Mar 29, 2024  
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology Major with Adolescence Education


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Director: William L. Hallahan, Ph.D.

The biology department believes that students planning to teach high school biology should have the same academic training as students preparing to become professional biologists. Therefore, the student in the biology adolescence education program has the same science curriculum as the biology major, except that student teaching replaces a general elective. To complete the college requirement for a senior experience and comprehensive examination, students in this program attend the Capstone Seminar I in their Junior year and Capstone III seminar in the spring semester of their Senior year and pass the comprehensive examination in biology.

Biology Core - Adolescence Education


The Biology core provides the foundation for this program.  Students take the courses listed below, as well as four additional biology electives.  The capstone experience prepares the students for their exit examination and subsequent career plans.

Elective Courses for Biology Majors with Adolescence Teaching Certification


Biology majors select one (1) course from each of the following lists of courses (Cellular, Organismal, Ecology/Evolution – each with a lab) for a total of 3 courses (12 credits).  The fourth elective may be chosen from any on the list.  Note: Each course chosen will only satisfy ONE requirement. 

Note: All courses must be taken with the laboratory whenever a laboratory is offered.

Additional Requirements for Biology Majors with Adolescence Education


In addition to the Biology courses, students in the Adolescence Education Certification major are required to take the 31-32 credit hours listed below.

Adolescence Education Requirements


See Education: Initial Teacher Certification in Adolescence Education  for course requirements.

Capstone Experience


Students in the Adolescence certification program begin their Capstone Experience with the Capstone Seminar (BIO 350) and the Curriculum Methodology course (BIO 457) in the spring semester of the junior year followed by Student Teaching (BIO 479) in the fall of their senior year.  In the spring semester, biology secondary education students will participate in the Capstone Semester #1 (BIO 350 for 1 credit) in the spring of the junior year, and the Capstone Semester #3 (BIO 451) in the spring of the senior year that also includes the Biology Comprehensive Examination (BIO 499). During this time, they develop a proposal for a special project under the guidance of their advisors in biology and in education. In the spring semester, the students deliver an oral presentation to their peers in the Senior Seminar as well as submit an extensive research paper for evaluation.  The Biology Comprehensive requirement typically is satisfied by the student completing the Major Field Test in Biology.

Sample Program for Biology Major with Adolescence Education


Freshman Year


Sophomore Year


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