But im not exactly sure how to approach it....

I want to be a physics teacher, but I want the option of being able to do something else if it doesnt work out.

I looked at the course loads offered at NC State for the 1st part of the Physics degree it is similar to the Education version of it, but then it varies alot after that...but im curious if it is better to just get the non-education physics degree, then try and teach (im not sure how the teaching certification works), or just get the teaching degree and rely on my engineering background (worked in a nuclear power plant for past 4 years, will have worked 6 when i get done with my time) to get me a job doing something not-teaching.

any help would be greatly appreaciated!

ps. i've been out of school for a while, but why does it list more than one degree of the same thing...
SCIENCE EDUCATION (PHYSICS) (BS) 13SED 038P
SCIENCE EDUCATION (PHYSICS) (BS) 13SED 097P
PHYSICS (BS) 17PY 036
PHYSICS (BS) 17PY 097
PHYSICS (BA) 17PYA 036
PHYSICS (BA) 17PYA 097

and also, what is the difference between a BA and a BS???


thank you alot,
Steven

12/29/2009 6:41:56 PM

36/38/97 indicate the point at which a degree audit was formalized. It's the same degree.

12/29/2009 6:45:58 PM

degree audit formalized has nothing to do with me correct?

12/29/2009 6:47:41 PM

That's actually something I can't answer, as I only heard it mentioned briefly this past semester. Literally, 20 words on the subject. You'll need to ask an adviser.

12/29/2009 6:52:33 PM

I hope you're not doing it for the jailbait. I think about it every time that I go to the mall, but I manage to talk myself out of it pretty quickly.

12/29/2009 6:55:09 PM

If you check the differences between degree audits for the BS and BA degrees, you should observe that the BS degree has more specific requirements and less electives than the BA degree.

A lot of people consider the BS a harder degree to earn so they think it's more desirable/competitive/elite.

I have a BA.

12/29/2009 7:31:34 PM

Quote :

"get the non-education physics degree, then try and teach"

Quote :

"I want the option of being able to do something else if it doesnt work out."

That answers that question right there. A BS in physics will provide more diversity / opportunities (arguably) than a teaching degree. Curious though, why teaching instead of looking to further your existing employment with a degree in physics or engineering? Nothing wrong with teaching, but curious why this career path instead of your current one?

12/29/2009 7:49:08 PM

HORRIBLE thread. Fail.










Hahaha syke. My high school physics teacher was really cool and made science fun. Best of luck. Go Lakers. Kobe > Lebron. Its not even close.

12/29/2009 8:00:28 PM

Quote :

"36/38/97 indicate the point at which a degree audit was formalized. It's the same degree."

It's the same degree, but the degree audits are gonna be different because some of those are outdated, right?

038 means Fall 03, which was replaced by 097, Summer 09

or something

12/29/2009 8:14:27 PM

Quote :

"I think about it every time that I go to the mall, but I manage to talk myself out of it pretty quickly."

12/29/2009 9:58:24 PM

i figured out what i want to be too! a nurse practitioner. but i'm in law school. doh.

maybe someday....

12/29/2009 10:23:01 PM

Quote :

"I hope you're not doing it for the jailbait. "

haha no. deff not! but i do agree with the statement that seniors are great because while i may get older, they always stay 18...thats a joke btw.

Quote :

"Curious though, why teaching instead of looking to further your existing employment with a degree in physics or engineering? Nothing wrong with teaching, but curious why this career path instead of your current one? "

because i have always wanted to be a teacher, but i failed at school the 1st time, and i felt that having experianced what i have experianced i can motivate the younger generation to not make the same mistakes i made and take advantage of the oppertunities they have in front of them unlike i did. I realize now that the people who got to me the most were my fav teachers and to this day i still remember things they told me when i was in a rutt to motivate me! i would also like to coach hs football, and it helps if you are a teacher in hs...but most importantly i just want the oppertunity to be able to have that affect on someone and i do not believe i can have that affect on anyone by sitting and rotting at a panel for the rest of my life making great money but still hating my job.../sappy reply

and there is too much politics in nuclear power.

12/30/2009 12:20:16 AM

Quote :

"oppertunity"

gg teacher to be.

Edit: Holy crap... not even a typo:

Quote :

"oppertunities"

Quote :

"experianced what i have experianced"

You've got to be kidding me...

[Edited on December 30, 2009 at 12:33 AM. Reason : s]

12/30/2009 12:31:17 AM

Quote :

"haha no. deff not! but i do agree with the statement that seniors are great because while i may get older, they always stay 18...thats a joke btw."

You should probably look into having this post removed

12/30/2009 12:41:39 AM

Someone needs to download Firefox apparently.

^ Why, he's obviously referencing Dazed and Confused.

[Edited on December 30, 2009 at 12:42 AM. Reason : .]

12/30/2009 12:42:29 AM

ok

12/30/2009 12:43:57 AM

^ C'mon, Ernie. You know how school boards usually have a sense of humor about those comments. Especially ones that reference stoner movies.

12/30/2009 12:50:33 AM

I'd be surprised if this guy gets a job as a teacher for more reasons than just that

12/30/2009 12:57:59 AM

when it comes to physics a BA is really BS

12/30/2009 1:19:15 AM

PHYSICS (BS) 17PY 097 & PHYSICS (BA) 17PYA 097

are the BS and BA if you enroll after July 2009---so you would select one of these tracks. I think the main difference is in structuring some of the electives and humanities classes. As BridgetSPK already noted, the BS is usually seen as more difficult and competitive because there is less freedom; the BA has fewer required math and physics courses.

12/30/2009 1:19:39 AM

Quote :

"Go Lakers. Kobe > Lebron. Its not even close"

SIKE!

12/30/2009 1:35:55 AM

STHEVEN!

I wanted to minor in physics because i *thought / *was told that I already had 2 years of physics..

Majored in Electrical Engineering btw

Physics dept. told me that I'd need like 7 more classes, not credit hours, but like an additional year...

nothx

12/30/2009 1:39:20 AM

Teaching physics is interesting, fun and depressing. For many, you will be THEE bad guy, for some, you will be the science hero and for most you just hope to be the cool/nerd physics teacher that at least, kept it interesting.

Since physics is the hardest class many take in high school, be sure to spend a lot of time in college tutoring and helping classmates with problems just to get an idea of all the common misconceptions and riddles/hints that help normal people learn concepts that are off the wall to most of the population.

I salute you. Good luck.

12/30/2009 1:43:09 AM

while we're picking on grammar, definitely would be shortened to "def" since there's only one F in the word.

12/30/2009 8:49:31 AM

My physics teacher was by far one of the coolest as far as high school teachers go, and it was one of the more fun courses.

I have a few family & fiends who are in the teaching field or looking to get into it, and like everything else in this economy, jobs are harder to come by right now. If teaching physics is your passion, I would suggest going for the education version so that you can stand out for the specific area where your career goals lie. I mean why go through the process of going to school again to wind up with another generic job, rather than aiming at where your passion lies?

There is a lot more to teaching than just understanding the material you are trying to get across. And a lateral entry candidate without any teaching credentials wont seem like the strongest candidate in a competitive market. As someone myself who recently left a full time job & started grad school full time with this fall semester, I can say I've been a lot more motivated 1) knowing what working a real job feels like & 2) knowing I'm working towards a degree that I'm passionate about.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

12/30/2009 9:35:25 AM

I teach. I got a regular degree and then added on a teaching license with the NC Teach program (but there are other programs such as getting a masters that can help you get licensure via lateral entry)

12/30/2009 10:26:23 AM

I appologize for my horrible spelling. I was at hour 20+ being awake having done maintenance and paperwork all day! I would have to say one of my favorite teachers of all time was probably one of the worst spellers I had seen in my life, but i will make an effort to not be as bad.

H8R

as much as I think an EE degree would be awesome to have, I do not believe I would be all that motivated to get it...as I would probably just end up working in a power plant somewhere, making great money, but hating my job!

I am still weighing my options, but im trying to start taking classes now, then eventually when i get my freedom back...go to school in North Carolina, Florida, or Texas..

12/30/2009 3:46:45 PM

i concur that my hs physics teacher was the best and coolest teacher i had.

doesn't teach for america get you a techers certificate or something? get a BS in physics and then do that. maybe. i don't really know what i'm talking about... but it's worth looking into!

12/30/2009 4:25:36 PM

There is a program called Troops to Teachers, but they told me it was too far away for them to be talking to me.

12/30/2009 4:28:43 PM

teach for america is bullshit anyway but right now if you don't have a 4.0, you can forget being accepted. my friend with a 3.8 and all kinds of ecs got denied this past may. Even if you do get in, they put you into a horrible situation for a young teacher to be in.

12/31/2009 12:54:32 AM

i have never heard of that before.

1/3/2010 11:03:49 PM

^^ like a ghetto or rural school?

isn't that kind of the point?

1/3/2010 11:05:53 PM

I did NC Teach and with my BA in Communication and Journalism, I got my Emergency Permit and passed the Praxis II and then got my teaching degree in a Spring/Fall + two summer sessions.

PM me some specific questions about NC Teach if you'd like.

Quote :

"I teach. I got a regular degree and then added on a teaching license with the NC Teach program (but there are other programs such as getting a masters that can help you get licensure via lateral entry)"

Wow. Did you go through NCSU? I did a cohort through ECU.

[Edited on January 3, 2010 at 11:18 PM. Reason : ..]

1/3/2010 11:15:55 PM