Additional Requirements
Biology majors also take six advanced electives at or above BIOL 2000. Independent study, directed study, internship or teaching practicum may each count as one advanced BIOL elective in a student’s program of study. Courses with a separate lecture and lab registration count as a single elective: the lab portion of a course does not constitute a distinct biology elective.
One of the six electives must be a designated Capstone course. Students in the Capstone course conduct a research project to demonstrate their skills in research design and analysis.
Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in General Biology I and General Chemistry I. If a grade below 2.0 is earned in either course, that course must be repeated before enrolling in any subsequent BIOL or CHEM classes. Biology majors are also limited to two attempts for each of General Biology I and General Chemistry I. If Biology majors earn <2.0 or a W in a second attempt, they must find another major that more closely matches their skills and interests.
BS in Biology with Initial Teacher Licensure
Students within our biology major can pursue initial licensure as high school biology teachers. This program provides students with both a broad introduction to high school teaching and specific instruction in the theory, research and practice of secondary science teaching. Students engage in field-based experiences in the school setting supervised by our faculty through on-site pre-practicum experiences coupled with each teaching course and a formal teaching practicum as the capstone experience. This program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and boasts graduates working in high schools throughout the region.
Students interested in pursuing Initial Teacher Licensure must apply for formal admission to the program. For information about undergraduate requirements in teacher preparation, see the section titled: Teacher Preparation Programs (Undergraduate)
The Bachelor of Science in Biology with Initial Teacher Licensure includes all of the requirements for the biology major. MATH 1700 -Applied Statistics must be taken as one of the two math courses at or above the level of MATH 1300 . Teacher candidates are required to take four core courses and six advanced BIOL electives (>2000) including a Capstone course, for a total of 35 credits.
Students must complete the minor in Middle School/Secondary Education which includes 18 credits. When completing this minor, students must complete the following specific courses:
BIOL 1860 Introduction to Education (5-12)
EDUC 2012 Teaching the Adolescent Learner
EDUC 2011 Diversity in Education
SPED 3800 Inclusive Instruction
BIOL 3015 Methods in Teaching Science (5-12) I
BIOL 4850 Methods in Teaching Science (5-12) II
Additionally, to be eligible for initial licensure and to complete this concentration, students must complete:
BIOL 4012 Practicum Seminar (5-12)
BIOL 4860 Practicum I Biology (8-12)
BIOL 4870 Practicum II Biology (5-8)
EDUC 3122 Sheltered English Immersion
As part of the completion of this program, students must go through two review processes (Stage I and Stage II) and meet the requirements before continuing on in the concentration. If the student is unable to meet the requirements of either review, then they will be removed from the concentration. They may stay in the biologymajor and continue to complete the Middle School and Secondary Education minor, but they will not be eligible to complete the Biology (8-12) InitialLicensure concentration.
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