Biology (BSEd)

Secondary education candidates fulfill requirements in general education and take the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) exam in their freshman year; they begin professional education coursework in their junior year. 7-12 education candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.70 and a 2.70 GPA in the major. For more information regarding admission requirements and certification policies, see Teacher Education  in this catalog.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Biology students demonstrate the ability to design, understand and discuss scientific data. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Biology students can effectively communicate scientific results orally and in writing using methods related to science. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Biology students can identify appropriate scientific sources and analyze and interpret data. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
• Biology students will demonstrate the ability to work as a team while completing research/project related endeavors. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)
• Biology students will demonstrate the ability to design and conduct scientific research. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem solving)
• Biology students will establish skills in core disciplines of biology, including the cellular basis of life sciences and taxonomy of plants and animals.

• Teacher candidates will understand how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and design and implement developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Teacher candidates will use understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity)
• Teacher candidates will work with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)
• Teacher candidates will understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) they teach and create learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Teacher candidates will understand how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Teacher candidates will understand and use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
• Teacher candidates will plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross- disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context. (Cross-curricular Skill: Integrative Learning)
• Teacher candidates will understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Teacher candidates will engage in ongoing professional learning and use evidence to continually evaluate their practice, particularly the effects of their choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapt practice to meet the needs of each learner. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
• Teacher candidates will seek appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession. (Cross-curricular Skill: Civic Knowledge and Engagement & Teamwork)