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 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.

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.

Academic Map

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

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

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

The following General Education courses are required for this major:

MATH 1910 (Math)
BIOL 1110/1111 (Nat Sci)
CHEM 1110/1111 (Nat Sci)

Major Requirements (33 hours)

Electives (31 hours)

At least 18 credit hours at 3000/4000 level

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.

Total hours in program: 120

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)
Electives 6 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 I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
BIOL 1111 - General Biology I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
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 - Reasoning in Physics I: Mechanics 1 credit hour
PHYS 4850 - Physics Research 2 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 6 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Elective 3 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 - Reasoning in Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 1 credit hour
PHYS 4900 - Physics Senior Thesis 2 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Electives 22 credit hours