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If you desire to teach junior high or high school physics, you can work with the Physics/Engineering and Education departments to obtain a teaching credential. With careful planning, it is possible to complete the Single Subject Teaching Credential in four years on our fast track plan. In three and a half years, you will complete the BA in physics and education minor that contains the prerequisites for the teaching credential program. The final semester in the program consists of student teaching. The program can also be completed with other majors, including the BS in physics or engineering physics, however it may be difficult to achieve in 4 years. Students have academic advisors in both education and physics.
Note to students: Remember that this is a SAMPLE. Your schedule, for many reasons, will probably not end up looking exactly like this. What’s shown is a “fast-track” schedule. Be aware that you also have the option of completing the Physics major over a four-year period, with a fifth year reserved for your teaching credential. Requirements will differ if you enter Westmont with AP or college credit. Please confer with Physics/Engineering department advisor as major requirements sometimes change. Pre-requisites for the Education program are in bold.
FALL (18)
- General Physics 1 (PHY-021/22) (5)
- Calculus I (4)
- GE Common Context (4)
- CHEM-05*
- PEA 32 Fitness for Life (1)
SPRING (18)
- General Physics 2 (PHY-023/24) (5)
- GE Common Inquiry (4)
- Calculus 2 (4)
- CS-10 (Python) (4)
- PEA (1)
First Year May Term or Summer
- Foreign language (4)
- GE Understanding Society (4)
*recommended
FALL (17)
- Modern Physics (4)
- GE Life Science BIO-5 (4)
- Multivariable Calculus (4)
- GE Common Context (4)
- PEA (1)
SPRING (18)
- Modern Physics Lab (1)
- ENG 2: Composition (4)
- Differential Eq. w/ Linear (4)
- Thermodynamics PHY-160 (4)
- GE Common Inquiry (4)
- PEA (1)
Mayterm
- GE Common Context (4)
- GE Common Context (4
*recommended
FALL (18)
- Earth Science (4)*
- ED 105: Cultural Diversity (4)
- Quantum Mechanics or Electricity and Magnetism (4)
- KNS 156: Health Education (2)
- Mathematical Physics (4)
SPRING (14)
- Advanced Lab PHY-170 (1)
- ED 160: Technology for the Classroom Teacher (2)
- Classical Mechanics (4)
- Computational (PHY-105) (4)
- GE Common Context (4)
- PHY 195 Senior seminar (1)
First Year May Term or Summer
- Language acquisition + GE (4)
*recommended
FALL (18)
- ED 101 Explorations in Teaching (4)
- ED 111 Educational Psychology (4)
- ED 125 Science Curriculum & Instruc. Planning (4)
- ED 171 Content Area Literacy (4)
- ED 130 Special Education (2)
SPRING (15)
- ED 191 Student Teaching (12)
- ED 196 Student Teaching seminar (3)
*recommended