Secondary Education Biology (BS)

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements
Select General Education Requirements45-46
Major Requirements
Professional Studies Core
A. Complete the following:
EDM 310Microcomputing Systems3
EDU 400Edu Except Child and Youth3
EPY 351Human Growth & Development3
EDU 340Fundamentals of Teaching - W3
EDU 341Middle Level Education - W3
EDU 342Secondary Field Experience3
EDU 363Tchg Adptve Cur Thru Beh/Clsrm3
EDU 451Content Area Literacy3
EDU 456Teaching Science3
EDU 468Internship - Science9
Teaching Field Core
Includes 12 hours from General Education Area III
A. Complete the following:
ST 210Stat Reason and Application3
or MA 125 Calculus I
GEO 101
& 101L		Environmental Geography
and Environmental Geography Lab		4
PH 101
& 101L		Introduction to Astronomy
and Introduction to Astronomy Lab		4
CH 131
& 131L		General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab		4
CH 132
& 132L		General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab		4
CH 201
& 201L		Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab		4
PH 114
& 114L		Physics with Algebra-Trig I
and Alg-Trig Based Physics I Lab		4-5
or PH 201
& 201L		 Calculus-Based Physics I
and Calculus-Based Physics I Lab
PH 115
& 115L		Physics with Algebra -Trig II
and Alg-Trig Based Physics II Lab		4-5
or PH 202
& 202L		 Calculus-Based Physics II
and Calculus-Based Physics II Lab
BLY 301Cell Biology3
BLY 302Genetics3
B. Select 20 hours from BLY 300-49920
Minor Requirements
A minor is not required for this degree program0
Total Hours138-141

General Education Requirements

Includes 11 hours of Math and Science courses from Area III that will satisfy requirements in the Teaching Field Core.

Area I – Written Composition
A. Complete the following:
EH 101English Composition I3
B. Complete the following:
EH 102English Composition II3
Area II – Humanities & Fine Arts
A. Complete the following:
CA 110Public Speaking3
B. Select one of the following: 13
EH 215
Brit Lit before 1785
EH 216
Brit Lit after 1785
EH 225
Am Lit before 1865
EH 226
Am Lit after 1865
EH 235
World Lit before 1650
EH 236
World Lit after 1650
C. Select one of the following:3
ARH 100
Survey of Art
ARH 103
Art History I
ARH 123
Art History II
ARS 101
Art Appreciation
DRA 110
Introduction to Theatre
MUL 101
Introduction to Music
D. Select three hours of the following:3
AFR 101
Intro to African Amer Studies
ARH 100
Survey of Art
ARH 103
Art History I
ARH 123
Art History II
ARS 101
Art Appreciation
DRA 110
Introduction to Theatre
EH 215
Brit Lit before 1785
EH 216
Brit Lit after 1785
EH 225
Am Lit before 1865
EH 226
Am Lit after 1865
EH 235
World Lit before 1650
EH 236
World Lit after 1650
LG 101
Introductory Latin I
LG 102
Introductory Latin II
LG 111
Introductory French I
LG 112
Introductory French II
LG 121
Introductory Chinese I
LG 122
Introductory Chinese II
LG 131
Introductory Spanish I
LG 132
Introductory Spanish II
LG 141
Intro Classical Greek I
LG 142
Intro Classical Greek II
LG 151
Introductory German I
LG 152
Introductory German II
LG 153
Accelerated Intro German
LG 171
Introductory Russian I
LG 172
Introductory Russian II
LG 173
Accelerated Intro Russian
LG 201
Intermediate Latin I
LG 202
Intermediate Latin II
LG 211
Intermediate French I
LG 212
Intermediate French II
LG 213
Accelerated Inter French - H
LG 221
Intermediate Chinese I
LG 222
Intermediate Chinese II
LG 231
Intermediate Spanish I
LG 232
Intermediate Spanish II
LG 234
Inter Spanish Accel -H
LG 241
Interm Classical Greek I
LG 242
Interm Classical Greek II
LG 251
Intermediate German I
LG 252
Intermediate German II
LG 271
Intermediate Russian I
LG 272
Intermediate Russian II
LG 273
Intensive Second Year Russian
LGS 101
Introductory Japanese I
LGS 102
Introductory Japanese II
LGS 106
Introductory Arabic I
LGS 107
Introductory Arabic II
LGS 110
Intro American Sign Language I
LGS 111
Intro American Sign Lang II
LGS 171
Introductory Korean I
LGS 172
Introductory Korean II
LGS 201
Intermediate Japanese I
LGS 202
Intermediate Japanese II
LGS 206
Intermediate Arabic I
LGS 207
Intermediate Arabic II
LGS 210
Intermediate ASL I
LGS 211
Intermediate ASL II
MUL 101
Introduction to Music
PHL 110
Introduction to Philosophy
PHL 120
Critical Thinking
PHL 121
Introduction to Logic
PHL 131
Introduction to Ethics
PHL 231
Social Ethics
PHL 240
Western Philosophy: Classical
REL 100
Intro to the Study of Religion
REL 200
Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
REL 201
Survey of the New Testament
Area III – Natural Sciences & Mathematics
A. Complete the following:
MA 115Precal Algebra-Trigonometry4
B. Complete the following:
BLY 101
& 101L		Life Science I
and Life Science I Laboratory		4
BLY 122
& 122L		General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory		4
Area IV – History, Social & Behavioral Sciences 1
A. Select one of the following:3
HY 101
HY of Western Civilization I
HY 102
HY of Western Civilization II
HY 121
World Civilization I
HY 122
World Civilization II
HY 135
US History to 1877
HY 136
US History since 1877
B. Select three of the following:9
AN 100
Intro to Cultural Anthropology
AN 101
Intro Archaeology-Bio Anthro
ECO 215
Prin of Microeconomics
ECO 216
Prin of Macroeconomics
GEO 114
People, Places, Environment
GEO 115
World Regional Geography
GS 101
Intro to Gender Studies
HY 101
HY of Western Civilization I
HY 102
HY of Western Civilization II
HY 121
World Civilization I
HY 122
World Civilization II
HY 135
US History to 1877
HY 136
US History since 1877
PSC 130
Intro to US Government
PSY 250
Life Span Development
SY 109
Introductory Sociology
SY 112
Social Problems
Area V
A. Complete the following:
KIN 100Concepts of Health and Fitness3
B. Complete the following:
PE activity course1
Total Hours46

Footnote

1

Students must complete a 6 credit hour sequence either in literature (Area II – EH 215 & EH 216, EH 225 & EH 226, or EH 235 & EH 236) or history (Area IV – HY 101 & HY 102 or HY 121 & HY 122 or HY 135 & HY 136)

Additional Information

E-portfolio and Assessment

Students enrolled in education classes are required to purchase a LiveText membership.

Teacher Candidacy – Secondary Education

This major contains a professional component (Candidacy) comprised of upper level education courses (300-400 levels), grouped into three semesters (as shown on graduation plan), and are only available to students who have gained admission to Teacher Candidacy.

Admission Requirements for Teacher Candidacy

Courses and GPA

  • Courses: CA 110, EH 101, EH 102, EDM 310, EDU 400, EPY 351, and 75% of Teaching Field (or no more than one semester of Teaching Field courses between methods and internship)
  • Hours: 60 credit hours of degree requirements completed
  • Minimum Grade Point Averages: 2.5 Program, 2.5 Professional Studies, 2.5 Teaching Field, and 2.5 USA GPA (all GPAs found in degree audit). No grade below a “C” is accepted in Professional Studies.

ALSDE Background Check

Application, Liability Insurance, and Interview

  • Completed and scheduled in the UCOM Advising Center during the semester prior to beginning Teacher Candidacy

Prerequisites and Certification/Graduation Requirements

Semester 1 of Teacher Candidacy: EDU 340 (Prerequisite Below)

  • Admission to Teacher Candidacy

Semester 2 of Teacher Candidacy: Methods Block (Fall Only-15 Credit Hours) (Prerequisites Below)

  • Successful Completion of EDU 340 with a Grade of C or better
  • GPAs at Admission Requirements Levels

Semester 3 of Teacher Candidacy: Internship (Prerequisites Below)

  • Praxis - Teaching Field Content Knowledge - Passing Score https://www.ets.org/praxis/al/al_teacher_ed/
  • Successful Completion of Methods Block with Grades of C or better
  • GPAs at Admission Requirement Levels
  • Student Teaching Application

Certification/Graduation Requirements

  • Successful Completion of Student Teaching
  • GPAs at Admission Requirement Level
  • Passing Score on edTPA
  • Application for Certification and Graduation

Secondary students will be required to participate in an opening of school experience during the fall immediately preceding either their methods block classes or their student teaching. This experience will take place at the beginning of the public school year which is prior to the beginning of U.S.A. classes.

Note: Praxis tests requirements are subject to change as prescribed by the ALSDE. Prior to registering for any Praxis exam, please verify current requirements by going directly to the Alabama portion of the ETS Praxis website at http://ets.org/praxis/al.

Graduation Plan

(146 Total Hours)

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
EH 101 English Composition I (CP) 3
BLY 121 General Biology I (PR) 3
BLY 121L General Biology I Lab (PR) 1
Fine ArtsArea II, C 1 3
MA 112
or MA 115
 Precalculus Algebra (PR, Area IV, B) 1
or Precal Algebra-Trigonometry
 3
Social ScienceArea IV, B 1 3
 Hours16
Spring
EH 102 English Composition II (CP) 3
BLY 122 General Biology II (PR) 3
BLY 122L General Biology II Laboratory (PR) 1
HistoryArea IV, A 1 3
MA 113
or MA 115
 Precalculus Trigonometry (PR)
or Precal Algebra-Trigonometry
 3
KIN 100 Concepts of Health and Fitness 3
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall
CA 110 Public Speaking (CP) 3
CH 131 General Chemistry I (PR) 3
CH 131L General Chemistry I Lab (PR) 1
GEO 101 Environmental Geography 3
GEO 101L Environmental Geography Lab 1
LiteratureArea II, B 1 3
PE 101-PE 157PE Activity Course 1
 Hours15
Spring
BLY 301 Cell Biology 3
BLY 302 Genetics 3
CH 132 General Chemistry II (PR) 3
CH 132L General Chemistry II Lab (PR) 1
Social Science ElectiveArea IV, B 1 3
ST 210 Stat Reason and Application 3
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall
EDU 400 Edu Except Child and Youth (CP) 3
CH 201 Organic Chemistry I 3
CH 201L Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
PH 114 Physics with Algebra-Trig I (PR) 5
PH 114L Alg-Trig Based Physics I Lab (PR) 0
 Hours12
Spring
EPY 351 Human Growth & Development (CP) 3
BLY 300-BLY 499 ElectiveUpper Level Biology Course 4
BLY 300-BLY 499 ElectiveUpper Level Biology Course 4
PH 115 Physics with Algebra -Trig II 5
PH 115L Alg-Trig Based Physics II Lab 0
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall
EDM 310 Microcomputing Systems (CP) 3
BLY 300-BLY 499 ElectiveUpper Level Biology Course 4
BLY 300-BLY 499 ElectiveUpper Level Biology Course 4
PH 101 Introduction to Astronomy 4
PH 101L Introduction to Astronomy Lab 0
 Hours15
Spring
EDU 340 Fundamentals of Teaching - W (Spring or Summer Only) 2 3
BLY 300-BLY 499 ElectiveUpper Level Biology Course 4
History/Social Science ElectiveArea IV, B 1 3
Literature/Fine Arts or HumanitiesArea II, D 1 3
 Hours13
Fifth Year
Fall
EDU 341 Middle Level Education - W (Fall Only) 2 3
EDU 342 Secondary Field Experience (Fall Only) 2 3
EDU 363 Tchg Adptve Cur Thru Beh/Clsrm (Fall Only - Teaching Special Need Learners) 2 3
EDU 363 Tchg Adptve Cur Thru Beh/Clsrm (Fall Only - Content Area Literacy) 2 3
EDU 456 Teaching Science (Fall Only) 2 3
Apply for Graduation  
 Hours15
Spring
EDU 468 Internship - Science 2 9
 Hours9
 Total Hours143
1

See General Education Requirements

2

Required for admission to Candidacy

Notes:

  • (PR) Prerequisite for course(s) taking in next semester
  • (CP) Prerequisite for Candidacy
  • (W) Courses that satisfy USA writing requirement (2 required)