Physics - BS, Physical Science Teaching Track
The BS in Physics, Physical Science Teaching Track, will provide students with a solid foundation in physics and the courses required for the aggieTEACH – Arts & Sciences Program (application required). Upon completion of this degree and one semester of clinical teaching, students will hold a Texas Physical Science (grades 6-12) certification. Although this degree is designed for students who want to teach, the physics courses also build a strong foundation in critical thinking and quantitative problem-solving skills that are attractive to many areas of industry.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ARSC 201 | Self-Directed Experiences with Adolescents | 1 |
| ENGL 103 or ENGL 104 | Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition or Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| MATH 171 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 101 | Freshman Physics Orientation 1 | 1 |
| PHYS 150 | Introduction for Programming for Physics 1 | 3 |
| American history 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ASTR 102 | Observational Astronomy 1 | 1 |
| MATH 172 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 206 & PHYS 226 | Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science and Physics of Motion Laboratory for the Sciences 1 | 4 |
| American history 2 | 3 | |
| Language, philosophy and culture 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 221 | Several Variable Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MATH 308 | Differential Equations 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYS 227 | Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science and Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory for the Sciences 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 221 | Optics and Thermal Physics 1 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 225 | Electronic Circuits and Applications | 3 |
| PHYS 309 | Modern Physics 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 331 | Theoretical Methods for Physicists I 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Foundations of Education in a Multicultural Society 3 | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Introduction to Culture, Community, Society and Schools | ||
| Communication 4 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| INST 210 | Understanding Special Populations 5 | 3 |
| PHYS 302 | Advanced Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 304 | Advanced Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 332 | Theoretical Methods for Physicists II | 3 |
| POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 303 or PHYS 305 | Advanced Mechanics II or Advanced Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 327 | Experimental Physics I 6 | 2 |
| PHYS 328 | Experimental Physics II 6 | 1 |
| PHYS 412 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| TEFB 322 | Teaching and Schooling in Modern Society | 3 |
| RDNG 465 or RDNG 372 | Reading in the Middle and Secondary Grades or Reading and Writing across the Middle Grades Curriculum | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 408 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
| POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| TEFB 324 | Teaching Skills II 7 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Fundamentals of Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry for Engineering Students and General Chemistry for Engineering Students Laboratory | ||
| General elective 8 | 2 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 120 | Fundamentals of Chemistry II | 4 |
| TEFB 406 | Science in the Middle and Secondary School | 3 |
| Creative arts 2 | 3 | |
| Science or technical elective 9 | 3 | |
| General Elective 8 | 2 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A Physics major must complete the foundation courses (ASTR 102, PHYS 101, PHYS 150, PHYS 206/PHYS 226, PHYS 207/PHYS 227, PHYS 221, PHYS 309 PHYS 331, MATH 171, MATH 172, MATH 221, MATH 308) with a grade of C or better and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA before taking non-foundation upper-level physics courses.
- 2
Any course in this category from the approved University Core Curriculum list of courses.
- 3
INST 222 is an approved Social and Behavioral Science, International and Cultural Diversity and Cultural Discourse class.
- 4
Any approved Communication course, except PERF 407.
- 5
INST 210 is an approved Social and Behavioral Science and Cultural Discourse class.
- 6
PHYS 327 is an approved W course. PHYS 328 is an approved C course.
- 7
Students must apply, and be admitted, to aggieTEACH - Science, before beginning this class. Students are required to have 2.75 overall GPA and a 2.5 GPA in content areas.
- 8
Electives should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor. Electives may be selected from any 100-499 course not used elsewhere, except ENGL 103; MATH 100-148, 165-166, 365-366; PHYS 201, PHYS 202.
- 9
Any upper-division course in geo/life/physical sciences, mathematics/statistics, or engineering (except 485/491).