Composite Teaching Biological Sciences, BS
Students in the Composite Secondary Education- Biological Science Major will complete courses which provide an in-depth understanding of biological principles. Additional coursework is designed to develop analytical and applicable skills in such areas as mathematics, chemistry, and physics. In addition to the academic areas of study, the program provides the student with a thorough background in the latest and most effective teaching methods and resources. The Composite Secondary Education- Biological Science program is fully accredited by the Utah State Office of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Availability
Admissions
In order to be admitted to the Secondary Education program, students must:
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Submit ACT score to advisor
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Complete Speech and Hearing test
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Complete writing exam
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Complete CIL exam
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Submit transcripts of all college credit
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Obtain Background Check
Requirements
To graduate, a candidate for the Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major must accumulate an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a grade of C- or better in BIOL 1610 and 1620. The Pass-Fail option is not acceptable for any course required for the degree, but D grades are permitted within the restrictions of the 2.75 GPA. A 2.25 GPA requirement applies to the courses required for the Biology and BioMath minors. Students who may wish to teach Integrated Science at the middle or junior high school level should talk to their advisor about completing the courses necessary for an Integrated Science endorsement. Beginning in 2006, all USU teacher education candidates will be required to take and pass the content exam approved by the Utah State Office of Education in their major content area prior to student teaching. They must also take an exam (which they are not required to pass) in any minor or endorsement subject areas prior to student teaching.
Contact Us
For specific questions regarding this program including admissions, courses, and requirements contact:
A bachelor’s degree in the Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major includes: University Studies, as required by the College of Science; the Composite Teaching Major; and the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students majoring in the Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major will complete courses which provide an in-depth understanding of biological principles. These include ecology, genetics, areas of plant and animal biology, microbiology, and physiology. Additional coursework is designed to develop analytical and applicable skills in such areas as mathematics, chemistry, and physics. In addition to the academic areas of study, the program provides the student with a thorough background in the latest and most effective teaching methods and resources.
The STEP consists of early field experience and coursework in career development and self-assessment, as well as in basic planning and teaching skills. Coursework reviews the historical, social, and philosophical background of American education, while content area reading and writing, computer literacy, instructional media, a survey of issues in special education, and educational psychology are addressed in other coursework. Methods courses specific to the student’s academic area of interest form an integral part of the program, as does the final semester of supervised student teaching in the public schools.
The Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major program is fully accredited by the Utah State Office of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Courses:
In addition to fulfilling General Education requirements, students should work with an advisor to select from the following courses:
- BIOL 1610 Biology I
- BIOL 1620 Biology II
- BIOL 2220 General Ecology
- BIOL 2420 Human Physiology
- BIOL 3060/3065 Principles of Genetics and Lab
- BIOL 3220 Field Ecology
- BIOL 3300 General Microbiology
- BIOL 5250 Evolutionary Biology
- SCI 4300 Science in Society
- GEO 1110 The Dynamic Earth: Physical Geology
- CHEM 1110/1115 General Chemistry I and Lab
- CHEM 1120 General Chemistry II
- PHYS 2110/2120 The Physics of Living Systems I AND II OR
- PHYS 2210/2220 General Physics—Science and Engineering I AND II
- MATH 1210 Calculus I
- STAT 3000 Statistics for Scientists
- BIOL 4400 Plant Physiology
- BIOL 5300 Microbial Physiology
- BIOL 5600/5610 Comparative Animal Physiology and Lab
- BIOL 5620/5610 Medical Physiology and Animal Physiology Lab
Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP)
- INST 3500 Technology Tools for Secondary Teachers
- SCED 3100 Motivation and Classroom Management
- SCED 3210 Educational and Multicultural Foundations
- SCED 3300 Clinical Experience I
- SCED 3400 Teaching Science I
Level 2
- SPED 4000 Education of Exceptional Individuals
- SCED 4200 Reading, Writing, and Technology
- SCED 4210 Cognition and Evaluation of Student Learning
- SCED 4300 Clinical Experience II
- SCED 4400 Teaching Science II
- SCED 5500 Student Teaching Seminar
- SCED 5630 Student Teaching in Secondary Schools
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