The Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Physical Science prepares students for teacher licensure in physics and chemistry, grades seven to 12. Students take a broad range of science-content courses in biology and geology and specialize in physics and chemistry content. Students in the Physical Science major complete most of their content coursework during their first three years, and then begin their methods coursework during the spring of their third year. During the final year of the program, students complete remaining content courses, science teaching methods courses and a year-long placement in a local school district, which concludes with 13 weeks of student teaching in the spring. Physical Science students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor early in their program because many courses must be sequenced carefully. Students are required to complete Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Plan multiple lessons using a variety of inquiry approaches that demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of how to engage all students in learning science.
Plan a learning environment and learning experiences for all students that demonstrate chemical safety, safety procedures, and the ethical treatment of living organisms within their licensure area.
Plan fair and equitable assessment strategies to analyze student learning and to evaluate if the science learning goals are met.
Examples of Possible Careers
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
Education teachers, postsecondary
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Physics teachers, postsecondary
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Accreditation
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
September 2025
Kent State University
800 E. Summit Street,
KENT,
Ohio,
44240, United States
New first-year applicants must finish secondary school in their home country by the time of enrollment to be eligible for university (comparable to the completion of senior high school in the U.S.). A student who has previously enrolled in a post-secondary (higher education) institution is required to apply as a transfer student.
All international undergraduate applicants must submit an English language proficiency test score to be considered for a Kent State program unless they meet specific exceptions or apply for conditional admissions.
All undergraduate applicants must obtain one of the following:
TOEFL iBT: 71; Home Edition iBT: 71
Revised PBT: 18 (average score)
IELTS Academic and IELTS indicator: 6.0
Duolingo:100
PTE Academic: 48
Completion of the Kent State University ESL Center Level 8 Intensive English program with a minimum of 3.75 out of 4.0 GPA
ELS Level 112 Intensive English Program completion
SAT: a minimum of 510 evidence-based reading and writing
ACT: a minimum of 21 in English
Application Deadlines: October 1 for Spring Semester; June 1 for Fall Semester.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.