Biological Science: Composite Teaching - BA, BS

College of Science

Department of Biology

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• For more information about Biology, see the Department of Biology.
• Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
• Admitted students must meet with advisor, for Composite Teaching Biological Science. Current students should also meet with advisor and log on to Degree Works  to check student-specific program progress. 

Minimum University Requirements
Total Credits	120			Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100			Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
Total USU Credits	30			Upper-division USU Credits	20
USU Credits within the Major	10			Credits in Minor (if required)	12
Credits in Major	see below			Credits in American Institutions	3
General Education Requirements	see link			University Studies Depth Requirements	see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL)  and either STAT 2000 - Statistical Methods (QI)  or  STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI) .
The pass/fail option is not acceptable for any course required for the degree, except where a course is only grade pass/fail.

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program
New freshmen	3.0 GPA is required to be admitted to the major and the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students also need 30 credits of coursework to be admitted to the STEP.			Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU	3.0 GPA is required to be admitted to the major and the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students also need 30 credits of coursework to be admitted to the STEP.
Requires a 3.00 GPA. A grade of C or better is required in all BIOL and PUBH prefix courses​.

First Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
BIOL 1610 - Biology I	3	Grade of C or better		BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS)	3	Grade of C or better
BIOL 1615 - Biology I Laboratory	1	Grade of C or better		BIOL 1625 - Biology II Laboratory	1	Grade of C or better
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I (BPS) *	4	See note below		CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II (BPS)	4
University Studies or MATH Prerequisite Courses**	7			CHEM 1125 - General Chemistry II Laboratory	1
				University Studies or MATH Prerequisite Courses**	6-7
Comments *Students who complete the coursework for a Chemistry Teaching Minor will not need to complete the Physiology course with Lab requirement (4-5 credits) but are encouraged to do so to broaden their knowledge. See Advisor for details. **MATH 1210 , STAT 2000  or STAT 3000 ; or a prerequisite for these courses (e.g., MATH 1050 , MATH 1060 , etc.) Contact advisor for details.				Comments **MATH 1210 , STAT 2000  or STAT 3000 ; or a prerequisite for these courses (e.g., MATH 1050 , MATH 1060 , etc.) Contact advisor for details.

Second Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology	4	Grade of C or better		ITLS 5500 - Integration and Innovation of Technology in Education	3	Grade of C or better
BIOL 3060 - Principles of Genetics (QI)  and  BIOL 3065 - Genetics Laboratory (CI)	3 /2	Grade of C or better		BIOL 3300 - General Microbiology	4	Grade of C or better
MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL)	4			GEO 1010 - Introduction to Geology (BPS)	3
University Studies	3			STAT 2000 - Statistical Methods (QI)  or  STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI)	4  or 3
				University Studies	2-3
Comments				Comments Apply to STEP Program

Third Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
BIOL 2220 - General Ecology  and  BIOL 3085 - Ecology Laboratory (CI)	3 /	Grade of C or better		BIOL 3090 - Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology	3	Grade of C or better
PHYS 2110 - General Physics - Life Sciences I	4 /2			PHYS 2120 - General Physics - Life Sciences II (BPS)	4
SCED 3300 - Clinical Experience I	1	Grade of C or better		SCED 5100 - Motivation and Classroom Management	3	Grade of C or better
SCED 5820 - Science Education Teaching and Dispositions Knowledge	3	Grade of C or better		SCED 3210 - Educational and Multicultural Foundations (CI/DSS)	3	Grade of C or better
Upper-Division Physiology Elective Course with Lab	4-5	Grade of C or better		SCED 4300 - Clinical Experience II	1	Grade of C or better
				SCED 5821 - Three-Dimensional Science and Engineering Pedagogical Knowledge	3	Grade of C or better
Comments				Comments

Fourth Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
BIOL 3020 - Evolutionary Biology	3	Grade of C or better		SCED 5500 - Student Teaching Seminar	2	Grade of C or better
SCED 5200 - Language, Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (CI)	3	Grade of C or better		SCED 5630 - Student Teaching in Secondary Schools	10	Grade of C or better
SCED 5210 - Learning Theory, Curriculum, and Assessment	3	Grade of C or better
SPED 4000 - Education of Students with Disabilities	3	Grade of C or better
University Studies	3-4
Comments				Comments

 

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Admission Requirements for this Major

A cumulative 3.0 GPA is required for admission to the major and the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students also need 30 credits of coursework to be admitted to STEP. Students should contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional STEP admission criteria.

The Program

A bachelor’s degree in the Biological Science—Composite Teaching major includes: University Studies and coursework, as required by the College of Science; the Composite Teaching major; and the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students majoring in the Biological Science—Composite Teaching major will complete courses which provide an in-depth understanding of biological principles.

The Biological Science—Composite Teaching program is fully accredited by the Utah State Office of Education.

Students desiring licensure to teach more than biology should consider completing a teaching minor in an area such as chemistry. For further information, students should contact Dani Lawrence at (435) 797-2652, or by e-mail to dani.lawrence@usu.edu.

Students must complete all University Studies (General Education Requirements  and University Studies Depth Requirements ) requirements. Required coursework in mathematics, chemistry and physics will meet the Integrated Studies requirement:

• BIOL 3065  and SCED 5200  will fulfill the Communications Intensive (CI)  requirement.
• STAT 2000  or STAT 3000  will fulfill the Quantitative Intensive (QI)  requirement.
• SCED 3210  will fulfill the Depth Social Sciences (DSS)  requirement.
• The required biology coursework will fulfill the BLS requirement.
• The required chemistry coursework willfull the BPS requirement.

 

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Biological Science-Composite Teaching Major

The pass/fail option is not acceptable for any course required for the degree, except where a course is only graded pass/fail. Students must maintain a 3.0 overall GPA and a grade of C or better in all BIOL prefix and STEP program courses.

All USU Teacher Education candidates will be required to complete the PRAXIS Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) Assessment of Teacher Performance.