Biology with Secondary Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Biology)
This program of study allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in biology and also be licensed to teach secondary biology at the end of four years. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experiences and student teaching.
Admission Requirements: Students in this program must seek admission to the teacher licensure program and apply for student teaching. See the education section for admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Planning: Students in this program must take courses as specified to ensure fulfillment of state licensure requirements. In addition to working with a biology advisor, students must see an education advisor in the School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Education for further assistance in degree planning.
Also, course rotations vary, and not every course is available each semester. Course rotations are specified in the Course descriptions in this catalog. Individual advising is important to ensure students meet all major and teaching licensure requirements.
Minimum Grade Requirements: Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their major. A grade of a C or better is required in professional studies courses. Professional studies courses are those associated with teacher preparation. An overall 2.5 GPA is required.
Degree Requirements — Biology with Secondary Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Biology)
This degree requires a total of 121 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Biology majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: BIO 300 Writing for Science, BIO 368 Advanced Research Methods, and one additional WI course. Students should fulfill the third WI course and the GP requirement with a general elective or a Liberal Arts Core course.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Ten (10) credits from science elective courses:
Note: Students must check prerequisites for all science elective courses when determining elective course selections. Some prerequisite courses are not requirements in the biology B.A. program.
BIO 385: Students must be accepted into the biology with secondary teaching licensure program prior to taking this course.
Sample Degree Plan — Biology with Secondary Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Biology)
Please note that this is a sample plan. All students must consult with an advisor in making course selections. This plan will differ for students who wish to pursue the pre-med track, a pre-physical therapy course of study, a minor, licensure, or a certification program.
Year One — Fall
| BIO 151 | General Biology I * | 3 |
| BIO 151L | General Biology I Lab * | 1 |
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| DSC 201 | New Student Seminar * | 1 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - GP course recommended * | 3 |
Year One — Spring
Year Two — Fall
| BIO 260 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 260L | Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| BIO 300 | Writing for Science * | 3 |
| CHM 125 | Life Chemistry * | 3 |
| CHM 125L | Life Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| ED 200SL | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (economics, politics, or sociology) * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
| BIO 262 | Genetics for Majors * | 3 |
| BIO 262L | Genetics for Majors Lab | 1 |
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| PSY 341 | Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities * | 3 |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
| BIO 363 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 368 | Advanced Research Methods * | 3 |
| ED 338 | Secondary Education: Curriculum and Methods | 3 |
| ED 351 | Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 | 3 |
| | | |
| | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) core course: PH 250 or PH 330 * | |
| | OR | |
| | Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course: PH 303 or PH 311 * | |
| | | |
| | One (1) science elective | 3 |
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selection.
Year Three — Spring
| ED 337 | Literacy in the Content Areas | 3 |
| | One (1) science elective | 3 |
| | One (1) science elective with lab | |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Four — Fall
| BIO 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| BIO 410 | Seminar * | 2 |
| ED 366 | Secondary Teaching Methods in Science | 3 |
| PHYS 161 | College Physics I * | 3 |
| PHYS 161L | College Physics I Lab | 1 |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
BIO 400: EXP course
BIO 410: DSINQ course
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selection.
Year Four — Spring
| ED 460S | Student Teaching: Secondary * | 6 |
| ED 452 | Managing the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 3rd WI course if not already completed * | |
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selection.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.