Requirements for the BA in Science Education with specialization in Physics
Students pursuing the Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Science Education degree must complete the specific requirements of their specialization (biology, chemistry, or physics; 48 credits) and a core of education courses in Wheelock (28 credits). All of these required courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C. Additionally, students must also complete all of the
BU Hub requirements and the
CAS second language requirement.
Prerequisite/foundation courses (6 courses)
- Math requirements:
- Calculus 2 (CAS MA 124* or CAS MA 129)
- Multivariable calculus (CAS MA 225)
- Physics 1 (CAS PY 211, CAS PY 241, or CAS PY 251)
- Physics 2 (CAS PY 212, CAS PY 242, or CAS PY 252)
- General Chemistry 1 (CAS CH 101 or CAS CH 109)
- General Chemistry 1 (CAS CH 102, CAS CH 116*, CAS CH 110, or CAS CH 112)
*Students without AP credit for MA 123 will also have to take CAS MA 123.
Principal required / depth courses (4 courses)
- Modern physics 1 (CAS PY 313 or CAS PY 351)
- Methods of theoretical physics (CAS PY 355)
- Any two of the following courses:
Breadth requirement (2 courses)
Any two of the following courses:
- Biology 1 (CAS BI 107)
- Biology 2 (CAS BI 108, CAS BI 116, CAS NE 102, or CAS NE 116)
- Cell biology (CAS BI 203, CAS BI 213, CAS BI 218, CAS NE 203, or CAS NE 218)
- Systems Physiology (CAS BI 315)
- Organic Chemistry I (CAS CH 203, CAS CH 211, or CAS CH 218)
- Organic Chemistry II (CAS CH204, CAS CH 212, or CAS CH 214)
- Inorganic chemistry (CAS CH 232)
- Physical biochemistry (CAS CH 525)
- Physical Chemistry 1 (CAS CH 351)
- Principles of Astronomy 1 (CAS AS 202)
- Principles of Astronomy 2 (CAS AS 203)
- Genetics (CAS BI 206 or CAS BI 216)
- Environmental Change & Sustainability (CAS EE 100)
- Introduction to Climate & Earth System Science (CAS EE 107)
- Data, Models, and Analysis in Earth & Environment (CAS EE 270)
- Physiological Psychology (CAS PS 231)
- Drugs and Behavior (CAS PS 333)
- Innovation in STEM Pedagogy (CAS CH 903, by permission of instructor)
Education core requirements
Students majoring in Science Education complete a total of 28 credits through the BU Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, including Student-Teaching pre-practicum and practicum. The required courses are listed here.