The U.S. faces a critical shortage of qualified physics and physical science teachers. Two-thirds of new physics teachers lack a physics degree, and over 90% of middle school physical science students are taught by teachers without a physical science major or certification. In order to address the crisis in physics and physical science education, the American Physical Society (APS), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) have developed the PhysTEC project. 

Cornell University's PhysTEC Project is a joint effort of the Physics Department and the Cornell Teacher Education Program to recruit and prepare future physics teachers. We are committed to seeing this happen through the active recruitment of students to physics and Physics education, through the improvement of physics education practices at Cornell, and through educational and experiential support for students pursing physics teaching careers.