Teaching Physics
Individuals interested in teaching in K-12 schools must complete a degree in the content area they want to teach plus the teacher preparation program through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Individuals must complete the teaching major/teaching track within that degree program, which may contain different course requirements than the academic major since the sequence of courses is designed to meet state standards. Upon completion of the degree program with the teaching track and the secondary licensure program, one will be eligible for a standard Montana teaching license in this content area.
To sign up for this option, you need to contact the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Do not fill out a major/minor form for graduation or the major/minor/concentration section of the major change form. Approvals for this option must come from the Curriculum and Instruction Department.
Tracks will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication and are used for advising purposes only. You do not fill out a major change for a track.
Bachelor of Arts - Physics; Track: Teaching Physics
College Humanities & Sciences
Catalog Year: 2015-2016
Degree Specific Credits: 76
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Lower Division Physics
Rule: Must complete all of the courses in one of the two options:
Note: Calculus-based Physics sequence is strongly recommended.
Note: The Physics with Calculus series (PHSX 215N - 218N) is strongly recommended.
College Physics
Rule: May complete all of the following courses
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PHSX 205N - College Physics I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 122 or 151 or equivalent, and prereq. or coreq. PHSX 206N. Mechanics, sound, and heat. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 205N-207N and 215N-217N.
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4 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 206N - College Physics I Laboratory
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. or coreq., PHSX 205N. Mechanics, sound, and heat. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 206N-208N and 216N-218N.
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1 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 207N - College Physics II
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. PHSX 205N and prereq. or coreq., PHSX 208N. Electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 205N-207N and 215N-217N.
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4 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 208N - College Physics II Laboratory
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., PHSX 206N, prereq, or coreq., PHSX 207N. Electricity, magnetism, light and modern physics. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 206N-208N and 216N-218N.
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1 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 10 Total Credits Required |
Physics with Calculus
Rule: May complete all of the following courses
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PHSX 215N - Fund of Physics w/Calc I
Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., PHSX 216N and M 171 or equiv. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Mechanics, fluids, waves and sound. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
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4 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 216N - Physics Laboratory I w/Calc
Offered autumn. Coreq., PHSX 215N. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Mechanics, fluids, waves, and sound. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
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1 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 217N - Fund of Physics w/Calc II
Offered spring. Prereq., PHSX 215N, and prereq. or coreq. PHSX 218, and prereq. or coreq., M 172 or equivalent. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Heat, electricity, magnetism, and light. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
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4 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 218N - Physics Laboratory II w/Calc
Offered spring. Prereq., PHSX 215N, coreq., PHSX 217N. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Heat, electricity, magnetism, and light. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
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1 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 10 Total Credits Required |
Upper Division Physics
Rule: Must complete the following subcategories
Required Upper Division Courses
Rule: All courses are required
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PHSX 301 - Intro Theoretical Physics
Offered spring. Prereq., M 273; coreq., PHSX 217N-218N. Selected topics from applied linear algebra, ordinary and partial differential equations, vector analysis, complex variables, and Fourier series. Applications to classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 320 - Classical Mechanics
Offered autumn. Prereq., PHSX 301, M 311. Topics in classical mechanics at the intermediate level, emphasizing Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 327 - Optics
Offered spring. Prereq., PHSX 311. Intermediate level study of light and optics, including geometrical optics, wave optics, optical instruments, coherence, polarization, and special topics.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 330 - Communicating Physics
Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., PHSX 217N-218N or PHSX 207N-208N. Oral and written communication skills in physics, to include teaching high school and college physics, presenting seminars, and writing technical and non-technical physics articles.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 343 - Modern Physics
Offered autumn. Prereq., one year of college physics; coreq., M 273. Includes historical background for development of modern physics and an introduction to quantum mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics. Credit not allowed for graduate degree in physics.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 423 - Electricity & Magnetism I
Offered autumn. Prereq, PHSx 301. Electricity and magnetism at the intermediate level.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
PHSX 461 - Quantum Mechanics I
Offered autumn. Prereq., PHSX 311, PHSX 343; prereq. or coreq., M 311. Introduction to quantum mechanics. Topics include Schroedinger equation, piecewise constant potential, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, angular momentum theory, electron spin.
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3 Credits |
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PHSX 499 - Senior Capstone Seminar
Offered autumn. Prereq., junior or senior standing in physics. Each student will present a seminar on research performed prior to or during their senior year.
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1 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 22 Total Credits Required |
Upper Division Elective Courses
Rule: Must take 3 additional upper division elective courses
Math Requirements
Rule: Complete all of the following courses
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M 171 - Calculus I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 122 or 151 or ALEKS placement >= 5. Differential calculus, including limits, continuous functions, Intermediate Value Theorem, tangents, linear approximation, inverse functions, implicit differentiation, extreme values and the Mean Value Theorem. Integral Calculus including antiderivatives, definite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
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4 Credits |
Show Description |
M 172 - Calculus II
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 171 or 181. Techniques of Integration. Area computations. Improper integrals. Infinite series and various convergence tests. Power series. Taylor's Formula. Polar coordinates. Parametric curves.
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4 Credits |
Show Description |
M 273 - Multivariable Calculus
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 172 or 182. Calculus of functions of several variables; differentiation and elementary integration. Vectors in the plane and space.
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4 Credits |
Show Description |
M 311 - Ordinary Diff Equations/System
Offered autumn. Prereq., M 273. Ordinary differential equations. Systems of linear differential equations from a matrix viewpoint. Series solutions. Existence and uniqueness for initial value problems. Numerical methods. Stability and selected topics. M 317 computer lab recommended.
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3 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 15 Total Credits Required |
Computer Science Requirements
Rule: Choose 1 of the following
Note: PHSX 333 is strongly recommended
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CSCI 100 - Intro to Programming
Offered autumn and spring. This course covers basic programming concepts such as variables, data types, iteration, flow of control, input/output, functions, and objects. The course will also cover programming ideas such as data structures, algorithms, modularity, and debugging. Students will learn about the role computation can play in solving problems by writing interesting programs to solve useful goals. No prior programming experience is expected. (Two hours independent lab per week.) Credit not allowed for both CSCI 100 and CSCI 110.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
CSCI 135 - Fund of Computer Science I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., computer programming experience in a language such as BASIC, Pascal, C, etc.; CSCI 104 highly recommended as prereq. or coreq. Fundamental computer science concepts using the high level structured programming language, Java.
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3 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3 Total Credits Required |
Statistics
Rule: Must complete 1 of the following courses
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STAT 216 - Introduction to Statistics
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 115 (preferred), or one of M 121, 132, 151, 162 or 171, or ALEKS placement >= 4. Introduction to major ideas of statistical inference. Emphasis is on statistical reasoning and uses of statistics.
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4 Credits |
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STAT 341 - Intro to Probability and Stat
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., one of M 162, 172 or 182. Probability, probability models and simulation, random variables, density functions, special distributions, and a brief survey of estimation and hypothesis testing. Computer use integrated throughout.
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3 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3-4 Total Credits Required |
Advanced College Writing Requirement
Rule: Must take the following course
Note: May substitute another advanced writing course as approved by the department chair.
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PHSX 330 - Communicating Physics
Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., PHSX 217N-218N or PHSX 207N-208N. Oral and written communication skills in physics, to include teaching high school and college physics, presenting seminars, and writing technical and non-technical physics articles.
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3 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3 Total Credits Required |
Teaching Licensure Requirements
Note: Students must be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program and complete all of the professional education licensure requirements. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education and Human Sciences for more information. A major GPA of 2.75 is required to be eligible for student teaching. This major does not qualify as a single field endorsement. Individuals must complete a second teaching major or minor in another content area.
Allied Science
Rule: Must complete the following subcategories
Astronomy
Rule: Must complete the following courses
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ASTR 131N - Elementary Astronomy I
Offered autumn. Prereq., high school algebra and geometry. An introduction to observational, historical, and planetary astronomy. Students will have a chance to visit UM's state-of-the-art planetarium and observe with our 0.4 meter telescope.
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3 Credits |
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ASTR 132N - Elementary Astronomy II
Offered spring. Prereq., high school algebra and geometry. An introduction to stars, stellar evolution, galaxies, and cosmology. Students will have a chance to visit UM’s state-of-the-art planetarium and observe with our 0.4 meter telescope.
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3 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 6 Total Credits Required |
Chemistry
Rule: Must complete the following courses
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CHMY 121N - Intro to General Chemistry
Offered autumn and spring. First semester of an introduction to general, inorganic, organic and biological chemistry.
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3 Credits |
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CHMY 485 - Laboratory Safety
Offered autumn. Prereq., one year of college chemistry. Awareness of and methods of control of hazards encountered in laboratory work. Awareness of legal constraints on work with chemicals. Sources of information regarding chemical hazards.
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1 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 4 Total Credits Required |
Biology
Rule: Must complete 1 of the following courses
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BIOB 160N - Principles of Living Systems
Offered autumn and summer. Unifying principles of biological structure-function relationships at different levels of organization and complexity. Consideration of reproduction, genetics, development, evolution, ecosystems, as well as the inter-relationships of the human species to the rest of life. Students requiring a laboratory should also register for BIOB 161N. Credit not allowed for both BIOB 101N and 160N.
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4 Credits |
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BIOB 170N - Princpls Biological Diversity
Offered spring and summer. Survey of the diversity, evolution and ecology of life including prokaryotes, viruses, protista, fungi, plants and animals.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
BIOE 172N - Introductory Ecology
Offered autumn. An introduction to ecological principles, stressing the structure and function of natural communities and examining human's role in these ecosystems.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
BIOO 105N - Introduction to Botany
Offered spring. Introduction to the plant kingdom including anatomy, physiology and ecology.
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3 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3-4 Total Credits Required |
Geology
Rule: Must complete the following courses
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GEO 101N - Intro to Physical Geology
Offered autumn and spring. General geology including the work of wind, flowing water, glacial ice, gravity, earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics in shaping the earth.
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3 Credits |
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GEO 102N - Intro to Physical Geology Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. or coreq., GEO 101N (preferred) or 105N or 108N. A series of laboratory and field experiences designed around basic geologic processes and materials. Familiarization with common minerals, rocks, land forms, and structures. Intended to provide laboratory experience primarily with GEO 101N, but can be taken with or following any of the other freshman GEO courses listed above.
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1 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 4 Total Credits Required |
Environmental
Rule: Must complete 1 of the following courses
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ENSC 105N - Environmental Science
Offered autumn. Provides students with opportunities to use class knowledge to make a difference; helps students build all of the following: scientific literacy; skills in critical thinking, research and self-instruction; an understanding of the scientific basis of environmental issues, policies and laws; habits of sustainable living, scientifically-informed, active participation in social decisions, and service to their community and to the earth.
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3 Credits |
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ENST 472 - Gen Sci: Conserv Ed
Offered autumn and spring. A study of the foundations of environmental science and conservation education with applications to community service and teaching.
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3 Credits |
Show Description |
GEO 105N - Oceanography
Offered spring. The ocean covers 70 % of the globe, and yet vast regions remain unexplored. Interactions between the atmosphere and the sea moderate and control our climate. Nearly 40 % of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometers of the coast. The oceans are geographically, environmentally, culturally, and economically critical to society. This course introduces oceanography, including the origin of water and ocean basins; marine resources; atmospheric circulation; air-sea interaction; ocean-climate feedback; currents, tides, and coastal processes; marine ecology; and use and misuse of the oceans.
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3 Credits |
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GEO 108N - Climate Change
Offered autumn. The geoscience perspective on the earth’s climate system. Climate processes and feedbacks, climate history from early earth to the ice ages, present and future changes due to natural processes and human activities.
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3 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3 Total Credits Required |
Teaching Licensure Course
Rule: Must complete the following course
Note: The EDU 497 course number is used for multiple courses. Students should register for EDU 497 Methods: 5-12 Science.
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EDU 497 - Teaching and Assessing
(R-15) Offered autumn and/or spring. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. This course number is used for multiple elementary and secondary methods courses. Check the class schedule or with your advisor regarding appropriate sections.
5-8 Mathematics: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Methods of teaching, assessing, and evaluating mathematics in the 5-8 middle grades including number and operations, rational numbers, ratio and proportion, measurement, algebra, expressions and equations, geometry, probability, statistics, and functions.
K-8 Social Studies: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Emphasis on developing teaching and assessing social studies teaching/learning opportunities that incorporate literature, primary sources and other developmentally appropriate activities. Overarching themes address diversity, integration across the curriculum and understanding state and national curriculum standards.
K-8 Science: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Emphasis on developing, teaching, and assessing science teaching/learning opportunities that are inquiry-based, developmentally appropriate, integrated across the curriculum, and aligned with state and national curriculum standards.
4-8 Reading: 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. This class must be taken concurrently with Level 3 courses and is restricted to students who have completed coursework in Levels 1 & 2. Preparation for teaching reading in a 4-8 setting so that all students are successful. Emphasis on reading to learn. Focus on using assessment to guide instruction, learning from trade books, textbooks, and electronic texts, activating prior knowledge, studying texts, and developing student enthusiasm for reading.
5-12 Science: 3 cr. Offered autumn. Methods of teaching science in the middle and secondary school. This course emphasizes the use of inquiry, problem-solving, appropriate use of technology, and assessment techniques that align with state and national curriculum standards.
5-12 Social Studies: 3 cr. Offered autumn. Foundations and purpose of the middle and secondary social studies curriculum. Elements of curricular design, including instructional methods, materials and assessment.
5-12 Mathematics: 4 cr. Offered autumn. Methods for teaching mathematics in grades 5-12 focusing on presentation of mathematics concepts and procedures through models, problem solving, and technology. Development of instructional strategies and classroom organizational models, discourse in the classroom, and multiple means for assessing student progress.
5-12 Business Subjects: 4 cr. Offered autumn. Methods for teaching business subjects in grades 5-12 focusing on content-specific topics in business, marketing, and information technology to include: instructional planning; effective teaching strategies (F2F & online); multiple means for assessing student progress; classroom management; and the relationship of the content area to standards-based curricula.
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0 To 4 Credits |
Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3 Total Credits Required |