Physics Major: Science Education (Grades 4-12) Concentration - Bachelor of Science (BS)

Completion of the Physics: Science Education Concentration Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:

  • Middle and High School Science, grades 4-12 (2600).

Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Students in all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education in order to complete their program requirements and be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in physics: science education (grades 4-12) must meet specific program admission criteria.

Retention and advancement

Teacher candidates may be retained in their teacher education program provided they fulfill the conditions described in the SOE Retention Policy. Students must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching as described in the Student Teaching and Internship Policy. Additional SOE program requirements, including the culminating assessment of pedagogical knowledge, are described on the SOE catalog page.

Curriculum

The Physics: Science Education Concentration Program is aligned with InTASC Teacher Standards and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Standards.

Required general education courses (21-22 credits)

Besides the courses specified below, physics: science education concentration majors must satisfy additional general education requirements. The General Education Program requires a total of 42 credits.

EDS 203School, Society, and Teachers 1, 73
EDS 206Multicultural Education 2, 73
Select two of the following: 38-9
College Algebra
Precalculus
Calculus I 4
Calculus II 4
GEO 200Conservation of Global Environments 53
Select one of the following: 64
Fundamental Physics I
General Physics I
Total Credits21-22
1

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Self and Society (GE Category 6).

2

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies (GE Category 3).

3

Counts toward the General Education Program requirement: Mathematical/Logical Systems and Modern Languages (GE Category 2).

4

MTH 207 and MTH 208 may count toward both the General Education Program requirement: Mathematical/Logical Systems and Modern Languages (GE Category 2) and the physics major content requirements.

5

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: International and Multicultural Studies, Global and Multicultural Studies (GE Category 4-2). Also satisfies both a science education core requirement and a WI statutory requirement for a teaching license in Science (2600).

6

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Natural Laboratory Science (GE Category 5). Also satisfies a science education core requirement.

Science education core requirements (55 credits)

Allied courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
EDS 309Teaching Global Perspectives Across the Curriculum3
PSY 212Lifespan Development 73
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 73
Content courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
BIO 105General Biology4
BIO 203Organismal Biology4
CHM 103General Chemistry I5
CHM 104General Chemistry II5
GEO 101Earth Environments4
Select one of the following: 84
Fundamental Physics II
General Physics II
Courses requiring admission to the School of Education
PHY 451Curriculum and Content in Science and Mathematics 72
PHY 452The Learner and Learning in Science 72
PHY 454Field Experience I in Science Education 72
PHY 455Field Experience II in Science Education 72
Student teaching semester 9
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar 71
One of the following: 711
Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits55

Physics major content requirements (18-27 credits)

Besides the below, additional courses count toward this requirement. However, they also satisfy other requirements in the program. The relevant courses are marked in those sections.

Select one of the following:4
Solar System Astronomy
Stars, Galaxies and the Universe
PHY 305General Physics III3
PHY 306Modern Physics3
PHY 311Experimental Physics2
Electives
Select six additional credits from 300/400-level PHY courses 106
Math requirement9
Calculus I 4
Calculus II 4
Total Credits18-27
7

Also satisfies an SOE core requirement.

8

Also satisfies a physics major content requirement.

9

Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

10

PHY 308PHY 334, and PHY 453 are strongly recommended.

Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page.

All teacher education students must complete the general education, School of Education, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDS 203 (Gen Ed Self & Society)3EDS 206 (Gen Ed Minority Cultures)3
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3
PHY 4971PHY 204 or 1044
MTH 207 (Gen Ed Math)5MTH 208 (Gen Ed Math)4
PHY 203 or 103 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)4Gen Ed Arts2-3
 16 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHY 3053PSY 2123
EDS 3093BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)4
CHM 1035PHY 3063
ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3CHM 1045
University Elective1PHY 4971
 15 16
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SPE 2003PHY 4542
BIO 2034PHY 4512
GEO 200 (Gen Ed Global Studies)3GEO 1014
PHY 3112PHY Elective3
Gen Ed World History3Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3
Apply for admission to SOE1 Apply for Field Experience II2 
Apply for Field Experience I2 Apply for Student Teaching3 
 15 14
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHY 4552All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.4 
PHY 4522EDS 4921
PHY 155 or 1604EDS 49611
Gen Ed Health & Well-Being3 
Gen Ed Arts2-3 
PHY Elective3 
 16 12
Total Credits: 120
1

See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.

2

Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges.

3

Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.

4

For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.