110 - Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
PHYS 2111 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci)
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2120 - Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2121 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory II 4 credit hours
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (Math)
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Sophomore

PHYS 3100 - Modern Physics I 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3070 - Concepts in Modern Physics I 3 credit hours
PHYS 3110 - Modern Physics II 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3080 - Concepts in Modern Physics II 3 credit hours
MATH 2050 - Probability and Statistics 3 credit hours
MATH 3120 - Differential Equations I 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3150 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics I 3 credit hours
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours
PHYS 3111 - Modern Physics Laboratory 1 credit hour
PHYS 3900 - Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
ASTR 1030 - Exploring the Universe 3 credit hours
ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 32 Hours

Junior

BIOL 1110 - General Biology 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 1111 - General Biology Lab 0 credit hours
PHYS 3610 - Thermodynamics 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3510 - Concepts in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 credit hours
PHYS 3800 - Physics Seminar 1 credit hour
PHYS 3930 - The Teaching of Physics 3 credit hours
PHYS 3950 - Physics Licensure I 1 credit hour
PHYS 4850 - Physics Research 2 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Electives 6 credit hours

HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 29 Hours

Senior

PHYS 3960 - Physics Licensure II 1 credit hour
PHYS 4900 - Physics Senior Thesis 2 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Electives 22 credit hours

Subtotal: 28 Hours

Total hours in program: 120

NOTE:

The minimum number of hours for graduation is 120; however, the number of hours required for this program may exceed this if students choose the Secondary Education Minor in addition to the Physics Teaching concentration.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Physics, Physics Teaching, B.S., Academic Map