Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must have completed the required 90 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
Physics is perhaps the most exciting intellectual adventure of our age – discoveries being made now will change your life, and learning physics will change the way you think about the world. The Certificate in Physics offers a good basic foundation from which you can progress to a diploma or an honours degree. It provides a wide-ranging introduction to physics and its applications, covering classical mechanics; thermal physics and fluids; fields, waves and electromagnetism; relativity; and quantum physics – setting many of them in their historical context. This certificate course also gives you a fascinating introduction to experimental physics.
Planning your studies
This is a certificate comprising OU level 2 modules. We recommend that you study it only after you have successfully completed the appropriate Level 1 modules, or have obtained the equivalent knowledge elsewhere.
The OU level 1 modules Exploring science (S104) (now discontinued) and Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) would be ideal preparation for this Level 2 certificate, but the credits you gain cannot be counted towards this qualification.
For more information on the background and experience you need before studying for this certificate, you should look at the module descriptions.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Career relevance and employability
The Certificate in Physics would be useful, for example, if you are required to teach secondary school physics but your background is in another area of science. This certificate course is endorsed by the Institute of Physics as providing sufficient content to support the teaching of secondary school physics to A-level. It is also endorsed by the Institute as providing sufficient content for those seeking to be physics specialists on entry to PGCE studies.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this certificate you require:
90 credits* from the following compulsory modules:
Level 2 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Practical science: physics and astronomy (SXPA288)
|
30 |
|
- Practical science: physics and astronomy (S217)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules S207, SXR207 and SXP288
*You only require 70 credits for this certificate if you have successfully studied the 10-credit module SXR207
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Certificate in Physics.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification