Part of the Graduate School of Education
Combined Physics, BA / Physics Education, EdM
The UB Teach physics education program is an accelerated, combined degree program that allows you to earn a physics BA (Teaching of Science Physics Concentration) and a physics education EdM in five years. The program focuses on providing you with content expertise in Physics while preparing you to teach Physics at the adolescence level.
Why Physics and Physics Education at UB?
In this combined program, you will study in the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Department of Learning and Instruction in the Graduate School of Education. While in the Department of Physics, you benefit from a dedicated focus on the discipline of Physics; in the Department of Learning and Instruction, you learn how to bring Physics to life in the grades 5 to 12 classroom.
UB prepares highly qualified teachers who lead their classrooms, shape students’ lives and positively engage with the communities they serve.
Students enrolled in this program will:
- Develop a deep understanding of the workings of the universe around us. From the smallest sub-atomic particles to the vastness of cosmic expansion, you will study how physics profoundly impacts our understanding of nature and our ability to harness its secrets for the progress of human kind.
- Build upon laboratory skills and experiments illustrating important phenomena, measuring techniques, and qualitative analysis of data and uncertainty at appropriate levels
- Complete intensive clinical education experiences in collaboration with Western New York schools across diverse settings, while learning the nuances of the teaching profession.
- Gain the skills, expertise and confidence to implement evidence-based practice in the classroom and co-teach alongside an expert teacher in a one-year residency.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Education (EdM) |
|---|---|
| Certification option | Successful completion of program leads to an institutional recommendation for New York State (NYS) initial and professional certification in physics education |
| Grade levels | 7 to 12 with 5 to 6 extension |
| Credits required for completion | 156 |
| Time to completion | 5 years |
| Course delivery | On campus, online |
Careers |
|
| Experiential contact hours |
|
| Application deadline | Early action: Nov. 15 Scholarship consideration: Dec. 8 Regular decision: Feb. 1 Students can continue to submit an application for fall consideration until capacity is reached. |
Important Fall Dates
See dates for open house, orientation, test submissions, tuition deposit deadlines and more.
Coursework Note
This is a sample course schedule. These courses are subject to change. As a student in the UB Teach program, you must work closely with your advisor before registering for classes.
Physics BA Courses
- CEP 400 Educational Psychology
- CHE 101 General Chemistry 1
- CHE 102 General Chemistry 2
- CHE 113 General Chemistry Lab
- CHE 114 General Chemistry II Lab
- ELP 405 Sociology of Education
- LAI 350 Introduction to Education
- LAI 414 Adolescent Writing across Curriculum
- LAI 474 Teaching the Exceptional Learner
- MTH 141 College Calculus I
- MTH 142 College Calculus II
- MTH 241 College Calculus III
- MTH 306 Intro to Differential Equations
- PHY 107 General Physics I
- PHY 108 General Physics II
- PHY 158 General Physics II Lab
- PHY 207 General Physics 3
- PHY 208 General Physics 4
- PHY 257 General Physics 3 Lab
- PHY 307 Modern Physics Lab
- PHY 401 Quantum Mechanics
- 3 credits of PHY electives
- 3 credits of upper division PHY electives
Progression to Graduate Coursework
You will not apply separately to graduate study; instead, there are a series of progression points that you must meet.
Advancement to the graduate portion of the program requires that you:
- maintain a 3.0 GPA
- earn a “C” grade or higher in content courses (courses in the major)
- earn a “B-” or better in all education and graduate level coursework
- complete an interview with the Office of Educator Preparation in year three of bachelor's program
Physics Education EdM Courses
- LAI 531 Science Curricula: Current Approaches
- LAI 533 Science Instruction Topics
- LAI 534 Measurement and Evaluation in Science Instruction
- LAI 552 Middle Childhood/ Adolescent Literacy Methods
- LAI 595 Supervised Teaching 2
- LAI 603 Developing Curricula for Emerging Adolescents
- LAI 619 Teaching Science in Grades 5-12
- LAI 667 Field Experience
- LAI 668 Supervised Teaching 1
- LAI 674 Seminar in Teaching
- LAI 698 Instructional Strategies in Secondary Schools
- LAI 700 Capstone
- 9 credits of 500-level PHY or Graduate Science Pedagogy
Questions?
For more information about coursework and requirements, please contact:
Office of Educator Preparation, ubedprep@buffalo.edu, 716-645-2461