Biology: Secondary Education Certification

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Curriculum Sequence
Secondary Education Programs

Students can obtain secondary education certification in biology by completing the secondary education track. Students must also follow Center for Education instructions and requirements. Students may seek certification in more than one field; however, this usually requires more than eight semesters. Students who wish to become certified in more than one area should work closely with their faculty advisor when planning course schedules.

Curriculum Sequence

Changes may occur via the Pennsylvania Department of Education and will be communicated to students through their advisors. Education students must receive a grade of B (3.0) or better in the majority of education classes. Students must have a 2.9 overall GPA and pass PAPA, CORE, or have SAT or ACT scores that are high enough to offer exemption from these assessments to be admitted to teacher candidacy. Please see the Office of Certification for more information on testing. Students must have current criminal record checks, FBI clearances, and child abuse clearances.

Freshman

Fall (14.5 Credits)

BIOL 161 - Biological Concepts I—Principles of Evolution and Ecology 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 165 - Biological Concepts I w/ Lab
CHEM 145 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 147 - General Chemistry Lab I 1 Credit(s)
ENGL 101 - Reading, Thinking and Writing 3 Credit(s)
ED 100 - Introduction to Education 3 Credit(s)
Physical Education Elective 0.5 Credit(s)

Spring (14.5 Credits)

BIOL 162 - Biological Concepts II—Plant and Animal Structure and Function 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 146 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 148 - General Chemistry Lab II 1 Credit(s)
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Credit(s)
ENGL 102 - Literature and Critical Writing (W) 3 Credit(s)
Physical Education Elective 0.5 Credit(s)
Portfolio Requirement – Transition Point I

Sophomore

Fall (16 Credits)

BIOL 261 - Biological Concepts III—Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 257 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 Credit(s)
ED 107 - Introduction to Special Education 3 Credit(s)
MATH 141 - Calculus I 4 Credit(s) *

Spring (17 Credits)

BIOL 262 - Principles of Modern Genetic Analysis 4 Credit(s)
PSY 202 - Educational Psychology (S) 3 Credit(s)
MATH 142 - Calculus II 4 Credit(s) *
HUM Elective 3 Credit(s)
SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)
Apply for teacher candidacy.
Portfolio Requirement – Transition Point II

Junior

Fall (15 Credits)

BIOL 301 - Introductory Ecology 4 Credit(s)
ED 330 - English Language Learners 3 Credit(s)
ENVR 171 - Principles of Environmental Science 3 Credit(s) ^††
ENVR 173 - Investigating Environmental Science 1 Credit(s) ^††
PHYS 141 - College Physics I 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 143 - College Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
Apply for student teaching.

Spring (16-17 Credits)

Advanced Science Elective 3-4 Credit(s) **
ED 421 - Literacy Intervention in the Content Areas for Learners with Disabilities 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 142 - College Physics II 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 144 - College Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
English Literature Elective 3 Credit(s) ***
SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)

Senior

Fall (15-17 Credits)

ED 309 - Methods—Secondary Science 3 Credit(s)
ASC 400 - Values Seminar 3 Credit(s)
HUM Elective 3 Credit(s)
Advanced Science Elective 3-4 Credit(s) **
Advanced Science Elective 3-4 Credit(s) **
Portfolio Requirement – Transition Point III

Spring (15 Credits)

ED 411 - Student Teaching and Seminar 12 Credit(s)
ED 415 - Collaboration and Inclusion (W) 3 Credit(s)
Portfolio Requirement – Transition Point IV

Total Credits: 123-125

^††ENVR 209 may be substituted for ENVR 171 and ENVR 173 .

*Students may substitute MATH 131 –MATH 132 for MATH 141 –MATH 142 .

**One advanced science elective must be from the following organismal courses: BIOL 303 , BIOL 307 , BIOL 308 , BIOL 309 , BIOL 311 , BIOL 325 , BIOL 327 ; one must be from the following cell and molecular courses: BIOL 302 , BIOL 306 , BIOL 310 , BIOL 314 , BIOL 319 , BIOL 320 , BIOL 326 ; and one must be from the following interorganismal courses: BIOL 312 , 315. BIOL 340 /BIOL 342 , BIOL 401 , or BCH 451 .

***Any of these will fulfill the PDE literature requirement:
ENGL 131 , ENGL 132 , ENGL 133 , ENGL 134 , ENGL 135 —literary history surveys.
ENGL 335 –ENGL 363 —upper-level British literature courses.
ENGL 365 -ENGL 376 —upper-level American literature courses.