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TCNJ Recognized as a National Leader in the Education of Physics Teachers

TCNJ Recognized as a National Leader in the Education of Physics Teachers

Nationwide physics teacher preparation program recognizes TCNJ and other colleges and universities helping to address the severe national shortage of high school physics teachers.

The Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) recently announced the initial inductees into “The 5+ Club”, a group of institutions that has graduated 5 or more physics teachers in a given year. The great majority of institutions nationally graduate less than two physics teachers a year, and the most common number of graduates is zero. In their 2014 report, the American Association for Employment in Education found that the teacher shortage in physics is number one among 59 education fields. Graduating 5 or more physics teachers a year is a significant achievement, helping to address the severe national shortage of high school physics teachers.

The institutions recognized include:

2013-2014
Brigham Young University (17)
The College of New Jersey (9)
University of Minnesota (7)
University of Arkansas (7)
Stony Brook University (7)
Brigham Young University-Idaho (7)
Illinois State University (7)
Georgia State University (6)
Rutgers University (6)
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (5)
Kennesaw State University (5)

2012-2013
University of Minnesota (9)
SUNY Geneseo (8)
Seattle Pacific University (8)
Michigan State University (7)
University of Colorado Boulder (6)
SUNY Oneonta (6)
Rutgers University (6)
Virginia Tech University (5)

2011-2012
SUNY Buffalo State (10)
University of Minnesota (6)
Rutgers University (6)
University of Cincinnati (5)
University of Texas at Austin (5)

The United States has a severe, long-term shortage of qualified physics teachers. In fact, in 2013 the National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics reported, “the need for qualified teachers is greater now than at any previous time in history.” Of the approximately 1400 new teachers who are hired to teach physics each year, only 35% have a degree in physics or physics education.

About PhysTEC
PhysTEC LogoPhysTEC, a flagship education program of the American Physical Society (APS), aims to improve the education of future physics teachers by transforming physics departments, creating successful models for physics teacher education programs, and disseminating best practices. The PhysTEC program is led by APS in partnership with the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), with financial support from the National Science Foundation.

About APS
APS LogoThe American Physical Society is a non-profit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy and international activities. APS represents over 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories and industry in the United States and throughout the world.

About AAPT
AAPT LogoThe American Association of Physics Teachers is a professional membership association of scientists dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching.

For More Information:

Contact

Physics Department
Science Complex, Room P123
The College of New Jersey
P.O. Box 7718
2000 Pennington Rd.
Ewing, NJ 08628

609.771.2569

physics@tcnj.edu

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