Physics, Teaching (BSPhy)
All aspects of the physical universe are of interest to the physicist, who seeks to understand not only the smallest forms of matter and the rich phenomena present in our everyday lives but also the universe itself. Physics has played a critical role in human technological and intellectual development during the twentieth century. The tools of the physicist—observation, imagination, model building, prediction, and deduction—will enable physics to continue this influence into the new century. The Bachelor of Science in Physics degree program is designed to provide the skills, understanding, and outlook required for participation in the discovery of new knowledge about nature.
The Bachelor of Science in Physics program is balanced and broad. It is designed to give the student a strong foundation for graduate study or work in physics and, with additional training, for work in a variety of other areas, such as astronomy, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, engineering, geophysics, mathematics, medicine, physics teaching, and space sciences. Students who end their formal training with the bachelor’s degree may seek employment in industry, in national laboratories, or in teaching; they should consider the options in computation, radiation physics, space sciences, biophysics, and teaching, which augment the broad instruction provided by the basic Bachelor of Science in Physics. For those who plan to teach physics in secondary school, the teaching option provides the courses needed for certification.
This concentration is designed to fulfill the course requirements for certification as a middle grades or secondary school science teacher in Texas; the student chooses composite science certification with physics as the primary teaching field, physical sciences certification, physics/mathematics certification, or mathematics, physical science, and engineering certification. However, completion of the course requirements does not guarantee the student’s certification. For information about additional requirements, students should consult the UTeach-Natural Sciences academic advisor.
To graduate and be recommended for certification, students who follow the Teaching Option must have a University grade point average of at least 2.50. They must earn a grade of at least C- in the supporting course in requirement 9 and in each of the professional development courses listed in requirement 11 and must pass the final teaching portfolio review; those seeking middle grades certification must also earn a grade of at least C- in each of the courses listed in requirement 12. Information about the portfolio review and additional teacher certification requirements is available from the UTeach-Natural Sciences academic advisor.
Total Hours Required: 120
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| PHY 301 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 101L | Laboratory for Physics 301 | 1 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 316 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHY 116L | Laboratory for Physics 316 | 1 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | 6 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| M 427L | Advanced Calculus for Applications II | 4 |
| PHY 315 | Wave Motion and Optics | 3 |
| PHY 115L | Laboratory for Physics 315 | 1 |
| PHY 355 | Modern Physics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | 6 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHY 353L | Modern Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHY 336K | Classical Dynamics | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division Math | 3 | |
| Hours chosen from: AST, BIO, or GEO | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHY 373 | Quantum Physics I: Foundations | 3 |
| PHY 352K | Classical Electrodynamics I | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division Math | 3 | |
| Hours chosen from: AST, BIO, or GEO | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHY 369 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 362K | Quantum Physics II: Atoms and Molecules | 3 |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Quantum Physics III: Particles and Nuclei | ||
| Classical Electrodynamics II | ||
| Introduction to Relativity | ||
| Introductory Solid-State Physics | ||
| PHY 474 | Advanced Laboratory I | 4 |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | ||
| PHY 341.7 | Research Methods: UTeach (Topic 7: Research Methods: UTeach) 1 | 3 |
| PHY 353L | Modern Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHY 355 | Modern Physics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| or M 427K | Advanced Calculus for Applications I | |
| M 427L | Advanced Calculus for Applications II | 4 |
| Hours chosen from: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Computational Physics | ||
| Modern Optics | ||
| Classical Dynamics | ||
| Electronic Techniques | ||
| Classical Electrodynamics I | ||
| Quantum Physics I: Foundations | ||
| Physics by Inquiry | ||
| HIS 329U | Perspectives on Science and Mathematics | 3 |
| or PHL 329U | Perspectives on Science and Mathematics | |
| Complete one certification area: | 12 | |
Composite Science Certification (see Course List Tab for details) | ||
Physical Sciences Certification (see Course List Tab for details) | ||
Physics/Mathematics Certification (see Course List Tab for details) | ||
Mathematics, Physical Science, and Engineering Certification (see Course List Tab for details) | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| Secondary School Teaching Practicum: Math (Topic 3: Secondary School Teaching Practicum: Math) | ||
| Secondary School Teaching Practicum: Science (Topic 4: Secondary School Teaching Practicum: Science) | ||
| EDC 365C | Knowing and Learning in Math and Science | 3 |
| or UTS 350 | Knowing and Learning in Math and Science | |
| EDC 365D | Classroom Interactions | 3 |
| or UTS 355 | Classroom Interactions | |
| EDC 365E | Project-Based Instruction | 3 |
| or UTS 360 | Project-Based Instruction | |
| UTS 101 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: Step 1 | 1 |
| UTS 110 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: STEP 2 | 1 |
| UTS 170 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| Subtotal | 67 | |
| Major (see details below) | 12 | |
| Degree (see details below) | 6 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 32 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 32 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
With the consent of the UTeach-Natural Sciences undergraduate advisor, an upper-division physics course that includes a substantial research component may be substituted for PHY 341
Students seeking middle grades certification must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDC 339E | Secondary School Literacy across the Disciplines | 3 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Major-Physics (BSPhy)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 301 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 101L | Laboratory for Physics 301 | 1 |
| PHY 316 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PHY 116L | Laboratory for Physics 316 | 1 |
| PHY 315 | Wave Motion and Optics | 3 |
| PHY 115L | Laboratory for Physics 315 | 1 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Degree-Bachelor of Science in Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language/Culture Choices | ||
| One of the following foreign language/culture choices: (Students in Teaching and Physics Honors concentrations are exempt from this requirement) | 6 | |
First course in a foreign language and a three-semester-hour course in the culture of the same language area | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
Students in all options must fulfill both the University's General Requirements for graduation and the college requirements. They must also earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and a grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. More information about grades and the grade point average is given in the General Information Catalog.
Upper-division Coursework
At least 21 semester hours of upper-division coursework, including at least 12 semester hours of upper-division coursework in physics, must be completed in residence at the University.
Composite Science Certification
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| or CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Physical Geology | ||
| Introduction to Geology | ||
| Climate: Past, Present, and Future | ||
| Earth, Wind, and Fire | ||
| Earth Science and Sustainability | ||
| The Age of Mammals | ||
| Geology of National Parks | ||
| Earth in 2100 | ||
| Crisis of Our Planet | ||
| Climate and the Energy Transition | ||
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Physical Sciences Certification
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| or CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | |
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Chemical Practice | ||
or CH X17 | Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry | |
| Physical Chemistry I | ||
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Physical Chemistry II | ||
| Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry | ||
or CH 456 | Analytical Chemistry | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Physics/Mathematics Certification
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M 315C | Foundations, Functions, and Regression Models | 3 |
| M 333L | Structure of Modern Geometry | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Mathematics, Physical Science, and Engineering Certification
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M 315C | Foundations, Functions, and Regression Models | 3 |
| M 325K | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| M 333L | Structure of Modern Geometry | 3 |
| M 358K | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| M 362K | Probability I | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| or CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | |
| CH 204 | Introduction to Chemical Practice | 2 |
| E S 301 | Engineering Design and Problem Solving | 3 |
| M E 377K | Projects in Mechanical Engineering (upon approval of the project by the UTeach Program) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 29 | |