EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
OUTLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO REVISE PROGRAMS
Use this outline to prepare proposals to revise existing programs, including undergraduate majors and minors
and graduate degree programs and certificates. Proposals for revising programs should be submitted in
narrative form, using the following outline. Guidelines are on the following page.
PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE:
SECONDARY EDUCATION PHYSICS (PHYT)
REVISED PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE (IF APPLICABLE):
DEGREE:
SECONDARY EDUCATION PHYSICS
DEPARTMENT(S)/SCHOOL(S):
CONTACT PERSON:
PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
ERNIE BEHRINGER
REQUESTED START DATE: TERM FALL
YEAR
COLLEGE(S):
ART AND SCIENCES
CONTACT PHONE:
(734) 487-8799
CONTACT EMAIL:
EBEHRINGE@EMICH.EDU
2016
I. Rationale
The practice of physics has evolved over the past few decades to make much greater use of computation, to
the extent that one can now speak of experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches to constructing
physics knowledge. Additionally, the Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics
reports that programming, together with simulation and modeling are skills that a significant fraction of
physics Bachelor’s recipients will use in their initial employment. Finally, the American Association of
Physics Teachers recently issued a statement on computational physics that urges departments of physics and
astronomy to provide majors with appropriate instruction in computational physics. Consequently, it is
necessary to change our programs to provide appropriate computational instruction, in context, to enable
students to build, analyze, and communicate computational models of physical systems.
We recognize that Secondary Education Physics Majors should have a basic set of computational skills that
they have used in the context of their physics education to prepare for their careers as educators. We
therefore propose to replace the currently required course COSC 111 Introduction to Programming (3 credit
hours) with a new course, PHY 280 Foundations of Scientific Computing (1 credit hour) so that Secondary
Education Physics can gain a basic level of expertise in this area. And, to simplify the program while
ensuring the right amount of rigor, we’re removing the options for the chemistry course requirement,
narrowing it to the first college-level course of the professional chemistry sequence, CHEM 121/122. In the
same vein of simplification, yet practicality, we are omitting the biology course requirement for this
program.
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
II. Description of Current Program
The current physics program consists of the following courses:
Pre-Admission Phase Requirements (7 credit hours):
Credit Hours
4
3
Course
EDPS 322 Human Development and Learning
SPGN 251 Introduction to Inclusion and Disabilities Studies in a Diverse Society
(GEUS)
Phase I: Curriculum, Assessment and Social Context (12 credit hours):
Credit Hours
3
3
3
3
Course
SOFD 328W Schools for a Diverse and Democratic Society (GEWI)
CURR 305 Curriculum and Methods: Secondary (Must be taken with PRCT 305L4)
EDPS 340 Introduction to Assessment and Evaluation
PRCT 305L4 Practicum I: Secondary (GELB)
Phase II: Content and Methods and Teaching (12 credit hours):
Credit Hours
3
3
3
3
Course
EDMT 330 Instructional Applications of Media and Technology (GEWI)
PRCT 311L4 Practicum II: Secondary (GELB)
RDNG 311 Teaching Reading in the Secondary School
One methods course
Phase III: Capstone Experience (9 credit hours):
Credit Hours
9
Course
EDUC 492L4 Student Teaching (GELB)
Major Requirements (31 credit hours):
Credit Hours
1
4
5
5
3
1
3
Course
ASTR 204 Astronomical Investigations (GEKN)
ASTR 205 Principles of Astronomy (GEKN)
PHY 223 Mechanics and Sound (GEKN)
PHY 224 Electricity and Light
PHY 330 Intermediate Mechanics
PHY 332 Mechanics Laboratory
PHY 350 Electricity and Magnetism I
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
4
3
1
1
PHY 360 Heat and Thermodynamics
PHY 370 Modern Physics
PHY 372 Modern Physics Lab
PHY 406 Ethical Issues in Physics
Restricted Elective Courses (2 - 4 credit hours):
One of the following laboratory courses:
Credit Hours
4
4
2
4
Course
PHY 436 Vibrations and Sound
PHY 442 Optics and Optics Laboratory
PHY 444 Applied Optics
PHY 456 Electronics for Scientists
Elective Courses (0 - 2 credit hours):
Only physics or astronomy undergraduate courses numbered greater than 299 can be used as electives on this
major, excluding ASTR 311, PHY 311, PHY 312, and PHY 325 which can never be used on this major. For
those planning graduate studies in physics, PHY 450 Electricity and Magnetism II is strongly recommended.
Additional Requirements (26 credit hours):
Credit Hours Course
3
COSC 111 Introduction to Programming
4
MATH 120 Calculus I
4
MATH 121 Calculus II
3
MATH 122 Elementary Linear Algebra
4
MATH 223 Multivariable Calculus
One course or course combination from the following:
3
CHEM 115 Our Environment and Its Chemistry (GEKN)
and
1
CHEM 116 Chemistry and Society Laboratory (GEKN)
or
3
CHEM 117 Fundamentals of Chemistry – Lecture (GEKN)
and
1
CHEM 118 Fundamentals of Chemistry – Lab (GEKN)
or
4
CHEM 120 Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry (GEKN)
or
3
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (GEKN)
and
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
1
CHEM 122 General Chemistry I Laboratory (GEKN)
One course from the following:
4
BIOL 105 Introductory Biology for Non-majors (GEKN)
4
BIOL 130 Biology of Plants
4
BIOL 140 Biology of Animals
Minor Requirement:
This program requires a minor. Please contact your program advisor for a list of possible minors.
III. Proposed Revision
The proposed revision to the Secondary Education Physics (PHYT) program is to replace the currently
required course COSC 111 Introduction to Programming (3 credit hours) with a new course, PHY 280
Foundations of Scientific Computing (1 credit hour). This change will result in a reduction of 2 credit hours
for the Secondary Education Physics program. The proposed revision is given in tabular form below, and
changes are highlighted in green.
Pre-Admission Phase Requirements (7 credit hours):
Credit Hours
4
3
Course
EDPS 322 Human Development and Learning
SPGN 251 Introduction to Inclusion and Disabilities Studies in a Diverse Society
(GEUS)
Phase I: Curriculum, Assessment and Social Context (12 credit hours):
Credit Hours
3
3
3
3
Course
SOFD 328W Schools for a Diverse and Democratic Society (GEWI)
CURR 305 Curriculum and Methods: Secondary (Must be taken with PRCT 305L4)
EDPS 340 Introduction to Assessment and Evaluation
PRCT 305L4 Practicum I: Secondary (GELB)
Phase II: Content and Methods and Teaching (12 credit hours):
Credit Hours
3
3
3
3
Course
EDMT 330 Instructional Applications of Media and Technology (GEWI)
PRCT 311L4 Practicum II: Secondary (GELB)
RDNG 311 Teaching Reading in the Secondary School
One methods course
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
Phase III: Capstone Experience (9 credit hours):
Credit Hours
9
Course
EDUC 492L4 Student Teaching (GELB)
Major Requirements (33 credit hours):
Credit Hours
1
4
5
5
1
4
1
3
4
3
1
1
Course
ASTR 204 Astronomical Investigations (GEKN)
ASTR 205 Principles of Astronomy (GEKN)
PHY 223 Mechanics and Sound (GEKN)
PHY 224 Electricity and Light
PHY 280 Foundations of Scientific Computing
PHY 330 Intermediate Mechanics
PHY 332 Mechanics Laboratory
PHY 350 Electricity and Magnetism I
PHY 360 Heat and Thermodynamics
PHY 370 Modern Physics
PHY 372 Modern Physics Lab
PHY 406 Ethical Issues in Physics
Restricted Elective Courses (2 - 4 credit hours):
One of the following laboratory courses:
Credit Hours
4
4
2
4
Course
PHY 436 Vibrations and Sound
PHY 442 Optics and Optics Laboratory
PHY 444 Applied Optics
PHY 456 Electronics for Scientists
Elective Courses (0 - 2 credit hours):
Only physics or astronomy undergraduate courses numbered greater than 299 can be used as electives on this
major, excluding ASTR 311, PHY 311, PHY 312, and PHY 325.
Additional Requirements (19 credit hours):
Credit Hours
4
Course
MATH 120 Calculus I
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
4
3
4
3
1
MATH 121 Calculus II
MATH 122 Elementary Linear Algebra
MATH 223 Multivariable Calculus
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (GEKN)
and
CHEM 122 General Chemistry I Laboratory (GEKN)
Minor Requirement:
This program requires a minor. Please contact your program advisor for a list of possible minors.
IV. Impact
There may be a tiny impact on the Department of Computer Science because the number of credit hours in
COSC 111 Introduction to Programming could decline because approximately ten physics majors (of any
kind) each year would no longer take COSC 111. This is counterbalanced by a positive impact on Secondary
Education Physics majors, who will learn computational physics thinking skills in context in PHY 280 and
PHY 380. We do not need extra faculty to teach these courses because faculty members Pawlowski, Paradis,
and Behringer are capable of teaching these courses.
V. Budget
No additional costs are anticipated.
VI. Action of the Department/College
1. Department/School:
For
9
Against
0
(Enter the number of votes cast in each category.)
Vote of faculty:
I support this proposal. The proposed revision can x
cannot
Department(s)/School(s) without additional College or University resources.
0
Abstentions
be implemented within the affected
3/10/16
Department Head/School Director Signature
Date
2. College/Graduate School:
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
A. College
I support this proposal. The proposed program can
be implemented within the affected College without additional University resources.
College Dean Signature
cannot
Date
B. Graduate School (Graduate Program Revisions ONLY)
Graduate Dean Signature
Date
VII. Approval
Associate Vice-President for Academic Programming Signature
Date
VIII. Appendices
A. Market Analysis/Needs Assessment
B. Mandates
C. Request for New/Revised Course Forms
D. Letters of Support from Impacted Departments
E. Cost Analysis (Complete only if the revision cannot be implemented without additional University resources. Fill in
Estimated Resources for the sponsoring department(s). Attach separate estimates for other affected departments.)
Estimated Resources:
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Faculty / Staff
$_________
$_________
$_________
SS&M
$_________
$_________
$_________
Equipment
$_________
$_________
$_________
Total
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
$_________
$_________
$_________
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09