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

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 3010Evolution3
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

English3-7
Mathematics3-5
American Institutions3-6
Life Sciences3-10
Physical Sciences3-5
Fine Arts3
Literature/Humanities3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
Exploration 3-5

Secondary Education Pre-program Requirements

HIST 1700American History (AI)3
or POLS 1100 American Government (AI)
FSHD 1500Human Development Lifespan (SS, GC)3
or PSY 1010 General Psychology (SS, GC)
or PSY 1100 Human Development Through Lifespan (SS, GC)
EDUC 1010Foundations/Intro to Education3
EDUC 2010Intro to Exceptional Learners3
EDUC 2400Foundations Multicultural/ESL (SS, GC, ALCI)3
EDUC 2500Instructional Technology in K-12 Classrooms (Must be taken within the last 5 years)3
EDUC 3110Educational Psychology3
EDUC 2700Graduation Planning, Program Application & Career Prep0

Biology Core Requirements 

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 1050College 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 3010Evolution3
BIOL 3030Principles of Genetics4
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 2600Lab Safety for Teachers1
SCI 4750Science and Engineering Pedagogical Knowledge3
SCI 4700Secondary Science Teaching Methods3

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

Semester I
SCI 4700Secondary Science Teaching Methods3
SCED 3720Reading Writing Content Areas (ALPP)2
SCED 4100Curriculum and Instruction3
SCED 4200Secondary Assessment2
SCED 4600Classroom Management (ALPP)3
SCED 4300Practicum Seminar3
Semester II
SCED 4900Secondary Student Teaching10
SCED 4989Student Teaching Capstone3

Graduation Requirements

  1. Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
  2. Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
  3. Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
  4. Cumulative university GPA 3.0 or higher.
  5. Grade C or higher (not C-) in each Biology Program Requirement, Core Discipline Requirement, and Biology Elective course.
  6. 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"
  7. 3.0 GPA in program prerequisite and professional courses.