Physics Education
Major Requirements
Major: Physics Education
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
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 specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.
For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.
University General Education Requirements
A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning † | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology † | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts † | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences † | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness † | 2 | |
| Category D: Cultural Diversity *† | ||
| Category G: Global Perspectives *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
- *
Courses for category D & G are satisfied by completing D & G designated 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.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Specialty Requirements | ||
| BIOL 150 & 150L | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| Pick an introductory chemistry sequence (A or B): | 8 | |
| Sequence A: | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Sequence B: | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| ENGL 324 | Writing in the Sciences | 3 |
| Select one of the following geology courses and lab: | 4 | |
| Physical Geology and Physical Geology Lab | ||
| The Earth Through Time and The Earth Through Time Lab | ||
| Select one of the following algebra courses: | 3 | |
| Basic Linear Algebra | ||
| Intermediate Linear Algebra | ||
| 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 251 & 251L | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 355 | Classical Mechanics (or PHYS 330: Intermediate Mechanics (MSUM) | 3 |
| PHYS 361 | Electromagnetic Theory (or PHYS370: Electromagnetic Theory (MSUM) | 3 |
| PHYS 411 & 411L | Optics for Scientists & Engineers and Optics for Scientists and Engineers Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 462 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | 3 |
| 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 482 | Classroom Practice/Methods of Teaching II: (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 | 101 | |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- See School of Education for admission requirements.
- Courses taken P/F may not be used to satisfy any requirements.
- A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in all professional education courses.
- To be placed in student teaching, a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 2.75 GPA in professional education coursework is required.
- To exit the program, a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 2.75 GPA in professional education coursework is required as well as completing the Praxis Subject test and the Principles of Learning and Teaching test.
- Adding Mathematics as an additional teacher licensure area can be accomplished with 6 additional credit hours. See your academic advisor for details.