College of Science
Department of Biology
Admission Requirements For This Major
1. New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to this major.Acumulative 2.75 GPA and 60 credits of coursework are required for admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students should contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional admission criteria.
2. Transfer students from other institutions or other USU majors need a cumulative 2.75 GPA to be admitted to the major. They also need 60 credits of coursework to be admitted to the STEP. Students should contact the School of TEAL for information on additional admission criteria.
The Program
A bachelor’s degree in the Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major includes: University Studies, as required by the College of Science; the Composite Teaching Major; and the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students majoring in the Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major will complete courses which provide an in-depth understanding of biological principles. These include ecology, genetics, areas of plant and animal biology, microbiology, and physiology. Additional coursework is designed to develop analytical and applicable skills in such areas as mathematics, chemistry, and physics. In addition to the academic areas of study, the program provides the student with a thorough background in the latest and most effective teaching methods and resources.
The STEP consists of early field experience and coursework in career development and self-assessment, as well as in basic planning and teaching skills. Coursework reviews the historical, social, and philosophical background of American education, while content area reading and writing, computer literacy, instructional media, a survey of issues in special education, and educational psychology are addressed in other coursework. Methods courses specific to the student’s academic area of interest form an integral part of the program, as does the final semester of supervised student teaching in the public schools.
The Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major program is fully accredited by the Utah State Office of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Career Opportunities
Through the bachelor’s degree program in the Composite Teaching—Biological Science Major, students are prepared for public school teaching at the secondary level. Students completing the program are eligible to apply for secondary licensure in the State of Utah. Utah also has reciprocal agreements with many other states.
Students desiring licensure to teach more than biology should consider also completing a teaching minor in an area such as chemistry. Studentsmayalso wish to take extra classes to complete a regular Biology degree. In many instances, this only requires a moderate addition of required coursework. This could enhance a student’s opportunities in nonteaching biology-related fields and postgraduate education. For further information, students should contact Dr. Richard Mueller, Eccles Science Learning Center 245G, (435) 797-2479, or by e-mail to: richard.mueller@usu.edu
Students must complete the General Education Requirements :
- in conjunction with will fulfill the Exploration requirement
- The required Biology coursework will fulfill the BLS requirement
- The required Physics coursework will fulfill the BPS requirement
Students must also complete the University Studies Depth Requirements :
- and will fulfill the Communications Intensive requirement
- will fulfill the Quantitative Intensive requirement
- Complete at least 2 credits in approved 3000-level or above courses from each of the following two categories: Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA) and Social Sciences (DSS). will fulfill the Social Sciences requirement