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2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog

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Biological Sciences B.S. – Secondary Teaching Emphasis Initial license in Science (Grades 7-12)

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Susan M. Keenan, Ph.D., School Director

Location: Ross Hall 2480

Telephone: 970.351.2921

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/biology

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) Credits

Program Description:

This program leads to State of Colorado licensure in secondary science. Students receive training in biological sciences content and pedagogy plus a wide range of additional support science content. They should have an interest in teaching and have evidence of working successfully with young people. Undergraduates entering this program should have a strong science and mathematics background in high school or be prepared to do additional remedial work.

Students will meet licensure requirements of the Colorado Department of Education for teaching secondary science (grades 7-12).

Upon completion of this program, students will also be able to continue their education in graduate programs in the biological sciences. Prior to Student Teaching, students must pass the PRAXIS Science Examination.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

  • The State of Colorado has mandated that institutions of higher education assess student outcomes resulting from their college education. The School of Biological Sciences requires that all undergraduate students entering under this Catalog meet the following conditions in addition to meeting the graduation requirements of the University:
  • In the senior year of study all undergraduates will take the Educational Testing Service's nationally standardized exam in Biology.
  • All Biology majors are required to earn a minimum of a 2.0 grade in all BIO prefix courses taken to meet their major requirements. Students receiving a grade of less than 2.0 in BIO courses taken to meet their major requirements must repeat the courses.
  • Students in Secondary Teaching Emphasis must maintain a 2.5 GPA in their major. Prior to Student Teaching, students must pass the PRAXIS Science Examination.

Degree Requirements — 125 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required Specified LAC — 24 credits

LAC area 1.b. — Intermediate Composition

SCI 291Scientific Writing

3

LAC area 2 — Mathematics

STAT 150Introduction to Statistical Analysis

3

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

BIO 110Principles of Biology

4
CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

4
CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I Laboratory

1
CHEM 281Fundamentals of Biochemistry

3
CHEM 281LFundamentals of Biochemistry Laboratory

1
PHYS 220Introductory Physics I

5

Remaining LAC — 18 credits

See “Liberal Arts Core ”.

NOTE: Students need to select courses from LAC areas 7 and 8 that also count for areas 3, 4, or 5.

2. Required Major — 45 credits

Take all of the following courses:

BIO 111Survey of Organismal Biology

4
BIO 112Principles of Biology Applications

1
BIO 210Cell Biology

3
BIO 220Genetics

4
BIO 351Microbiology

4
BIO 360Ecology

4
BIO 465Evolution

3
GEOL 201Physical Geology

4
PHYS 221Introductory Physics II

5
SCED 440Strategies in Teaching Secondary Science

1

Physiology, choose one of the following courses:

BIO 350Human Physiology

4
BIO 354General Plant Physiology

4

Earth Science, choose one of the following courses:

AST 100General Astronomy

4
MET 205General Meteorology

4
OCN 302Geological and Biological Oceanography

4

AST 100 and MET 205: (LAC area 6)

Environmental Studies or Science Electives

Take four credits

Consult faculty advisor to match career goals.

3. Required PTEP — 38 credits

Phase I (5 credits taken concurrently).

EDFE 110 required semester before; see www.unco.edu/teach/check

STEP 161Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching I

2
EDF 366Conceptions of Schooling: Context and Process

3

Phase II (8 credits taken concurrently)

STEP 262Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching II

2
EDSE 360Adaptation, Modification, and Integration of Curriculum for the Secondary Exceptional Learner

3
PSY 349Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers

3

Phase III (11 credits taken concurrently)

EDFE 120 required semester before.

STEP 363Clinical Experience: Secondary

2
EDRD 340Developing Language and Literacy in the Content Areas

3
ET 449Integration of Technologies in Secondary Education Pedagogy

3
SCED 441Methods of Teaching Secondary School Science

3

EDRD 340: maybe taken outside of Phase III

Phase IV (14 credits).

EDFE 130 required semester before.

STEP 464Secondary Student Teaching

1 - 14

  • Candidates must pass the Praxis or Place test prior to Student Teaching.
  • Candidates may not take extra courses with Student Teaching without prior approval from the Program Coordinator and the STE Director.
  • All PTEP Field Experiences and methods courses need to be successfully completed prior to Student Teaching.
  • Student Teaching outside the supervision of UNC Faculty may or may not be approved.
  • Teacher Candidates will not be placed in a school where they were once students or where they have a close relative attending and/or working.