Biology Secondary Education

This POE accurately reflects the requirements for a full Biology degree and also fulfills the requirements of the PA Department of Education for Secondary Certification in Biology.

POE Requirements

Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
BI 105 Biological Diversity & Ecology
3
 
N
 
BI 106 Functions of Cells & Organisms
3
BI 105 & CH 105
N
 
BI 121 Biology I Lab
1
corequisite BI 105
N
QS
BI 122 Biology II Lab
1
BI 105 & BI 121
N
QS
BI 189 Freshmen Seminar
1
 
N
CW
BI 289 Frontiers of Biology
1
BI 189    
CH 105 Organic Chemistry Concepts I
3
 
N
 
CH 106 Organic Chemistry Concepts II
3
CH 105, minimum of C grade
N
 
CH 116 Organic Chemistry Lab I
1
CH 106
N
 
CH 118 Organic Chemistry Lab II
1
CH 116 & corequisite CH 106
N
 
BI 207 Dynamics of Biological Processes
4
BI 106, CH 106 & CH 232
N
 
MA 130
or
BI 305
or
BI 305CW
Calculus I

Biostatistics

Biostatistics
4

4

5
 
N

N

N

QM

QS

QS-CW

PC 200
or
PC 202
General Physics I

Intro. Physics I
3

3
 
N

N
QM


QM
PC 201
or
PC 203
General Physics II

Intro Physics II
3

3
PC 200

PC 202
N

N
QM

QM
PC 202L Intro Physics I Lab
1
coreq. PC 200 or PC 202
N
 
PC 203L Intro Physics II Lab
1
coreq. PC 201 or PC 203
N
 

Upper Level Biology Distribution Requirement


At least one course must be taken from each core group. Of these four courses, two must have an associated laboratory. Three credits of research (BI 489) on the same project may count as a core laboratory course. The core classification will be determined by the research advisor. Special Topics courses at the 300 level or higher can also count towards the Biology distribution requirements, classification will be determined by the Biology advisor or Chair of the Biology Department.
Evolution/Ecology Cell & Molecular Biology Organismal Biological Interactions
Ecology Ecological Genetics Vertebrate Zoology Immunology
Plant Ecology & Systematics Microbiology Invertebrate Zoology Physiology
Conservation Biology BMBI Anatomy Biostatistics
Evolutionary Psychology Developmental Biology Entomology Neurobiology
Comparative Psychology Microscopy Additional offerings at Raystown Field Station Environmental Toxicology
  Molecular Techniques   Reproductive Biology

Required Education Courses

Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
ED 110 Foundations of Education
3
corequisite ED 111
S
 
ED 111* Foundations of Education Field Experience
1
corequisite ED 110
S
 
ED 130 Adolescent Development
3
 
S
 
ED 201 Educational Technology
3
ED 110 & ED 111 and ED 120 & ED 121 or ED 130
S
 
ED 240 Introduction to Students with Exceptionalities
3
ED 110 & ED 111 and ED 120 & ED 121or ED 130
S
 
ED 314 English Language Learners
1
ED 120 or ED 130
S
 
ED 315 English Language Learners Practicum
1
ED 120 or ED 130 & ED 314
S
 
ED 341* Adaptations for Students with Exceptionalities
4
ED 110 & ED 111 & ED 240
S
CW
ED 419 Pre-Student Teaching Practicum
1
Co-Req: ED 420
S
 
ED 420* General Secondary Methods
3
Pre-Req: ED 240
Co-Req: ED 419
S
 
ED 423 Field Trip Practicum
1
     
ED 450** Student Teaching
14
corequisite ED 451
S
 
ED 451** Student Teaching Seminar
1
corequisite ED 450
S
 

*There are field experiences in these courses. Students should take only one of these courses per semester. Allow a two hour block of time for scheduled field experience twice a week.
**ED 450 & ED 451 (Student Teaching and Seminar) may be taken only in the FALL semester of the senior year. Secondary Foreign Language Education majors take ED 450 & ED 451 in the SPRING semester. ED 450 requires students' full-time participation and no other courses may be taken during this semester without the education advisor's approval. Students must have reliable transportation.

NOTE: It is imperative that students work closely with their advisors to met all current certification requirements. All students are required to take six credits of English composition (or equivalent) and literature (or the equivalent) and two college level mathematics courses (or the equivalent) prior ot being admitted to a certification program. See Section I of the Education Department Student Handbook for explanation of all certification requirements.

Students must have an advisor who is a member of the Biology Department faculty and Dr. Kathleen Jones in the Education Department.

Total Biology credits = 55 or 56
Total Education credits = 39
Total credits for certification = 95

Suggested Progression of Coursework

 
Fall Semester
 
Spring Semester
 
Freshman CWS 4 BI 122 1
  IA 1 BI 189 1
  ED 110 & ED 111 or ED 130 4 or 3 CH 106 3
  BI 105 3 CH 116 1
  BI 121 1 ED 130 or ED 110 & ED 111 3 or 4
  CH 105 3 MA 130 4
    16-17   13-14
Sophomore BI 106 3 BI 207 with lab 4
  CH 232 3 ED 341 4
  BI 289 1 English Lit (H) 3
  ED 240 3 Upper level Biology 3 or 4
  ED 314 1 F, I, or H, or CA or IC 3 or 4
  CH 118 1    
  F, I, or H, or CA or IC 3 or 4    
    15-16   16-18
Junior ED 201 3 Upper Biology 3 or 4
  PC 2XX(Physics I) 3 PC 2XX (Physics II) 3
  PC 206 1 PC 207 1
      ED 419 1
  F, I, or H, or CA or IC 3 or 4 ED 420 3
  F, I, or H, or CA or IC 3 or 4 ED 423 3
      F, I, or H, or CA or IC 3 or 4
    13-15   17-18
Senior ED 450 14 BI 339 3
  ED 451 1 Upper Biology 3 or 4
  ED 315 1 Upper Biology 3 or 4
      F, I, or H, or CA or IC 3 or 4
      F, I, or H, or CA or IC 3 or 4
    16   15-18

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