<p>I'm really into physics, but more and more I think I want to teach eventually. I expect to go to grad school. To those ends, where should I go? I have the grades etc to go basically anywhere. Money's an issue, but for the sake of this let's pretend it's not.
I love Caltech because it's California and kick @ss for theoretical physics, but is there somewhere that's awesome at physics and I can get at least a somewhat respectable teaching degree? I don't know what level I want to teach at, other than not middle school.</p>
<p>caltech undergrad is supposed to be one of the most unpleasant experiences you can have in college. my brother's friend who is the quintessential math geek switched out after a year. my physics teacher got his PhD there and said hed never ever go there for undergrad.</p>
<p>You might not be able to teach physics right out of undergrad. Your best bet would be teaching high school, as there's such a shortage of science teachers. On the other hand, many public school districts will want you to have a teaching credential, or be working towards one while you're doing your first stint of teaching. Community colleges generally want you to at least have a master's degree in the subject you're teaching. Teaching at a four-year college or university, you'll need the PhD. </p>
<p>Once you've got a list of schools that offer a physics major, and that you'd be interested in attending, you might want to do a little digging and see if they have any faculty members who are involved with curriculum development, or science education. The American Association of Physics Teachers would be a good resource. </p>
<p>My 9th grade daughter's school has an astounding and much-loved science teacher...who went undergrad to Caltech! He'd always wanted to be a science teacher, but he had to wait a bit after finishing undergrad because he was one of those child geniuses who finished college at age 16 or something like that.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove, I bet my physics teacher is so much cooler!</p>
<p>He's seriously amazing and genuinely intelligent and funny. Everyone loves and respects him and he's barely out of his mid-20's! He went to the University of Montana...but only because he likes mountains.</p>
<p>I'm a physics major at Caltech right now, so I can give you some advice. I'm planning on going on to get a PhD and do research and teach at a university level as a career. For teaching at a high school level, doing physics at Caltech is almost certainly overkill. That said, I do know a few people who do just that after graduating. They generally teach high school physics, chemistry or math, usually without majoring in the subject. It seems pretty easy to get your teaching accreditation (at least in LA) soon after getting your BS. </p>
<p>The physics curriculum at Caltech is designed to teach you how to do research, not how to teach. The classes focus on problem-solving (and open problems) and force you to spend a huge portion of your waking hours just doing advanced physics. Doing physics beyond core physics (classical mechanics, special relativity, E&M, waves, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics) is honestly not going to help you much for teaching high school physics. By sophomore year, you're generally expected to be taking at least one year-long graduate level course and by junior year usually all of your physics courses will be graduate level.</p>
<p>Purely from a career stand-point, if you just want to teach not at the university level, it makes more sense to go to a less stressful (and cheaper) university, take a standard undergraduate curriculum, and maybe take some teaching classes. If you are seriously considering teaching at a university level, and in particular doing research, or you just enjoy physics enough where spending years doing not much else but physics and math would be great despite not adding much to your career, Caltech would be a good choice. If that is the case, also look into other top physics universities (it's probably not necessary to list them here), which all generally give out good financial aid if cost is a big deal.</p>
<p>Also, despite furyshade's second-hand anecdote, I'm very happy here and would not want to be anywhere else for undergrad. I've also had more fun here in just frosh year than I've had in the rest of my life combined. It really depends on the individual.</p>
<p>sorry if i came off as being really judgmental, i have just never met someone who went there for undergrad and liked it. its good to hear that it isnt as bad as the horror stories say</p>
<p>Another possible "teaching" angle to consider is doing "informal" education. Think museums, journalism, designing animations to illustrate research results, or demos to illustrate basic physics principles. </p>
<p>calrule, excellent to hear that there are more cool physics teachers in the universe. Though the guy I described really does know where his towel is at :) He coaches the school ultimate frisbee club, is in his mid 20's, but could pass as a high school student.</p>
<p>There are many top-notch colleges and universities that offer enough courses to get credentialled as a teacher, without having an education major per se. For example, University of Rochester has the GRADE program, which is 5 years, but leads to a bachelor's degree and a Master's in Education, including meeting licensure requirements. You major in anything you want, and Rochester is well known for its great physics programs. You are also guaranteed a 1/4 tuition scholarship for the full 5 years. <a href="http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/res/pdf/grade.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/res/pdf/grade.pdf</a></p>
<p>As another example, Vassar College has an education certificate program. You major in something, but take the necessary education courses to become licensed to teach.</p>
<p>Williams College has something similar, I believe.</p>
<p>A little research should identify colleges with strong physics programs and majors, and certification for licensure.</p>
<p>There are many top-notch colleges and universities that offer enough courses to get credentialled as a teacher, without having an education major per se. For example, University of Rochester has the GRADE program, which is 5 years, but leads to a bachelor's degree and a Master's in Education, including meeting licensure requirements. You major in anything you want, and Rochester is well known for its great physics programs. You are also guaranteed a 1/4 tuition scholarship for the full 5 years. <a href="http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/res/pdf/grade.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/res/pdf/grade.pdf</a></p>
<p>As another example, Vassar College has an education certificate program. You major in something, but take the necessary education courses to become licensed to teach.</p>
<p>Williams College has something similar, I believe.</p>
<p>A little research should identify colleges with strong physics programs and majors, and certification for licensure.</p>
<p>There are many top-notch colleges and universities that offer enough courses to get credentialled as a teacher, without having an education major per se. For example, University of Rochester has the GRADE program, which is 5 years, but leads to a bachelor's degree and a Master's in Education, including meeting licensure requirements. You major in anything you want, and Rochester is well known for its great physics programs. You are also guaranteed a 1/4 tuition scholarship for the full 5 years. <a href="http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/res/pdf/grade.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/res/pdf/grade.pdf</a></p>
<p>As another example, Vassar College has an education certificate program. You major in something, but take the necessary education courses to become licensed to teach.</p>
<p>Williams College has something similar, I believe.</p>
<p>A little research should identify colleges with strong physics programs and majors, and certification for licensure.</p>
<p>Sorry about the multiple posts - had trouble with the program this morning!</p>