The studies in the College of Physics Teachers are organised in two stages. Regular BSc studies (stage I) of three years’ duration prepare teachers of Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry for primary schools. A student follows a fixed curriculum for the entire three years. He/she has to obtain absolutorium, prepare and defend a BSc thesis to get a BSc degree in physics. Supplementary studies of two years’ duration (stage II) give a MSc degree and entitle to teach Physics in all types of secondary schools. During the second year of the supplementary studies a student completes his/her master project in a selected division of the Faculty.
5.1 Curriculum of the first stage studies
BSc studies cover groups of core courses (in Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry), pedagogical courses, English language courses and sports activities.
I. Core courses
I year
Winter semester:
1. N101 Physics I (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N102 Mathematics A I (90h, 3 l/w and 3 c/w; 7.5 credits) examination
3. N103 Informatics (60h, 4c/w; 5 credits) pass-grade
4. N104 Hygiene (30h, 2 l/w; 2.5 credits) examination
5. N105 Psychology (30h, 2 l/w; 2.5 credits) examination
Summer semester:
1. N106 Physics II (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N107 Mathematics II (90h, 3 l/w and 3 c/w; 10 credits) examination
3. N108 Rudiments of Mechanics (15h, 1 l/w; 1 credits) examination
4. N109 English in Calculus (15h, 1 c/w; 1 credits) pass-grade
5. N110 Physics laboratory I (a) (45h, 4 c/w; 3.5 credits) pass-grade
6. N111 Sociology (30h, 2 l/w; 2.5 credits) pass-grade
7. N112 Summer course for teachers, summer camp (21h of placement; 4.5 credits ) pass
How to complete the first year?
Credits are counted after two semesters of the first year. A conditional pass is possible only when at most one examination and one pass-grade is missing in both semesters, or two examinations or two pass-grades in the whole year. A repetition of the first year is possible only in exceptional cases, which are individually considered by the Dean.
All students have to present their student’s books not later than September 20th.
II year
winter semester:
1. N201 Physics III (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N202 Mathematics III (90h, 3 l/w and 3 c/w; 7.5 credits) examination
3. N203 Physics laboratory I (b) (45h, 3 p/w, 4 credits) pass-grade
4. N204 Pedagogics (60h, 2 l/w and 2 c/w; 5 credits) examination
5. N211 Pedagogical training (25h: 4.5 credits) pass
summer semester:
1. N205 Physics IV (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N206 General astronomy (60h, 2 l/w and 2 c/w; 5 credits) examination
3. N207 Physics education (60h, 2 l/w and 2 c/w; 5 credits) examination
4. N208 Laboratory of physics didactics (45h, 3p/w; 4 credits) pass-grade
5. N209 Elements of rhetoric (30h: 2h c/w; 2.5 credits) pass
6. N210 Philosophy (30h, 2 l/w ; 2.5 credits) examination
III year
winter semester:
1. N301 Physics V (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N302 Space and motion (45h, 3 l/w ; 3.5 credits) pass-grade
3. N303 Didactics of mathematics (60h, 2 l/w and 2 c/w; 5 credits) pass-grade
4. N304 Electronics, lecture and laboratory (75 h, 2 l/w and 3 c/w; 6.5 credits) pass-grade
5. N208 Laboratory of physics didactics (45 h, 3 p/w; 4 credits) pass-grade
6. N305 Seminar on physics didactics (60h, 2 l/w and 2 c/w; 2.5 credits) pass
7. N306 Pedagogical training (64h, 4h per week; no credits) pass
summer semester:
1. N307 Physics VI (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N308 Introduction to chemistry (30h, 2 l/w ; 2.5 credits) examination
3. N309 Chemical laboratory (45h, 3p/w; 4 credits) pass-grade
4. N310 History of physics (60h, 4 l/w ; 5 credits) pass-grade
5. N305Seminar on physics didactics (60h, 2 l/w and 2 c/w; 2.5 credits) pass-grade
6. N306 Pedagogical training (60h, 4h per week; no credits) pass
7. BSc thesis (54 h; 4.5 credits) BSc examination
How to complete the second and third years ?
1. II and III years are completed if all the required grades, pass-grades and passes are obtained.
2. A conditional pass is possible if at most 120 hours of courses are missing.
3. In the case of year repetition students are credited with the hours (credits) earned during the first attempt.
II. Language courses and sport activities
BSc students have to pass an examination in the English language at level II in the Foreign Languages School of Warsaw University. To prepare for this examination students may take four semesters of English language courses at the Foreign Languages School. Students are allowed to pass this examination without attending the courses. Students who do not attend English language courses and who passed the required examination in the English language are allowed to attend free of charge courses in other languages. In this case they join groups of other faculties.
Students of BSc studies are required to participate and pass four semesters of sports activities. The activities are organised by the Sports Centre of Warsaw University. Sports activities can be replaced with participation in sports clubs activities.
III. BSc thesis
After having obtained a regular or conditional pass of the second year at the beginning of the winter semester of the third year students select BSc theses topics. The students who want to pass BSc examinations in June have to submit their BSc theses before May 15th. Those who want to pass BSc examinations in September have to submit their theses before September 4th.
5.2 Curriculum of the second stage studies
BSc graduates admitted for continuation of studies towards MSc degree in the College of Physics Teachers have to complete all the courses from the list below during the first year of supplementary studies. This condition has to be fulfilled if a student is to be allowed to start a MSc project in a chosen Division of the Faculty. Students select a Division of their interest at the end of the first semester of the supplementary studies. They are invited to visit Divisions before making their decision.
I year
winter semester:
1. N401 Introduction to nuclear and elementary particle physics (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N402 Mathematical methods of physics (90h, 3 l/w and 3 c/w; 7.5 credits) examination
3. N403 Error analysis (16h, 4h per week in October; 2.5 credits) pass-grade
4. N404 Physics laboratory II (120h, 8 p/w; 10 credits) pass-grade
summer semester:
1. N405 Introduction to atomic, molecular and solid state physics (120h, 3 l/w and 5 c/w; 10 credits) examination
2. N406 Selected topics of theoretical physics (120h, 4 l/w and 4 c/w; 10 credits) examination
3. N404 Physics laboratory II (120h, 8 p/w; 10 credits) pass-grade
II year
winter semester:
1. N501 Elements of numerical modelling (30h, 2 l/w; 2.5 credits) examination
2. Specialisation course* (30h: 2l/w; 2.5 credits) pass-grade or pass
3. Specialisation seminar* (30h: 2h per week; 2.5 credits) pass
summer semester:
1. N502 Astrophysics (30h, 2h per week; 2.5 credits) examination
2. Specialisation course* (30h, 2h per week; 2.5 credits) examination
3. Specialisation seminar* (30h, 2h per week; 2.5 credits) pass
4. MSc thesis (540 h: 45 credits) MSc examination
* Specialisation course and specialisation seminar have to be selected according to requirements of the chosen Division.