This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The purpose of the B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education and Teaching with a concentration in physics education is to prepare students to serve as initially licensed teachers in grades six through 12, as well as to serve as educators and leaders in schools and community-based settings. Students enrolled in this program will be required to declare a double major in the Bachelor of Science in Physics with a concentration in secondary teacher preparation. The program will focus on providing students with a solid foundation in secondary education and physics to meet the requirements for licensure. Through the core education curriculum, students will become knowledgeable about professional roles and workplace responsibilities while learning basic abilities in the planning and implementation of physics lessons for students in grades six through 12. The core curriculum instills fundamental knowledge and skills, with opportunities for observation and application in a variety of settings. Through the physics curriculum, students will develop the content knowledge and skills in order to deliver relevant and rigorous lessons in physics education. Graduates will be prepared to work in public and private middle and high schools across Virginia, with particular focus in urban and other high-need areas. Graduates will be capable of working with diverse learners and adapting instructional programs based on the needs of their students and clients. Successful completion of the program will result in licensure in secondary physics education (grades six through 12).
Student learning outcomes
- Learner and learning: Students will understand human development and learning theories appropriate to the age group they will teach and acquire an awareness of the diversity of the school-age populations’ cultural backgrounds, learning strengths and needs.
- Instructional practice: Students will demonstrate an ability to plan and implement effective teaching and measure student learning in ways that lead to sustained development and learning.
- Professional responsibility: Students will develop an understanding of purposes for education and a defensible philosophical approach toward teaching and demonstrate professional dispositions.
Physics education concentration-specific outcome
- Content: Demonstrate knowledge of the subjects they will teach as physics educators.
Special requirements
- Students must successfully complete all initial licensure milestone requirements.
- Students enrolled in this program are required to declare a second major in their content area
Degree requirements for Secondary Education and Teaching, Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) with a concentration in physics education
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| EDUS 202 | Diversity, Democracy and Ethics | 3 |
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| SEDP 405 | Collaborative Practices to Support Inclusion for Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
| SEDP 452 | Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities | 1 |
| TEDU 412 | Curriculum and Assessment: ____ | 3 |
| TEDU 452 | Teaching Multilingual Learners | 2 |
| TEDU 510 | Instructional Technology in PK-12 Environments | 2 |
| TEDU 562 | Reading Instruction in the Content Areas | 3 |
| TEDU 588 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| Secondary education | ||
| TEDU 311 | Middle School Practicum | 2 |
| TEDU 312 | High School Practicum | 1 |
| TEDU 469 | Secondary Internship I | 4 |
| TEDU 470 | Secondary Internship II | 4 |
| TEDU 540 | Teaching Middle and High School Sciences | 3 |
| • Major electives 1 | 6 | |
| Concentration requirements | ||
| BIOL 101 | Biological Concepts 2 | 3 |
| or BIOL 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I | |
| PHYS 382 | Solar System Astronomy 3 | 3 |
| or PHYS 383 | Big Bang Cosmology | |
| or PHYS 483 | Introduction to Astrophysics | |
| Physics/double major | ||
| PHYS 208 & PHYZ 208 | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 320 & PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics and Modern Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 340 | Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 376 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 380 | Quantum Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 450 | Senior Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 490 | Seminar in Conceptual Physics | 1 |
| Additional physics requirements | ||
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 4 | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory 5 | 5 |
| AI literacy course 6 | 3 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Select courses from the physics and physics-related electives listed in the B.S. in Physics
Satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning
Credits earned satisfy physics major electives courses.
Satisfies general education quantitative foundations.
Satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning.
Any three credit course offered through the minor in AI studies in humanities and sciences. Students who chose a general education course will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 or BIOL 151 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) or Introduction to Biological Sciences I | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University (satisfies open elective) or Investigations in Learning or Education and Career Planning | 1 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course (select AOI for global perspectives) | 3 | |
| Open elective | 4 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course (select BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| PHYS 208 & PHYZ 208 | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 5 |
| AI literacy course | 3 | |
| General education course (select AOI in consultation with advisor) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EDUS 202 | Diversity, Democracy and Ethics | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| Major elective (select course from the physics and physics-related electives listed in the B.S. in Physics) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 1 |
| SEDP 405 | Collaborative Practices to Support Inclusion for Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
| TEDU 510 | Instructional Technology in PK-12 Environments | 2 |
| Major elective (select course from the physics and physics-related electives listed in the B.S. in Physics) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| 2.8 GPA required for admission to teacher preparation | ||
| PHYS 340 | Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 376 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 450 | Senior Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| SEDP 452 | Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities | 1 |
| TEDU 452 | Teaching Multilingual Learners | 2 |
| TEDU 562 | Reading Instruction in the Content Areas | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| PHYS 380 | Quantum Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 382 | Solar System Astronomy or Big Bang Cosmology or Introduction to Astrophysics | 3 |
| PHYS 490 | Seminar in Conceptual Physics | 1 |
| TEDU 311 | Middle School Practicum | 2 |
| TEDU 312 | High School Practicum | 1 |
| TEDU 540 | Teaching Middle and High School Sciences | 3 |
| TEDU 588 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| TEDU 412 | Curriculum and Assessment: ____ | 3 |
| TEDU 469 | Secondary Internship I | 4 |
| TEDU 470 | Secondary Internship II | 4 |
| General education course (select BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.