University Catalog 2023-2024

EXPLORE PROGRAMSAPPLY

Science Education (BS): Physics Concentration

The Science Education: Physics concentration (BS) degree is one of five undergraduate degree options in the Science Education program in the Department of STEM Education. 

This degree program prepares teacher-leaders to have a deep understanding of the pedagogical strategies to teach high school Physics. Students complete courses focused on Physics and Science education, obtain relevant pedagogical experiences while immersed in rich field experiences in science classrooms, and emphasize teaching science with technology. Upon successful completion of the program, students are recommended for an initial North Carolina teaching license in grades 9-12. They will be able to seek employment opportunities in education and make a positive difference in their communities.

The goals and objectives of the BS degree in Science Education are:

  • To enable and ensure that each prospective teacher enriches his/her life through a comprehensive university education
  • To develop the professional qualities and academic background needed to teach science to all student levels in the grade for which the teacher is certified
  • To develop a general knowledge foundation upon which specialized professional knowledge is built, and upon which a well-rounded university education is the base


Coursework for the degree is divided into four types of knowledge:

  • General pedagogical knowledge — the nature of learners and general principles of instruction
  • Content-area knowledge — knowledge of the natural sciences
  • Pedagogical content knowledge — principles of curriculum, instruction and assessment directly related to the natural sciences
  • Context knowledge — understanding the culture of the school, community and society in which educational institutions exist and function


Students in this program also have the opportunity to participate in: 

  • Undergraduate research 
  • The student chapter of the NC Science Teachers Association (NCSTA), and other high impact experiences such as Passport to Success, SAY Village, and study abroad 
  • Outreach and tutoring in local schools
     

For more information about this program, visit our website. 

Contact

Department of STEM Education
North Carolina State University
208 Poe Hall, 2310 Stinson Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695

Matt Reynolds, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor
Undergraduate and MAT Program Coordinator for Science Education
NC State University Campus Box 7801
Poe Hall 326P Raleigh, NC 27695
ced.ncsu.edu

 

Plan Requirements

Orientation
ED 100Intro to Education 12
or ED 150/151 Students Advocating for Youth I
Communication/Advanced Writing3
Choose from:
COM 110
Public Speaking
COM 112
Interpersonal Communication
COM 211
Argumentation and Advocacy
COM 289
Science Communication and Public Engagement
ENG 232
Literature and Medicine
ENG 331
Communication for Engineering and Technology
ENG 333
Communication for Science and Research
ENG 425
Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing
(Physics BA double major choose ENG 331 or ENG 333)
Mathematics
MA 141Calculus I4
MA 241Calculus II4
MA 242Calculus III4
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I3
Sciences
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 24
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 24
CH 101
& CH 102		Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 2		4
Earth and Environmental Science Electives 26
PY 205
& PY 206		Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 2		4
or PY 201 University Physics I
(Physics BA double major choose PY 201)
PY 208
& PY 209		Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory 2		4
or PY 202 University Physics II
(Physics BA double major choose PY 202)
Physics Electives 100/200 Level 23
(Physics BA double major choose PY 203)
Physics Electives 300/400 Level 29
(Physics BA double major choose PY 401, PY 411, PY 413, and PY 414)
Advised Science Electives 26
Science Education
EMS 205Introduction to Teaching Science 32
EMS 373Instructional Materials in Science 13
EMS 375Methods of Teaching Science I 33
EMS 475Methods of Teaching Science II 33
EMS 476Student Teaching in Science 3, 410
EMS 495Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 1, 42
General Education and Psychology
ED 204Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 12
EDP 304Educational Psychology 13
ED 311
& ED 312		Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices
and Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1		3
ELP 344School and Society 13
ECI 416Teaching Exceptional Students in the Mainstreamed Classroom 13
History and Philosophy of Science Education Elective3
Free Electives0-4
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
GEP Humanities (verify requirement)0-6
GEP Social Sciences (verify requirement)0-6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts)3
GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement)
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C or higher is required.

2

A grade of C or higher is required for science content courses, up to two courses with a grade below a C is permitted

3

A grade of B- or higher is required.

4

Admission to the Professional Semester is required.

Earth and Environmental Science Electives

Choose from:
ES 100
Introduction to Environmental Sciences
ES 113
Earth from Space
ES 150
Water and the Environment
ES 200
Climate Change and Sustainability
ES 300
Energy and Environment
MEA 100
Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections
MEA 101
Geology I: Physical
MEA 110
Geology I Laboratory
MEA 130
Introduction to Weather and Climate
MEA 135
Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory
MEA 150
Environmental Issues in Water Resources
MEA 200
Introduction to Oceanography
MEA 202
Geology II: Historical
MEA 210
Oceanography Lab
MEA 211
Geology II Laboratory
MEA 215
Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
MEA 250
Introduction to Coastal Environments
MEA 251
Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory
MEA 260
Human Dimensions of Climate Change
MEA 300
Environmental Geology
MEA 320
Fundamentals of Air Pollution
MEA 321
Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change

Physics Electives 100/200 Level

Choose from:
PY 123Stellar and Galactic Astronomy3
PY 124Solar System Astronomy3
PY 125Astronomy Laboratory1
PY 203University Physics III4
PY 251Introduction to Scientific Computing3
PY 252Instrumental and Data Analysis for Physics2
PY 299Special Problems in Physics1-3
Physics Electives 300/400 Level

Physics Electives 300/400 Level

Choose from:
PY 301Introduction to Quantum Mechanics3
PY 328Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics3
PY 341Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology3
PY 401Quantum Physics I3
PY 402Quantum Physics II3
PY 407Introduction to Modern Physics3
PY 411Mechanics I3
PY 412Mechanics II3
PY 413Thermal Physics3
PY 414Electromagnetism I3
PY 415Electromagnetism II3
PY 452Advanced Physics Laboratory3
PY 456Senior Design Project in Physics3
PY 489Solid State Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting3
PY 495Special Topics in Physics1-4
PY 499Independent Research in Physics1-6

 Advised Science Electives

ANY 200+ Level AEC, BIO, BCH, BSC, CH, ENT, ES, MB, MEA, PB, PY, ZO
ANY GEP Natural Sciences course (except BIO 105/106, CH 111)
ANS 150Introduction to Animal Science
ANS 205Physiology of Domestic Animals
ANS 206Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab
ANS 220Reproductive Physiology
ANS 221Reproductive Physiology Lab
BIO 165Introduction to Environmental Research
CS 211Plant Genetics
ES 100Introduction to Environmental Sciences
ES 111Applications of Environmental Sciences
ES 150Water and the Environment
FOR 252Introduction to Forest Science
FOR 260Forest Ecology
FOR 261Forest Communities
FOR 264Forest Wildlife
FOR 339Dendrology
FW 353Wildlife Management
FW 404Wildlife Habitat Management
FW 405Tropical Wildlife Ecology
FW 444Mammalogy
FW 453Principles of Wildlife Science
FW 460International Wildlife Management and Conservation
NR 303Humans and the Environment
NR 406Conservation of Biological Diversity

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ED 100 Intro to Education 1 2
PY 205
& PY 206
or PY 201
 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 2
or University Physics I
 4
MA 141 Calculus I 4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
PY 208
& PY 209
or PY 202
 Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 2
or University Physics II
 4
MA 241 Calculus II 4
CH 101
& CH 102		 Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory		 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Communication/Advanced Writing Req. 3
Choose from:
COM 110
 Public Speaking
COM 112
 Interpersonal Communication
COM 211
 Argumentation and Advocacy
COM 289
 Science Communication and Public Engagement
ENG 232
 Literature and Medicine
ENG 331
 Communication for Engineering and Technology
ENG 333
 Communication for Science and Research
ENG 425
 Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
Physics Elective 100/200 Level 2 3
MA 242 Calculus III 4
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 2 4
Earth and Environmental Science Elective 2 3
GEP Humanities 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
EMS 205 Introduction to Teaching Science 3 2
ED 204 Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 1 2
EDP 304 Educational Psychology 1 3
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 3
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 2 4
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
EMS 373 Instructional Materials in Science 1 3
ELP 344 School and Society 1 3
History and Philosophy of Science Education Elective 3
Physics Elective 300/400 Level 3
Free Elective 4
 Hours16
Spring Semester
EMS 375 Methods of Teaching Science I 3 3
ED 311
& ED 312		 Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices
and Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1		 3
Physics Elective 300/400 Level 2 3
Earth and Environmental Science Elective 2 3
Advised Science Elective 2 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
EMS 475 Methods of Teaching Science II 3 3
ECI 416 Teaching Exceptional Students in the Mainstreamed Classroom 1 3
Physics Elective 300/400 Level 2 3
Advised Science Elective 2 3
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
EMS 476 Student Teaching in Science 1 10
EMS 495 Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 1 2
 Hours12
 Total Hours120
1

A grade of C or better is required.

2

A grade of C or better is required, up to two courses with a grade below a C is permitted.

3

A grade of B- or better is required.