Jul 15, 2024

2024-2025 General Catalog

Biological Science: Composite Teaching - BA, BS

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College of Science

Department of Biology

About This Degree

Biology educators teach how living things work, how they interact with one another, and how they evolve. The field develops constantly, and it is important for biological science teachers to stay current. The department helps students do this by incorporating recent research results into the classroom, providing research opportunities, and inviting them to participate in research seminars and presentations.

Students will receive a BS by completing all required courses in their major. To receive a BA, students must also gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages. 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 their academic advisor.

For more information, see the Department of Biology website.
Admitted and current students must meet with advisor.
For further information, students should contact Mary McFadden by e-mail to mary.mcfadden @usu.edu.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
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) .

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken through USU: 30
Total major required credits taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshman admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to this major. A cumulative 3.0 GPA is required for admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program. Students should contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional STEP admission criteria.
Transfer students from other institutions or other USU majors need a cumulative 3.0 GPA to be admitted into the major. They also need 30 credits of coursework to be admitted to the STEP. Students should contact acadmic advisor or the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional admission criteria.
All USU Teacher Education candidates will be required to complete the PRAXIS Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) Assessment of Teacher Performance.

Additional Information

Students must maintain a 2.25 overall GPA and a grade of C or better in all BIOL prefix and STEP program courses.
The pass/fail option is not acceptable for any course required for the degree, except where a course is only graded pass/fail.
All USU Teacher Education candidates will be required to complete the PRAXIS Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) Assessment of Teacher Performance.

Major Requirements

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:

SCED 3210 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 Breadth Life Sciences (BLS) requirement.
The required chemistry coursework will fulfill the Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS) requirement.

Required Biology Core Courses (32 credits)

BIOL 1610 - Biology I 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1615 - Biology I Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1625 - Biology II Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 2220 - General Ecology 3 credit(s)
BIOL 3020 - Evolutionary Biology 3 credit(s)
BIOL 3060 - Principles of Genetics (QI) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 3090 - Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology 3 credit(s)
Choose one of the following:
BIOL 2320 - Human Anatomy 4 credit(s) or
BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology 4 credit(s)
Choose one of the following:
BIOL 3300 - General Microbiology 4 credit(s) or
BIOL 5210 - Cell Biology 3 credit(s)

Required Science Core Courses (22-23 credits)

Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) Required Courses (38 credits)

To begin the admission process to the STEP, students should see their advisor at least two semesters before they begin Level I coursework. STEP admission deadlines are March 1 for fall and October 1 for spring. For more information about secondary education requirements, visit the Secondary Education website.

For advising, please contact the Biological Science Composite Teaching Advisor or an Education and Leadership (TEAL) Secondary Education Advisor: advising.usu.edu

ITLS 5500 - Integration and Innovation of Technology in Education 3 credit(s)
SCED 3210 - Educational and Multicultural Foundations (CI/DSS) 3 credit(s)
SCED 3300 - Clinical Experience I 1 credit(s)
SCED 4300 - Clinical Experience II 1 credit(s)
SCED 5100 - Motivation and Classroom Management 3 credit(s)
SCED 5200 - Language, Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (CI) 3 credit(s)
SCED 5210 - Learning Theory, Curriculum, and Assessment 3 credit(s)
SCED 5820 - Science Education Teaching and Dispositions Knowledge 3 credit(s)
SCED 5821 - Three-Dimensional Science and Engineering Pedagogical Knowledge 3 credit(s)
SPED 4000 - Education of Students with Disabilities 3 credit(s)
SCED 5500 - Student Teaching Seminar 2 credit(s)
SCED 5630 - Student Teaching in Secondary Schools 10 credit(s)
Note: ITLS 5500 and SCED 3210 may be taken prior to STEP Admission.

Additional Teaching Content Areas

Each additional composite teaching area will earn a level 1 licensure endorsement in that content area except computer science, which will earn a Computer Science teaching minor and certificates in Intro to Computer Science, Programming and Software Development and Web Development.

Biology ONLY (No additional credits required)

Chemistry Content Area

CHEM 1215 - Chemical Principles Laboratory I 1 credit(s)
CHEM 2300 - Principles of Organic Chemistry 3 credit(s)

Physics Content Area

MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2215 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab I 1 credit(s)
PHYS 2220 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2710 - Introductory Modern Physics 3 credit(s)

Earth Science Content Area

GEO 2200 - The Earth Through Time 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4020 - Foundations of Environmental Thought (DHA/CI) 3 credit(s)
PHYS 1040 - Introductory Astronomy (BPS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 2000 - The Atmosphere and Weather (BPS) 3 credit(s)
WILD 2200 - Ecology of Our Changing World (BLS) 3 credit(s) or
BIOL 2220 - General Ecology 3 credit(s)

Computer Science Content Area

CS 1400 - Introduction to Computer Science–CS 1 4 credit(s)
CS 1410 - Introduction to Computer Science–CS 2 (QI) 3 credit(s)
CS 2410 - Introduction to Event Driven Programming and GUI’s 3 credit(s)
CS 2420 - Algorithms and Data Structures–CS 3 (QI) 3 credit(s)
CS 2610 - Developing Dynamic, Database-Driven, Web Applications 3 credit(s)
CS 4350 - Computer Science Teaching Methods 3 credit(s)

Licensure Notification

This program typically leads to licensure and was designed to meet licensing qualifications in the state of Utah. If students wish to work in another state within the United States, they should review the qualifications for that state and the Education Licensure Compliance Table provided by School of Teacher Education and Leadership.

For more information, please contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at https://cehs.usu.edu/teal/

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 121

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Biological Science: Composite Teaching BA, BS - 4 Year Degree Map