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. 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 all Education courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Education courses. An overall 2.5 GPA is required. A minimum grade of C- is required in any course within the major courses (biology, chemistry, and physics) that serve as a prerequisite for a higher-numbered course. This requirement may apply to other courses as indicated in the course catalog. Courses in which the minimum grade is not achieved may not be repeated more than once without the permission of the School of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering director.
Degree Requirements - Biology with Secondary Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Biology)
This degree requires a total of 121 credits.
Liberal Arts Core Requirements
See the Liberal Arts Core for details.
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 an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia. BIO 123 and BIO 223SL are strongly recommended for the first and second years, respectively.
| BIO 151 | General Biology I * | 3 |
| BIO 151L | General Biology I Lab * | 1 |
| BIO 152 | General Biology II * | 3 |
| BIO 152L | General Biology II Lab * | 1 |
| BIO 260 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 260L | Microbiology Lab * | 1 |
| BIO 262 | Genetics for Majors * | 3 |
| BIO 262L | Genetics for Majors Lab | 1 |
| BIO 300 | Writing for Science * | 3 |
| BIO 363 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 368 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| BIO 423 | Pathways in STEM - 4th Year Seminar | 3 |
| CHM 125 | Life Chemistry * | 3 |
| CHM 125L | Life Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| ED 200SL | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| ED 309 | Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| ED 337 | Literacy in the Content Areas | 3 |
| ED 338 | Secondary Education: Curriculum and Methods | 3 |
| ED 351 | Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 | 3 |
| ED 366 | Secondary Teaching Methods in Science | 3 |
| ED 461 | Classroom Management in the PK-12 Classroom | 3 |
| ED 460S | Student Teaching: Secondary | 6 |
| MA 132 | Statistical Analysis * | 3 |
| | |
| PH 250 | Science, Technology and Society * | 3 |
| OR | |
| PH 303 | Animals, the Environment, and Ethics * | 3 |
| OR | |
| PH 311 | Biomedical Ethics * | 3 |
| OR | |
| PH 230 | Mind, Brains, and Machines * | 3 |
| | |
| PHYS 161 | College Physics I * | 3 |
| PHYS 161L | College Physics I Lab * | 1 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
ED 461 and ED 460S must be taken at the same time.
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.
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
Year One - Spring
| BIO 152 | General Biology II * | 3 |
| BIO 152L | General Biology II Lab * | 1 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| | Philosophy (PH) core course * | |
| HI | History (HI) core course * | 3 |
EN 102: Composition core course
TRS 100: TRS core course
Year Two - Fall
Year Two — Spring
| BIO 262 | Genetics for Majors * | 3 |
| BIO 262L | Genetics for Majors Lab | 1 |
| ED 351 | Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 | 3 |
| PHYS 161 | College Physics I * | 3 |
| PHYS 161L | College Physics I Lab * | 1 |
| EN | Literature (LT) core course * | 3 |
Year Three - Fall
| BIO 323 | Biology Third-Year Seminar | |
| BIO 363 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 368 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| ED 309 | Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| ED 338 | Secondary Education: Curriculum and Methods | 3 |
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selection.
Year Three - Spring
| ED 337 | Literacy in the Content Areas | 3 |
| | Two (2) science electives | |
| | Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course * | |
| | Depth in Humanities core course | 3 |
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Four - Fall
| BIO 423 | Pathways in STEM - 4th Year Seminar | 3 |
| ED 366 | Secondary Teaching Methods in Science | 3 |
| | One (1) science elective | 3 |
| | |
| PH 230 | Mind, Brains, and Machines * | 3 |
| OR | |
| PH 250 | Science, Technology and Society * | 3 |
| OR | |
| PH 303 | Animals, the Environment, and Ethics * | 3 |
| OR | |
| PH 311 | Biomedical Ethics * | 3 |
PH 230, 250, 303, 311: DSCI core course
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selection.
Year Four - Spring
| ED 460S | Student Teaching: Secondary | 6 |
| ED 461 | Classroom Management in the PK-12 Classroom | 3 |
| | One (1) science elective with lab | |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selection.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.