Nov 04, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biological Sciences Education (BA)


Program Educational Goals:


Program description: Designed for students to meet the DE state mandated certification requirements for secondary education. 

  • Goal 1: Demonstrate knowledge of major Biology core concepts.
  • Goal 2: Understand and apply the process of science, including experimental design, data analysis and interpretation.
  • Goal 3: Use critical thinking and quantitative reasoning for analysis and evaluation.
  • Goal 4: Demonstrate written and oral skills for communicating scientific ideas.
  • Goal 5: Gain skills to work independently and collaboratively.
  • Goal 6: Program-specific: Develop a broad understanding of the Biological sciences and pedagogy and apply that in the classroom.

University Requirements:


College Requirements:


College Breadth Requirements:


The College Breadth requirements are in addition to the University Breadth requirement. Up to three credits from each of the University Breadth Requirement categories may be used to simultaneously satisfy these College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements. Minimum grade C- required for courses used to satisfy College Breadth.

*If the grade earned is sufficient, a course may be applied toward more than one requirement (e.g., breadth and major requirements), but the credits are counted only once toward the total credits for graduation. If all but one course in a group has been taken in one department or program, a course cross-listed with that program will not satisfy the distribution requirement.

Foreign Language:


  • Completion of the intermediate-level course (107 or 202) in an ancient or modern language with minimum grades of D-.
    • The number of credits (0-12) needed and initial placement will depend on the number of years of high school study of foreign language.
      • Students with four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language, or who have gained proficiency in a foreign language by other means, may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination  through the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department.

Mathematics:


The math requirement must be completed by the time a student has earned 60 credits. Students who transfer into the College of Arts and Sciences with 45 credits or more must complete this requirement within two semesters.

Complete one of the following four options (minimum grade D-):

Option One:


Option Two:


One of the following:

Option Three:


Successful completion of any 200-level or higher mathematics course except: MATH 201 , MATH 202 , MATH 205 , MATH 251 , MATH 252 , MATH 253 , and MATH 266 .

Option Four:


  • Successful performance on a proficiency test in mathematics administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences (0 credits awarded).

Second Writing Requirement:


A Second Writing Requirement  approved by the College of Arts and Sciences. This course must be taken after completion of 60 credit hours, completed with a minimum grade of C-, and the section enrolled must be designated as satisfying the requirement in the academic term completed.

Major Requirements:


Students planning to major in biology with the purpose of teaching science in secondary schools must identify themselves and plan their programs with the faculty advisor for secondary education as early in their academic careers as possible. The following course of study is designed to prepare students for teacher certification.

Minimum grade C- required in all BISC courses for a total of at least 33 credits in Biological Sciences. Minimum 33 credits, maximum 43 credits in Biological Sciences.

Many opportunities exist for research experience with a faculty member; in addition, an opportunity for teaching experience exists. Up to four credits of research or independent study (BISC 366 , BISC 466 , or BISC 468 ) may be counted toward the 33 credits required for the BA majors in Biological Sciences, the 43 credits required for the BS majors in Biological Sciences, or the 33 credits required for Biological Sciences Education. Some biology-related courses in other departments may be counted toward the major (limit six to nine credits depending on the major).

Biology courses (other than BISC 100 ) at the 100-level may not be counted toward these degrees.

Experimental Biology Laboratory:


Two courses in experimental biology. The corresponding lecture is the prerequisite. THE LECTURE AND THE LAB CANNOT BE TAKEN SIMULTANEOUSLY

Literature-Based Biology:


Biology Electives:


Biology electives at the 300-level or above to total 33 credit hours in Biological Sciences. BISC 100 , BISC 207 , and BISC 208  count towards the total of 33 credits. Six of the 33 credits may come from a list of approved courses from other academic units .

Related Coursework:


Note:


To be eligible to student teach, Biological Sciences Education students must have a GPA of 2.75 in their biology major and an overall GPA of 2.5. They must also pass a teacher competency test as established by the University Council on Teacher Education. Students must consult the teacher education program coordinator  to obtain the student teaching application and other information concerning student teaching policies.

Electives:


After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.

Credits to Total a Minimum of 124


Last Revised 2022-2023 Academic Year