Biology Secondary Education (B.A.)

Location(s): Campus

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Required Support Courses

CHE 111 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4 *
CHE 112 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4 *
CHE 201 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4 *
MAT 351 - Statistics Credit Hours: 3 (see General Education below) * π

Major Content Area Courses

BIO 111 - Introductory Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (see General Education below) ^π
BIO 112 - Introductory Biology II Credit Hours: 4 ^
BIO 206 - Genes and Speciation Credit Hours: 3 ^
BIO 261 - Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 4 ^*
BIO 305 - Principles of Genetics Credit Hours: 4 ^*
BIO 352 - Microbiology Credit Hours: 4 ^*
BIO 362 - Principles of Ecology Credit Hours: 4 ^*
BIO 480 - Senior Seminar Credit Hours: 2 ^
Choose one of the following
BIO 321 - Parasitology Credit Hours: 4 ^*
BIO 330 - Plant Organismal Biology Credit Hours: 4 ^*
BIO 342 - Vertebrate Zoology Credit Hours: 4 ^*
BIO 345 - Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 4 ^*

Required Support and Biology Content Area Credit Hours 48

Secondary Education Professional Program Courses

EDU 140 - Exploring Critical Skills for the Professional Educator Credit Hours: 3 §
EDU 140L - Professional Skills Lab Credit Hours: 0 §
EDU 202 - Issues and Trends in Education Credit Hours: 2 §*
EDU 230 - Educational Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (see General Education below) ^*π
EDU 271 - The Diverse Learner Credit Hours: 4 ^*
EDU 336 - Teaching at the Secondary Level Credit Hours: 2 (or minor methods course) §*
EDU 343 - Teaching Science at the Secondary Level Credit Hours: 3 §*
EDU 360 - Integrating Technology in Teaching Credit Hours: 2 ^*
EDU 425 - Reading Development in Middle and Secondary Content Areas Credit Hours: 3 ^*
EDU 429 - Effective Classroom Management, Assessment, and Instruction Credit Hours: 3 ‡*
EDU 430S - Seminar in Teaching-Secondary Credit Hours: 3 §*
EDU 450S - Directed Teaching - Secondary Credit Hours: 3-9 ^*

Secondary Education Professional Program Credit Hours 36

General Education

Community of Learners Core Courses

COR 100 - Life In Community Credit Hours: 2 +
COR 200 - Christ, Culture, and Diversity Credit Hours: 2 +
COR 374 - Preparing for Cross Cultural Studies Credit Hours: 1 +
COR 375 - Cross Cultural Studies Credit Hours: 3 +
COR 300 - Christian Faith and Community Credit Hours: 2
COR 400 - Christian Life and Vocation Credit Hours: 2

Biblical Studies Courses

BIB 217 - Survey of the Old Testament Credit Hours: 3 +
BIB 218 - Survey of the New Testament Credit Hours: 3 +

Liberal Arts Skills Courses

ENG 104 - College Writing Credit Hours: 3 §*
ENG 304 - Writing and Research Credit Hours: 3 §*#
HPR 101 - Personal Fitness and Wellness Credit Hours: 2
Speech See General Education Section for approved courses Credit Hours: 2 ^#

Liberal Arts Pathways Courses

Art Pathway - See General Education Requirements - Main Campus 2 Credit Hours
History Pathway - See General Education Requirements - Main Campus 3 Credit Hours
Literature Pathway - See General Education Requirements - Main Campus 3 Credit Hours
Mathematics Pathway - MAT 351 - Statistics (see Required Support courses)
Music Pathway - See General Education Requirements - Main Campus 2 Credit Hours
Philosophy Pathway - See General Education Requirements - Main Campus 3 Credit Hours
Science with Lab Pathway - BIO 111 - Introductory Biology I (see Major Subject Area courses)
Social Science Pathway - EDU 230 - Educational Psychology (see Secondary Professional courses)

General Education Credit Hours 41

Choose a certifying minor (See Teacher Education for information) Credit Hours 20

B.A. in Biology Secondary Education Total Credit Hours 145

Symbol Key

‡ Grade of “B” or better required.
§ Grade of “B-” or better required.
^ Grade of “C” or better required.
* This course has a prerequisite.
# Possible alternative course or exam option to fulfill this requirement.
π A major, required support, or professional program course that meets a General Education requirement.
+ Possible waiver with a specified number of transfer credits upon first-time admission.

Strongly Recommended Support Courses

PHY 102 - Conceptual Physics (4) is not required, but it is strongly recommended by the department.

Biology Secondary Education Learning Outcomes

Students in the Bachelor of Arts in biology secondary education major will engage with functions of organisms and their parts, interactions of organisms with their environments, and mechanisms for continued survival. Students will experience hands-on laboratory and/or field work. Students will examine biology from a Christian perspective and demonstrate scientific research abilities. Students will cultivate an appreciation for life and the moral integrity to use knowledge wisely, enabling them to improve quality of life for individuals as well as the quality of the earth’s environment.

Teacher Education and Certification Information

The biology faculty is as concerned with nonacademic qualities as biology concepts. With this concern, the faculty will be monitoring character, attitude and behavioral qualities. This information will have a direct impact on the recommendation of a student for admission to the teacher education program. Students in this program should be aware of schedules for major events like the Medical College Admission Test and the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) if certifying to teach.

Minimum GPA Requirement

Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in the major and minor content areas to be eligible for certification.

Program Oversight

The biology secondary education major is overseen by the Department of Biology in the School of Natural Sciences. Questions about the major should be directed to the school dean. The secondary education professional portion of this degree program is overseen by the School of Education. More information about teacher certification is in the Teacher Education section.