Physical Science Major (B.S.Ed.)

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Major code BS6310

Regardless of the college of the University from which you graduate, if you wish to be licensed through Ohio University to teach physics and chemistry as major fields, you must complete the following program and earn passing scores on the Praxis II exams. The program prepares you for a two-year provisional license that qualifies you to teach physics and chemistry in grades 7–12.

Professional Requirements in Education

In addition to a methods course in your major field, the following courses must be completed with a 2.75 GPA and no grade below a C. Admission to Profesional Education is required to register for Professional Education courses at the 200-level. Admission to Advanced Standing is required to register for Professional Education courses at the 300-level.

EDTE 150 - Introduction to Teacher Education Credit Hours: 4
EDTE 200 - Learning, Human Growth, and Development Credit Hours: 5
EDTE 201 - Characteristics of Learners with Exceptionalities Credit Hours: 4
EDTE 202 - Field Experience in Education Credit Hours: 2
EDCT 203 - Technological Applications in Education Credit Hours: 4
EDCS 301 - Education and Cultural Diversity Credit Hours: 3
EDCS 301L - Education and Cultural Diversity Lab Credit Hours: 1
EDSE 350 - Secondary School Planning and Instruction Credit Hours: 4
EDSE 351 - Secondary School Teaching and Learning Credit Hours: 5
EDTE 371B - Instructional Adaptations for Learners with Exceptionalities and Diverse Needs–Secondary Credit Hours: 4
EDCS 400 - School, Society, and the Professional Educator Credit Hours: 4

Required General Education Courses (45 hours)

In addition to the following program requirements, you also must complete Ohio University’s General Education requirements. Consult with your advisor to plan a course of study that will meet both sets of requirements.

You must meet departmental prerequisites for all classes if you are seeking licensure. For example, you must take and pass PSY 101 with a minimum grade of C before taking any 200-level education course.

If the courses in each field do not add up to a total of 45 hours, you must select sufficient hours in one or a combination of the following areas to bring the total hours in general education courses to 45 hours.

If your major is the same as one of the areas below, 10 hours of the major may be counted toward the corresponding general education field, as well as the major. For example, if your major is integrated language arts, 10 hours of English may count toward the 45-hour total of general education courses and toward Field 4, below, which is English and/or Foreign Language.

No more than six hours of PED activity courses may be counted toward the degree, except for majors in physical education, and none may count toward general education.

Admission to professional education requires a grade of C or better in a Tier I quantitative skills course, a Tier I English course, and the following courses:

EDTE 150 - Introduction to Teacher Education Credit Hours: 4
COMS 103 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 4
PSY 101 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 5

Selective Admission and Retention in Adolescent-to-Young Adult Education

All students pursuing teacher education programs at Ohio University are subject to the Selective Admission and Retention Program in teacher education. Criteria and procedures are available in the Office of Student Affairs, McCracken Hall 124.

Admission to Professional Education is required before taking any education courses at the 200 level or higher. Admission to Advanced Standing in Professional Education is required before taking any education courses at the 300 level or higher. Generally, you apply for admission to Professional Education during the third quarter of your freshman year. Athens campus students must attend a group meeting arranged by Office of Student Affairs, McCracken Hall 124, prior to submitting application for Admission to Professional Education. Regional campus students should check with their Office of Student Services or the dean’s office on the regional campus for information. Requirements for admission to Professional Education are available here, under the heading “Admission to Professional Education for Adolescent to Young Adult, Middle Childhood, Multiage Education, and Special Education Majors.” Applications for admission to Advanced Standing in Professional Education should be submitted in a quarter after which a students will have earned at least 90 credits in the major. Click here and look under “Admission to Advanced Standing in Professional Education” to view requirements for admission to Advanced Standing.

Science and Mathematics

You are required to complete at least one course in science and one course in mathematics. Appropriate science courses are astronomy, chemistry, physics, plant biology, biological science, physical science, geological sciences, and PSY 226, 312, and 314. Any course in the Department of Mathematics, except 101, 102, or 320L, is acceptable for the mathematics requirement. Also, all Tier I quantitative skills courses count toward the mathematics requirement. Computer science courses do not satisfy this requirement.

Interdisciplinary Arts and/or Philosophy

You are required to complete at least two courses in this area. The two courses need not be in one field. Possibilities include any courses in the Department of Philosophy (except PHIL 120) or School of Interdisciplinary Arts; HUM 107, 108, 109, 307, 308, and 309; theater history courses; art history; art except for ART 461, 462; School of Music courses except for music education courses, music therapy courses, and the one- or two-hour participation courses.

Social Sciences

You are required to complete at least two courses in social sciences. The two courses need not be in the same field. PSY 101, which is required, is included as one of the social sciences courses. Other possibilities include any course in anthropology, economics, history, political science, sociology, social work, geography, and psychology, except PSY 120, 226, 275, 312, and 314.

English and Speech

You are required to complete at least three courses in English and speech. Freshman and junior English composition are required courses taken to satisfy the University English composition requirement (see Graduation Requirements - Universitywide section) and will be used toward completion of these hours.

Course Availability

It should be noted that, while core education and AYA courses are offered every quarter, courses within teaching fields might only be offered during one or two quarters each year.

Professional Internship in Teaching

These three courses are taken concurrently in one quarter and constitute the professional internship in teaching requirement. Apply for the professional internship by December 1st of the year prior to the year in which you plan to complete the internship.