Biology, B.S. (Certifiable for secondary teaching)
A minor is not required with this major.
Major Requirements (31-35 credits)
Biology Core (15 credits)
Animal Diversity Elective (4 credits)
Plant Diversity Elective (3-4 credits)
Genetics/Microbiology Elective (3-4 credits)
Physiology Elective (3-4 credits)
Ecology/Evolution Elective (3-4 credits)
At least one course in BIO or BMS must be at the 400-level. Please note that upper-level BMS courses require BMS 201, which can count as an elective in the biology major.
Science Related Requirements (22 credits)
Math Requirement (4-6 credits)
Related Requirements (9 credits)
EDF 215 Education in a Multicultural Society
these courses may be used to fulfill general education requirements
Professional Education (27 credits)
| EDTE 316 | Principles of Learning in Diverse Settings (Secondary) | 4 |
| EDSC 425 | Multicultural, Interdisciplinary Teaching at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| EDSC 435 | Secondary Education Student Teaching | 9 |
| LLA 440 | Literacy instruction in the Secondary School | 3 |
| SCI 417 | Teaching of Science in the Secondary School | 4 |
| SCI 419 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| SPED 315 | Introduction to Educating Learners with Exceptionalities | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 120
This major is designed for students who wish to teach biology at the secondary level. The program includes consideration of all major concepts and areas of biology. Within some of the areas, students may select different courses to build on knowledge gained in their first and second years of study. Students are continuously encouraged to see connections in biological events from the standpoint of all sciences. The specialization also includes a professional education component. Because of the breadth of required courses, it is also possible for students in secondary education to enter a variety of other careers in research, health, and industry, as well as graduate study.
A student who majors in biology is not required to complete a minor but is urged to minor in one of the other laboratory sciences or general science.
Portfolio Requirement
All majors in the Department of Biology are required to complete a student portfolio. Minimally, the student portfolio must include a current resume, a current Student Graduation Evaluation (available from the Department of Biology) or transcript, a narrative describing the student's goals for undergraduate education and graduate educational or career plans, and writing samples from one or more upper-level courses in the major. To fulfill the portfolio requirement in biology, the student portfolio must be reviewed with one or more faculty members in biology as a course requirement in BIO 200, as a required component of BIO 390, 391, 491, and all independent studies and internships, and prior to application for graduation, as evidenced by submission of a Portfolio Requirement Completed form (available from the Department of Biology and signed by the major advisor) to the biology chair.