Biology - Biology Education Emphasis, BS
Program Description
The B.S. Biology Secondary Education emphasis is designed for students seeking a career in secondary education. Successful completion of this degree, the secondary education (SET) program and the required PRAXIS exam, allows students to obtain the Biological Sciences Endorsement and certifies the student to teach high school biology courses.
Professional Licensure/Certification (PLC) Requirements
The curriculum for programs at Utah Tech University leading to professional licensure are designed to prepare students for Utah licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions requiring licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University, and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.
Licensure boards in each state establish requirements for licensure and certification for their respective state. States vary by which professions are required to be licensed and how licensure functions, and such requirements may change at any time. The terms related to licensure and certification, among others, also vary by state as well.
Students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the state licensure entity in the state where they intend to work to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by the student’s state(s) of choice. The University cannot provide verification of a student’s ability to meet licensure or certification requirements unrelated to its educational programming. Some states require individuals to complete additional requirements that are unrelated to educational prerequisites. For more information, visit the State Authorization and Professional Licensure web page and select the program, or speak to the director of the program.
Utah Tech University shall not be held liable if a student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction.
This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).
Admission Requirements
1. Completion of the following courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1610 & BIOL 1615 | Principles of Biology I (LS) and Principles of Biology I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| BIOL 1620 & BIOL 1625 | Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology II Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 1210 & CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I (PS) and Principles of Chemistry I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| CHEM 1220 & CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 3010 | Evolution | 3 |
| or BIOL 3030 | Principles of Genetics | |
2. An overall GPA of 2.7 or higher
3. Complete Application (includes Personal Statement)
Incoming freshman and current students who don't meet admission requirements but are interested in pursuing biology will be matriculated as Pre-Biology Majors.
Student may apply for admission when course and GPA requirements are complete or during the semester they will finish said course requirements. Students applying during the semester they are finishing course requirements can receive tentative admission. Full admission will be granted pending the students meets course and GPA requirements at the conclusion of the semester.
Prospective Biology Majors who meet the requirements must schedule an appointment with the biology advisor and bring completed application form. Once the application is verified, the student will be matriculated under the desired B.S Biology Emphasis.
Students who don't meet the application requirements may go through an appeal process. The Biology Department Chair, Biology Advisor and select Biology Faculty will hear all admission appeals.
All upper-division biology courses except BIOL 3010, BIOL 3030, BIOL 3040/45 and BIOL 3000R, will be closed to students except those matriculated in a B.S Biology Emphasis, Biology Minor, or Integrated Studies with a Biology Emphasis.*
* Except for Upper-division biology courses used in the Allied Health degrees and B.S Chemistry.
Program Curriculum
120 credits
Utah Tech General Education Requirements
All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
General Education Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
Secondary Education Pre-program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 1700 | American History (AI) | 3 |
| or POLS 1100 | American Government (AI) | |
| FSHD 1500 | Human Development Lifespan (SS, GC) | 3 |
| or PSY 1010 | General Psychology (SS, GC) | |
| or PSY 1100 | Human Development Through Lifespan (SS, GC) | |
| EDUC 1010 | Foundations/Intro to Education | 3 |
| EDUC 2010 | Intro to Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 2400 | Foundations Multicultural/ESL (SS, GC, ALCI) | 3 |
| EDUC 2500 | Instructional Technology in K-12 Classrooms (Must be taken within the last 5 years) | 3 |
| EDUC 3110 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 2700 | Graduation Planning, Program Application & Career Prep | 0 |
Biology Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Program Requirements | ||
| CHEM 1210 & CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I (PS) and Principles of Chemistry I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| CHEM 1220 & CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
| MATH 1050 | College Algebra / Pre-Calculus (MA) | 4 |
| Core Discipline Requirements | ||
| BIOL 1610 & BIOL 1615 | Principles of Biology I (LS) and Principles of Biology I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| BIOL 1620 & BIOL 1625 | Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology II Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 2320 & BIOL 2325 | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab | 4-5 |
| or BIOL 3140 & BIOL 3145 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lab | |
| BIOL 2420 & BIOL 2425 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | 4 |
| or BIOL 4500 & BIOL 4505 | Comparative Vertebrate Physiology and Comparative Vertebrate Physiology Lab | |
| BIOL 3010 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 3030 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 3040 & BIOL 3045 | General Ecology and General Ecology Lab | 4 |
| Complete one (1) of the following sets of courses: | 4 | |
| Principles of Microbiology and Principles of Microbiology Lab | ||
| General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | ||
| Eukaryotic Cell Biology and Eukaryotic Cell Biology Lab | ||
| Required Biology Elective | ||
| BIOL 2400 & BIOL 2405 | Plant Kingdom (LS, ALPP) and Plant Kingdom Lab (LAB, ALPP) | 4 |
| Complete one (1) of the following sets of Zoology courses: | 4 | |
| Invertebrate Zoology and Invertebrate Zoology Lab | ||
| Herpetology and Herpetology Lab | ||
| Ichthyology and Ichthyology Lab | ||
| Animal Behavior and Animal Behavior Lab | ||
| Ornithology and Ornithology Lab | ||
| Mammalogy and Mammalogy Lab | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Lab Safety Certification Requirement | ||
| SCI 2600 | Lab Safety for Teachers | 1 |
| SCI 4750 | Science and Engineering Pedagogical Knowledge | 3 |
| SCI 4700 | Secondary Science Teaching Methods | 3 |
Secondary Education Program Requirements
To be admitted to the Secondary Education Program and enroll in professional courses:
- USBE R277-504-3 A(3) “requires candidates to maintain a cumulative university GPA of 3.0, and receive a C or better in all education related courses and major required content courses"
and students must pass the appropriate PRAXIS II content area subject test(s). In addition, one of the following must be completed:
- Students with BA/BS degrees in progress must have completed at least 95% of major coursework and have approval of major academic content area department advisor
- Students with completed BA/BS or higher degrees must have their transcripts reviewed by content area department advisor
Secondary Education Program Professional Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | ||
| SCI 4700 | Secondary Science Teaching Methods | 3 |
| SCED 3720 | Reading Writing Content Areas (ALPP) | 2 |
| SCED 4100 | Curriculum and Instruction | 3 |
| SCED 4200 | Secondary Assessment | 2 |
| SCED 4600 | Classroom Management (ALPP) | 3 |
| SCED 4300 | Practicum Seminar | 3 |
| Semester II | ||
| SCED 4900 | Secondary Student Teaching | 10 |
| SCED 4989 | Student Teaching Capstone | 3 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Cumulative university GPA 3.0 or higher.
- Grade C or higher (not C-) in each Biology Program Requirement, Core Discipline Requirement, and Biology Elective course.
- USBE R277-504-3 A(3) “requires candidates to maintain a cumulative university GPA of 3.0, and receive a C or better in all education related courses and major required content courses"
- 3.0 GPA in program prerequisite and professional courses.