Science teachers are some the most in-demand educators in the field. If you want to combine your love for teaching with your passion for physics, then Ball State’s major in physics teaching is the right option for you. You’ll graduate from our program equipped to excel as a high school and/or middle school teacher in physics.
The faculty in the physics and astronomy department were able to provide real world applications that gave me the confidence to be a successful teacher. The one-on-one, approachable faculty treated me the same way I strive to treat my own students. The close-knit community drove each other to become the finest, well-rounded scientists.
—Matt Flori, program graduate (2017)
What You Will Learn
A physics teaching major will result in a secondary licensure for teaching physics, as well as certification to teach middle school science.
You will cover coursework in topics like:
- physics
- chemistry
- calculus
- electronics
- thermodynamics
What It’s Like to Earn a Major in Physics Teaching at Ball State
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in independent study and research, working one-on-one with faculty mentors. You’ll get to conduct research in areas such as nanoscience, astronomy, astrophysics, nuclear and particle physics, Computational and Theoretical Physics, Materials Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Physics Education.
Through research projects, you gain valuable professional skills and experience working with modern technical facilities and equipment. These include the College of Science and Humanities supercomputing cluster, a 20-inch diameter telescope in the observatory, Computational Research Laboratory, Nanoscience Laboratory, Biomedical Research Laboratory, Materials Research Lab, and a 3D printing lab.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is also a member of the SARA consortium that operates three research-grade telescopes located in some of the best sites in the world: southwest Arizona, Chile, and the Canary Islands. Our students (and occasionally high-school students) often make observations with these telescopes and become authors on published scientific papers.
Careers in education and outreach are fostered through the Charles W. Brown Planetarium on campus.
Our department offers several scholarships to students seeking bachelor's degrees, as well as employment opportunities.
Our students regularly work as lab assistants, graders, research assistants, as well as paid staff in the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, which features a 52-foot diameter dome – the largest in Indiana.
Our Society of Physics Students (SPS) is an active, student-run club that engages in a number of social and outreach programs.
The SPS organizes cooperative events with organizations on campus, including our annual “Clash of the Sciences” demo competition between physics and chemistry student groups.
Keep Exploring
Special Initiatives and Scholarships
Ball State is part of the Physics Teachers Education Coalition (PhysTEC), an initiative to give future teachers hands-on learning, mentors, and success in real-world classrooms. We are also participants in the Hoosier STEM Academy. Both of these programs provide financial support for in-service and preservice physics teachers in training.
As a student in our secondary education program, you’ll benefit from experiences and expertise of your home department, taking courses in content and content pedagogy—the methods and practices for teaching specific content—and learning from experts in the field of your chosen teaching major. In Teachers College, you’ll explore other important aspects of teaching and interact with teaching majors in other disciplines. Learn more about the Teachers College.
On top of the dozens of funding options offered through Ball State’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, our department awards scholarships to our own students. Find a scholarship.
Take the Next Step
Are you interested in pursuing this major? The first step is to apply as an undergraduate student to Ball State University. One of the best ways to understand why Ball State stands out is to come see it for yourself. You can schedule a visit through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions.