Bachelor of Science in Education
Teaching fields in Chemistry, Earth Science, and/or Physics

This program is designed to satisfy licensure requirements to teach in the secondary schools of Kansas in the fields of physical science, chemistry, physics, and/or earth-space science. In order to earn the B.S.E. degree with a major in Physical Sciences from the Departments of Physical Sciences, the student must satisfy the following three sets of requirements:

I. General Education Requirements

    See the current university catalog for specific requirements.

II. Professional Education Requirements

    See the current university catalog for specific requirements.

III. Teaching Field Certification Requirements

      Students desiring to be licensed in any of the teaching fields listed below, must complete requirements for two teaching fields, only one of which must be in the Physical Sciences. (See Part 4 below for exceptions to this statement.)

Option A (two teaching fields) requires no less than the minimum requirements of the Kansas State Department of Education and no more than 36 hours. Students may elect courses beyond the 36 hour maximum but may not be required to take such courses.

The following are the specific Physical Sciences teaching field licensure requirements:

    1. Students may be recommended for licensure by the Departments of Physical Sciences in one or more of the following teaching fields:
Teaching Field KS Certif. Code
Chemistry 71321
Physics 71331
Earth/Space Science 71381
    1. Every student must complete the following core courses or their equivalent to be recommended for licensure:
CH 123/124 Chemistry I & Lab 5 hrs.
PH 140/141 College Physics I & Lab 5 hrs.
ES 110/111 Intro. to Earth Sci & Lab 5 hrs.
PS516 Teaching Phys. Science in Middle/High School 3 hrs.
PS430 The Nature of Science 2 hrs.
Total 20 hrs.
    1. Students desiring to be certified by the Division in the teaching fields of chemistry, physics, or earth science must complete the appropriate additional set of courses listed below (a minimum of 13 total additional hours for each teaching field in which certification is desired):

Chemistry
CH 126/127 Chemistry II & Lab 5 hrs.
CH 370/371 Gen. Organic Chem & Lab 5 hrs.
CH 376/377 Quantitative Analysis & Lab 5 hrs.
Total 15 hrs.

Physics
PH 143/144 College Physics II & Lab 5 hrs.
PH 540 Modern Physics 3 hrs.
Physics electives (including lab) 5 hrs.
Calculus 5 hrs.
Total 18 hrs.

Earth Science
GO 325 Earth History 3 hrs.
GO 547 Field Geology 5 hrs.
Earth Science electives 5 hrs.
Total 13 hrs.
  1. Students must maintain an average G.P.A. of at least 2.5 in all courses presented for licensure. Only one course with a grade of "D" will be permitted.
  2. For information on licensure to teach Science 5-8 (Middle School) <--click here.
  3. The minimum mathematics prerequisite for Modern Physics is MA 165 Basic Calculus or its equivalent.