Program Overview

Program Overview

The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's program in Physics/Secondary Education is a 5-year dual-degree program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Master of Education in Secondary Education. This program is designed for students who want to become science teachers and earn a higher salary with a graduate degree.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to this program, students must:

• Have a declared undergraduate major in Physics
• Have completed approximately 90 credit hours by the time they begin taking graduate courses
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA and major GPA that meet the program-specific requirements
• Complete designated coursework for evaluation of student readiness in their discipline

Curriculum

The program consists of 93 hours of coursework, including:

• Physics BS courses:
  • College Physics I with Calculus Lecture/Discussion
  • College Physics Laboratory I
  • Modern Physics
  • Mathematical Methods in Physics
  • Electronics I
  • Optics
  • Theoretical Mechanics I
  • Thermal Physical & Statistical Mechanics
  • Advanced Physics Laboratory
• Secondary Education MEd requirements:
  • Language, Learning & Development Theories in Practice
  • Teaching for Social Justice and Equity
  • Constructive Learning Environments for Diverse Students
  • Educational Policy for Diverse Students
  • Individualized Assessment and Instruction for Diverse Students
  • Adolescent Literacy Instruction
  • Secondary Content Methods: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
  • Developing Rigorous and Relevant Instruction and Assessment
  • Designing and Implementing Rigorous and Relevant Instruction
  • Student Teaching for Change

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The suggested sequence of courses is as follows:

• First Year:
  • Fall: College Physics I, Calculus I, Writing Responsibly, Core
  • Spring: College Physics II, Freshman Projects, Calculus II, Introduction to Computational Physics, Core
• Second Year:
  • Fall: Modern Physics, Multivariable Calculus, Ordinary Differential Equations, Core
  • Spring: Mathematical Methods in Physics, Theoretical Mechanics I, Core
• Third Year:
  • Fall: Electricity and Magnetism I, Thermal Physical & Statistical Mechanics, Core
  • Spring: Quantum Mechanics I, Optics, Optics Lab, Language, Learning & Development Theories in Practice, Teaching for Social Justice and Equity, Constructive Learning Environments for Diverse Students
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: Electronics I, Electronics Laboratory, Educational Policy for Diverse Students, Individualized Assessment and Instruction for Diverse Students, Teaching for Change Field Seminar
  • Spring: Advanced Physics Laboratory, Core, General Elective, General Elective
• Fifth Year:
  • Fall: Adolescent Literacy Instruction, Secondary Content Methods: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
  • Spring: Developing Rigorous and Relevant Instruction and Assessment, Designing and Implementing Rigorous and Relevant Instruction, Student Teaching for Change
  • Summer: Student Teaching for Change

Guidelines for Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Programs

• Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's programs are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola's undergraduates.
• Admission to these programs must be competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the program's admissions committee.
• Students admitted to Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's programs should be capable of meeting graduate-level learning outcomes.
• Only courses taken at the 400 level or higher will count toward the graduate program.
• Up to 50% of the total graduate-level credit hours may come from 300/400 level courses where the student is enrolled in the 400 level of the course.
• At least 50% of the credit hours for the graduate program must come from courses that are designed for and restricted to graduate students.

Graduation

Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once in the graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the graduate program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will:

• Have accrued the equivalent of one year of full-time teaching experience through hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in Chicago's classrooms and community organizations.
• Be ready to be at the head of their own classroom, utilizing theories, data, and research practices when making decisions in their classroom and for their students, and when assessing the effectiveness of teaching on learning.