Looking for suggestions for Ph.D. programs

[veritedefoli]

Hi,

While I have a number of interests in physics, my primary career goal is to focus on physics education. I have spent several years teaching high school physics, and am looking to eventually find myself at a top-notch private school or a liberal arts college.

Regrettably, most of these positions require Ph.D.'s in physics. On the bright side, I like physics enough to do a Ph.D., and I'm smart enough for it too .

So I am looking for a Ph.D. program that recognizes that my passion is teaching. Of course I'll take the classes, and I'll even write a thesis, but wouldn't it be amazing if my thesis was on effectiveness of teaching approaches in graduate physics classes? I thought so. Given that this isn't terribly realistic, I'll take a place with a laid-back atmosphere and a commitment to decent teaching. Research interests are flexible; chaos theory is pretty sweet; so is GR.

If any of you would happen to have a lead here, I would much appreciate it. Prestige/etc. level of the school is not important -- while I have reasonable grades from a good school, 970pgre, etc. I am much more interested in having an enjoyable 5-6 years of life than a more prestigious diploma.

Oh, and application deadlines that are not today are a bonus . But I may be applying in a year anyhow.

[WhoaNonstop]

am looking to eventually find myself at a top-notch private school or a liberal arts college.

I am much more interested in having an enjoyable 5-6 years of life than a more prestigious diploma.

Which would you rather have, 5-6 years of enjoyable life or teach at a top-notch private school? Because unless you can group enjoyable and prestigious diploma together it might be hard to do that.

-Riley

[veritedefoli]

It's sufficiently rare for high school teachers to have physics Ph.D.'s that I don't think I need prestige to get a very nice high school position.

To answer your question, though, 5-6 years of enjoyable life comes first. I just don't think I have to make a choice here.

[kroner]

Try doing a forum search for "physics education".
For example this person applied to some programs which specialize in physics education: http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php ... 440#p22440

[WhoaNonstop]

top-notch private school or a liberal arts college.

You'll have to forgive me. Most people around here in saying this line would obviously think you meant to say top-notch private university or top-notch liberal arts college, at least that is what I took from it.

-Riley

[laser]

Yeah, it's grammatically ambiguous, though I think it means liberal arts colleges in general, or top-notch high schools.

[grae313]

University of Washington (Seattle) has a wonderful and respected physics education program. I was really impressed by the school and the city when I visited.

[axiomofchoice]

UMD also has a fairly reputable physics education programm, http://www.physics.umd.edu/perg/.

[CarlBrannen]

University of Washington (Seattle) has a wonderful and respected physics education program. I was really impressed by the school and the city when I visited.

I have a book by a UW author on teaching introductory physics:

Teaching Introductory Physics
Arnold B. Arons
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitl ... 37073.html

The campus is pretty, especially when the cherry trees bloom in spring, and Seattle has a nice climate (less rain than you'd think, very nice summers). The area has convenient places to ski and hike. But as far as comparing the area to other large schools, it has some of the most pure air to breath, blowing in from the Pacific.