Physics Education
Major Requirements
Major: Physics Education
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 148
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specific by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses number 300 or higher.
- Transfer Students: Must earn a minimum of 60 credits from a baccalaureate-degree granting or professional institituion.
- Of these 60, at least 36 must be NDSU residence credits as defined in #7.
- Within the 36 resident credits, a minimum of 15 must be in courses numbered 300 or higher and 15 credits in the major field of study.
- At least 36 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Residence credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories. |
- A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Physics Education Requirements | ||
| BIOL 124 & 124L | Environmental Science and Environmental Science Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 4 |
| ENGL 324 | Writing in the Sciences (May satisfy general education category C) | 3 |
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R) | 3 |
| Teaching Specialty Requirements | ||
| Select One Course Pair: | 4 | |
| Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Select One Course Pair: | 4 | |
| Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| CHEM Elective | 300/400-Level Elective Course & Lab | 4 |
| CSCI 114 | Microcomputer Packages | 3-4 |
| or CSCI 116 | Business Use of Computers | |
| or CSCI 160 | Computer Science I | |
| GEOL 105 & 105L | Physical Geology and Physical Geology Lab (May satisfy general education category G) | 4 |
| GEOL 106 & 106L | The Earth Through Time and The Earth Through Time Lab | 4 |
| MATH 129 | Basic Linear Algebra * | 3 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 265 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 110 | Introductory Astronomy | 3 |
| PHYS 171 | Introductory Projects in Physics | 1 |
| PHYS 215 | Research For Undergraduates | 1 |
| PHYS 251 & 251L | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 251R | University Physics I Recitation | 1 |
| PHYS 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 252R | University Physics II Recitation | 1 |
| PHYS Elective | 300/400-Level Elective Course | 3 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 355 | Classical Mechanics | 3-4 |
| or PHYS 330: Intermediate Mechanics (MSUM) | ||
| PHYS 360 | Modern Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 361 | Electromagnetic Theory | 3-4 |
| or PHYS 370: Electromagnetic Theory (MSUM) | ||
| PHYS 411 & 411L | Optics for Scientists & Engineers and Optics for Scientists and Engineers Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 462 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 491 | Seminar | 1 |
| Professional Education Requirements | ||
| EDUC 321 | Introduction to Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 322 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 451 | Instructional Planning, Methods and Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 481 | Classroom Practice Methods of Teaching I: (Science) | 3 |
| EDUC 485 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 486 | Classroom Management for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 487 | Student Teaching | 9 |
| EDUC 488 | Applied Student Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 489 | Teaching Students of Diverse Backgrounds | 3 |
| Total Credits | 125-128 | |
| * | MATH 429 Topics in Linear Algebra may substitute for MATH 129 Basic Linear Algebra. |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- A GPA of 2.75 or better in the teaching specialty is required for placement in student teaching and exit from the program.
- A GPA of 2.75 or better in the professional education requirements as well as passing the appropriate Praxis II exam are required to exit the program. A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in all Professional Education Requirement courses.
- Courses taken Pass/Fail will not be used to satisfy any requirements other than total credits.
- See School of Education for admission requirements.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree – An additional 6 credits of Humanities and Social Sciences and proficiency at the second year in a modern foreign language are required.