Arkansas Tech University in Russellville wants to produce more physics teachers for school districts around the state.
The Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees voted Thursday to forward a letter of intent to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education proposing a new secondary education teacher licensure program in math and physics at ATU, according to an ATU news release.
“The Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education have identified a lack of physics qualified teachers,” wrote Dr. John W. Watson, vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech, in a memorandum presented to the board. “This new licensure program is part of an effort to alleviate this shortage.”
The program would produce graduates with a combined math and physics licensure as a means of providing candidates who can teach both physics and an additional subject, according to the release.