Physics Secondary Education
Prepare to Teach Physics
Combine your desire to teach with your interest in physics! In this major, you’ll take core courses and advanced curriculum in physics, while also completing the course and field work necessary for teaching certification in grades 7-12 in Pennsylvania.
What Can I Do With a Degree in Physics Secondary Education?
Teaching is a rewarding career, and the demand is high for secondary education physics teachers. A major in Physics Secondary Education at ½ûÂþÌìÌà prepares you for a career as both an educator and as a physicist.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Prepared for the Future
In the Physics Secondary Education major, you’ll engage in classroom observations and complete a semester of supervised student teaching. You will learn how to integrate technology into your classroom, as well as various types of teaching methodologies for you to determine your teaching style.
Real-World Experiences
Your hands-on experience in rural, suburban, and urban schools will see you creating lesson plans, learning from other teachers, and building the confidence to create a positive, equitable, and productive learning environment.
A Varied Curriculum
As a Physics Education major, you’ll take courses in topics across both the education and physics curriculum. Some of the physics courses include: Earth in Space, Thermodynamics and College Physics. You'll also take courses like Methods of Secondary Science Education, which will prepare you for roles in science education.
Post Baccalaureate Opportunities
½ûÂþÌìÌà offers an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction as well as an M.Ed. in Special Education. ½ûÂþÌìÌà also offers certificates such as, an ESL Program Specialist K-12 Certificate, a Graduate Certificate in Curriculum & Instruction, a Graduate Certificate in Integrative Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Education Endorsement, a Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Autism Support and a Graduate Certificate in Trauma Informed Practice.
Student Organizations
Education Organization (Ed Org)
Ed Org's mission is to provide an atmosphere in which future educators feel safe, accepted and motivated to become successful teachers. The club participates in many social and service activities throughout the year, many times in conjunction with other clubs on campus. These events include literacy nights at the local library, volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House, after-school tutoring, participating inÌý Into the Streets Ìýand more. Ed Org also hosts an annual benefit for A-T (ataxia telangiectasia), a progressive, degenerative disease affecting children.
Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
Kappa Delta Pi Ìýis the International Honor Society in Education, founded in 1911 at the University of Illinois by William Bagley, Truman Kelly and Thomas Edgar Musselman. The mission of KDP is to sustain an honored community of diverse educators by promoting excellence and advancing scholarship, leadership and service. The founders chose the name from the Greek words knowledge, duty, and power. Kappa Delta Pi grew from the local chapter to the international organization it is today.
The ½ûÂþÌìÌà chapter, Tau Iota, participates in many service activities throughout the year, such as Math night, Social Studies night, Literacy Alive! to name a few. To qualify for membership, candidates must have completed 60 hours or more of credits, be a full-time student, have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and achieve department recommendation.
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
This is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an international community of professionals and network of student chapters that work to improve, through excellence and advocacy, the education and quality of life for children and youth with exceptionalities and to enhance engagement of their families. The ½ûÂþÌìÌà student chapter of CEC connects college students across areas of study with individuals with disabilities and their families through service and development activities.