Physics, Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Physics Education
To obtain a B.S. with a major in Physics, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements.
Physics, Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Physics Education Requirements
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| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS - 34 Hours Required | ||
| Minimum of “C-“required | ||
| Fundamental Skills | 15 | |
Writing – 6 hrs. | ||
| ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | ||
| COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | ||
Oral Communication – 3 hrs. | ||
| PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | ||
or CMST 2120 | ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | |
Quantitative Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING | ||
or MATH 1130 | QUANTITATIVE LITERACY | |
or MATH 1140 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS | |
or MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | |
Data Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
Select one from the following: | ||
| DATA LITERACY AND VISUALIZATION | ||
| ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | ||
Until Fall 2028, students can satisfy this requirement with an approved data literacy course, or any approved natural or social science general education course. | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 13 | |
Social Science – 3 hrs. | ||
Humanities – 3 hrs. | ||
Natural & Physical Science (must complete a lab) – 4 hrs. | ||
Arts – 3 hrs. | ||
| Individual and Social Responsibility | 6 | |
Cultural Knowledge – 3 hrs. | ||
Civic Knowledge and Engagement – 3 hrs. | ||
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| **Course will satisfy UNO's General Education requirement | ||
| ^Course requires pre-requisite(s) | ||
| Physics Major with a Concentration in Physics Education - 95 Hours Required | ||
| A Bachelor of Science in physics with a concentration in education leads to a physics teaching certificate at the secondary-school level. In some cases, it is possible to earn both a B.S. in physics and a B.S. in secondary education. | ||
| Required Coursework | 56 | |
| PRINCIPLES OF ASTRONOMY and INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY LAB | ||
| PHYSICS GATEWAY COURSE | ||
| GENERAL PHYSICS I - CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I (**) | ||
| GENERAL PHYSICS II-CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II | ||
| MODERN PHYSICS | ||
| MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS | ||
| CLASSICAL MECHANICS | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS I | ||
| THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS | ||
| ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM I | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOLOGY (**) | ||
| CALCULUS I (Requires MATH 1330 or MATH 1340) | ||
| CALCULUS II | ||
| CALCULUS III | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (**) | ||
| Additional Requirements for Educator Preparation include a Major Field Test and Local Test | ||
| Select all of the following Educator Preparation Program Requirements | 27 | |
| EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (^) | ||
| HUMAN RELATIONS FOR BIAS-FREE CLASSROOMS (** ^) | ||
or TED 2060 | EQUITY, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURAL LITERACY | |
| DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN ADOLESCENCE | ||
| PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING | ||
| SECONDARY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT (^) | ||
| LITERACY AND LEARNING (^) | ||
| SPECIAL METHODS IN THE CONTENT AREA (^) | ||
| DIFFERENTIATION AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES (^) | ||
| In addition, earning the grades 6-12 Nebraska Teaching Certificate requires a semester of Clinical Practice | 12 | |
| CLINICAL PRACTICE AND SEMINAR: ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY LEVEL (^) | ||
| College Breadth | ||
| College of Arts and Sciences’ college breadth requirement satisfied by this major | ||
| Bachelor Science Cognate Requirement | ||
| Cognate requirement is satisfied within the major. | ||
| ELECTIVES | ||
| Elective hours as required to reach a total of 120 hours | ||
Physics, Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Physics Education Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| PHYS 1350 & PHYS 1354 | PRINCIPLES OF ASTRONOMY and INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY LAB | 4 |
| CMST 1110 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | 3 |
| ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| MATH 1950 | CALCULUS I | 5 |
| PHYS 1950 | PHYSICS GATEWAY COURSE | 1 |
Attend Durango Days; other campus events. Set up a Handshake account and take the Pathway U career assessment. Attend the Student Involvement & Volunteer Fair to explore student organizations. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. Work with your advisor to develop your Pathway in Stellic. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1160 | COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | 3 |
| MATH 1960 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| PHYS 2110 & PHYS 1154 | GENERAL PHYSICS I - CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I | 5 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Attend campus events such as major exploration week to get an idea of interests and career paths. Schedule a resume review with UNO Career Services. Visit faculty office hours and ask about undergraduate research opportunities. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 1970 | CALCULUS III | 4 |
| PHYS 2120 & PHYS 1164 | GENERAL PHYSICS II-CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II | 5 |
| TED 2100 | EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | 3 |
| TED 2200 or TED 2060 | HUMAN RELATIONS FOR BIAS-FREE CLASSROOMS or EQUITY, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURAL LITERACY | 3 |
Required: Apply for Educator Preparation Program at this time. | ||
Attend the Career & Internship Fair to start networking with employers. Look for volunteer, research, or part-time work to gain experience. Join a student organization or club related to your field or interests. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
Recommended but not required: Pass the Praxis CORE Academic Skills. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 2130 | MODERN PHYSICS | 4 |
| PHYS 3250 | MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF PHYSICS | 3 |
| TED 2380 | DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN ADOLESCENCE | 3 |
| TED 2400 | PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING (*) | 6 |
Required: Pass Praxis CORE Academic Skills by the end of this semester. | ||
Required: Acceptance into Educator Preparation Program. Must have 2.75 GPA. | ||
Attend a career fair for informational and networking purposes. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile with new experiences. Investigate and apply for summer internships, research, or study abroad programs. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 3600 | THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3504 | EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS I | 1 |
| GEOL 1170 | INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 4 | |
Apply for a paid internship or research assistantship. Attend a mock interview workshop or use online interview tools with Career Services. Start researching and visiting graduate programs or professional schools. Visit Career Center, continue updating resume. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 3450 | CLASSICAL MECHANICS | 3 |
| PHYS 3300 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS | 3 |
| TED 3550 | SECONDARY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT (*) | 3 |
| TED 3690 | LITERACY AND LEARNING (*) | 3 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Request letters of recommendation from faculty for jobs or grad school. Attend the All-Majors Career Fair with a plan to network. Meet with your advisor or submit for a graduation check-in to review remaining degree requirements. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 1180 & CHEM 1184 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 4 |
| SPED 3800 | DIFFERENTIATION AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES | 3 |
| PHYS 3750 | ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM I | 3 |
| TED 4000 | SPECIAL METHODS IN THE CONTENT AREA | 3 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Check in with Career Center for networking tips. Finalize graduate school applications or job search strategy. Attend a career fair and start applying for full-time jobs. Prepare for interviews and salary negotiations with Career Services. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| TED 4600 | CLINICAL PRACTICE AND SEMINAR: ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY LEVEL | 12 |
Complete your final advising check before graduation. Polish your resume, cover letters, and LinkedIn profile. Stay connected by joining alumni networks and professional organizations. Apply for graduation via MavLink. | ||
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Upper Level Credits: Students need 27 upper level credits throughout the degree with at least 18 upper level credits within the major. Electives may need to be selected at the 3000-4000 level to reach these minimums.
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year.
Placement Exams: For Math, English, World Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study.
GPA Requirements: 2.75
Graduation Requirements: Major Field Test, Local Test. For Teaching Certificate: Completion of Praxis CORE
Note: This plan provides a general guide, but your specific courses, experiences, and career goals may differ. Work with your academic advisor to ensure you’re meeting degree requirements and consult with career advisors to explore internships, research opportunities, and post-graduation plans. Regular check-ins will help you stay on track and make the most of your time at UNO!