About the Program
The physics education (7-12 with 5-6 extension) postbaccalaureate teacher certification program leads to eligibility for a New York State Initial Certificate to teach both physics and general science in grades 5 through 12.
This program is designed for students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in physics or a related field from an accredited college or university and intend to complete the coursework required for New York State certification to teach physics in secondary schools or general science in middle schools.
After successfully completing the teacher certification program and passing required New York State teacher certification exams, students are eligible to apply for New York State certification through the Teacher Certification Office, Caudell Hall 112. No degree or certificate is awarded by Buffalo State.
A minimum grade point average of 2.75 in physics courses is required for admission to SED 405, SED 407, and SED 408.
Financial Assistance:
For financial aid purposes, students are considered fifth- year undergraduates, eligible for undergraduate loans.
Admissions Requirements
A bachelor''s degree in physics or related area from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) in the last 60 credit hours.
In addition, all applicants should review the "Admission to a Graduate Program" section in the current Graduate Catalog. This information is also available online at: http://www.buffalostate.edu/graduatestudies/catalog/
Program Requirements
Total Required Credit Hours in Physics: 32 credits
PHY 111 University Physics I (4)
PHY 112 University Physics II (4)
PHY 213 University Physics III
PHY 305 Modern Atomic Physics (4)
PHY 310 Computational Physics Laboratory (2)
PHY 315 Thermodynamics
PHY 320 Theoretical Physics (4)
PHY 324 Electric Circuits
PHY 410 Advanced Physics Laboratory
Plus one physics elective selected by advisement
Total Required Credit Hours in Professional Education: 30 credits
EDF 303 Educational Psychology
EDU 416 Teaching Reading in Secondary Schools
EDU 417 Adolescent Literacy (or equivalent)
EXE 372 Foundations of Teaching Adolescents with Disabilities
SED 200 Field Experience in Secondary Science Education
SED 310 Teaching Science in a Middle School
SCI 323 Science as Inquiry
SED 401 Techniques for Teaching Laboratory Activities in the Secondary Science Classroom
SED 405 Methods and Materials in Teaching Secondary School Science
SED 409 Seminar in Secondary Science Education
Total Required Credit Hours in Student Teaching: 12 credits
SED 407 Practice Teaching Science in the Middle School (6)
SED 408 Practice Teaching Science High School (6)
Total Required Credit Hours in Other Fields for Certification: 47 credits
A. One Year (or Equivalent) of a Foreign Language (6 credits)
B. Cognate Sciences (26-27 credits)
BIO 115 General Botany (4)
BIO 116 General Zoology (4)
CHE 111, CHE 112 Fundamentals of Chemistry I, II (4, 4)
GES 101 Introductory Geology
GES 103 Introductory Geology Laboratory (1)
Select one course from the following:
GES 111 General Oceanography
GES 131 Introduction to Astronomy
GES 241 Meteorology
One additional BIO, CHE, or GES course selected by advisement (3-4 credits)
C. Mathematics (15 credits)
MAT 161 Calculus I
MAT 162 Calculus II
MAT 163 Using Technology to Explore Calculus I (1)
MAT 164 Using Technology to Explore Calculus II (1)
MAT 263 Calculus III
MAT 264 Using Technology to Explore Calculus III (1)
MAT 315 Differential Equations
Total Required Credit Hours: 121 credits
All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.
