Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program, Biology Concentration, Initial Licensure, (8-12)

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Students who hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to become a secondary level (grades 8-12) teacher of Biology, may complete a post baccalaureate program that consists of the equivalent of a degree in biology and 18 credit hours of pedagogical coursework in education.

Students who are interested in the program must meet the following criteria:

Evidence of a bachelor’s degree
A GPA of 2.8 or better
Successful completion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure: Communication and Literacy Skills Sub-test
Personal Statement
Students must complete an essay of no more than one page in response to one of the following questions/ statement:

Tell about a positive situation in which you helped a person and made a significant difference in that person’s life.
What are the most important factors in establishing a long-term working relationship with students, friends, etc.?
Tell us about a significant event that involved you in a teaching or helping role.

Describe the situation as it occurred at the time.
What did you do in that particular situation?
How did you feel about the situation at the time you were experiencing it?
How do you feel about the situation now?
What would you change, if anything?

Once accepted, students will undergo a transcript review by the graduate program chair or undergraduate advisor, as designated by the department and a plan of study will be developed that addresses:

Courses missing (if applicable) in the subject that are equivalent to the requirements for the major will be determined through a transcript review. Students will complete all requirements of the major and license as identified in the undergraduate program.
Courses as identified below in the teacher preparation program (pedagogy courses):

When courses are in a student’s plan of study, they will complete the plan of study at the undergraduate level, or at the graduate level if the equivalent is offered.

Once the licensure program is completed, students can request admission to the graduate program after completing additional admissions requirements as designated by the department.

Required Education Courses

SEED 7015 - Introduction to Strategies for Effective Teaching in the Academic Discipline 3 cr.
or BIOL 2860 - Introduction to Secondary School Teaching 3 cr.,
SPED 7709 - The High School Environment—Challenges In Educating Students with Disabilities 3 cr.
or SPED 3800 - Secondary Programs for Adolescents with Disabilities 3 cr.
ENGL 8076 - Creating Literacy Experience: Building Reading and Writing into the Content Areas 3 cr.
or ENGL 4700 - Teaching Reading and Writing Across the Content Area 3 cr.
SCED 9000 - Advanced Methods in Teaching Science 3 cr.
or BIOL 4850 - Methods in Teaching Science 3 cr. (counts as one of the 6 Biology electives)
EDUC 7096 - Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) 3 cr.
BIOL 8003 - Practicum 6 cr.
or BIOL 4860 - Biology Practicum in a Secondary School I (150 hours), 4.5 cr. and
BIOL 4870 - Biology Practicum in a Secondary School II (150 hours) 4.5 cr.
Please Note: BIOL 4860 and BIOL 4870 are taken concurrently for a total of 300 hours of practicum experience.

Note:

Once a student has completed all requirements for professional and content specific courses, they will be eligible for endorsement in their selected field through Fitchburg State University.

Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Course for Initial Licensure

Prior to completion of the program of study, initial licensure candidates are required to take the Fitchburg State University ESE-approved SEI course in order to be endorsed for licensure.