Bachelor of Science in Biology (7-12 Life Science Certification)

Website: https://twu.edu/biology/undergraduate-programs/bachelor-of-science-in-biology-with-teacher-certification/

Science teachers are always in demand!  At TWU, you can double your potential for employment by gaining valuable teacher training and certification along with a strong foundation in the biological sciences and marketable lab skills. The Department of Biology is pleased to offer a degree in Biology that also includes the courses and requirements leading to completion of a Texas 7-12 Life Science Teaching Certificate. 

This Bachelor of Science degree leading to teacher certification requires a total of 122 semester credit hours. All students pursuing teacher certification must achieve an overall GPA of at least 2.75 prior to enrolling in professional education coursework.  Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all required mathematics, science (includes all prefixes), and education courses. The requirements for Biology majors in mathematics, chemistry, and physics must also be met, which means that this program also satisfies most requirements for medical, dental, and other health professions programs. Completion of teacher education requirements will automatically lead to a minor in education.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

Degree Skills

  1. Written and oral communication skills.
  2. ​Demonstrate critical thinking by using logic and reasoning to interpret scientific results.
  3. Ability to design and conduct properly controlled experiments.
  4. Utilize modern scientific instruments and methods.
  5. ​Work collaboratively as part of a team to perform, analyze, and present research.
  6. ​Ability to understand and comply with laboratory safety guidelines.

Teacher Certification Skills

  1. Appropriately explain the impact of effective planning and communication (within the chosen area of concentration) to relevant internal and external stakeholders in an education or community setting.
  2. Identify, select, and implement entry-level instructional plans when serving as an instructor in the school setting.
  3. Successfully manage organizational and student behavior when teaching in the school setting.
  4. Efficiently and accurately assess student progress and use data to develop and modify instruction for K-12 students.
  5. Work effectively and collaboratively with students and families from diverse backgrounds.

Admissions

Teacher Certification

Application Deadlines

There are three application periods per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students must have their applications in by the deadline the semester before they intend to take ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only).  (see schedule below).

Spring Application Deadlines*  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Summer)
  • May 1 - Deadline to apply for Summer admission
  • May 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Summer Application Deadlines  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Fall)
  • July 1 - Deadline to apply for Fall admission
  • July 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Fall Application Deadlines*  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Spring)
  • December 1 - Deadline to apply for Spring admission
  • December 21 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement

Guidelines

Please adhere to the following guidelines: 

  • We recommend preparing your application well in advance of the deadline. That way you will be able to identify and resolve any potential issues before the deadline date. 
  • If you intend to register early for ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only) for the Summer or Fall semesters and have met all admission requirements, it is recommended that you apply to the EPP by December 1.
  • If you apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program while enrolled in EDUC 2003 or are taking coursework to increase your GPA to a 2.75, the Office of Educator Preparation Services will process your application. If the GPA requirement, along with all other admission requirements are met at the end of the semester, an admission decision will be made at that time.
  • No late applications will be accepted. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or a day that TWU is closed, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on the next day that TWU is open after the deadline day.

Requirements

In addition to the general undergraduate admissions requirements, to obtain acceptance into the undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (and prior to taking ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113EDUC 4243, READ 4223 (EC-3 only), and Clinical Student Teaching) students must have:

  • A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (includes all courses, whether posted to TWU transcript or used on a degree plan. Excludes developmental and repeated courses);
  • Demonstrated basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative;

  • A minimum of 12 to 15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought;

  • Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or higher;

  • Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program in Tk20;
  • Completed the Digital Literacy Pre-assessment;

  • Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee;

  • Completed a Commitment Contract acknowledging awareness and understanding of the Professional Dispositions Policy and Educators’ Code of Ethics;

  • Successfully completed a pre-admission departmental interview with an interview panel; and

  • Acknowledged and accepted admission to the Educator Preparation Program.

Please note:

  • All accepted students must maintain the admission requirements to remain in the TWU Education Preparation Program.
  • Admission requirements are determined by Texas Education Agency policies and are subject to change without notice.
  • Students seeking Bilingual certification must meet minimum proficiency in Spanish.
  • Students seeking Deaf/Hard of Hearing certification must meet minimum proficiency in sign.

All admission decisions are based on the successful completion of the above requirements. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation may affect certification. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Texas Education Agency. Any previous or current issues of academic dishonesty, disruptive behavior, or professional dispositions infractions at TWU, another university, or another Educator Preparation Program may result in denial of admission. Any decision may be appealed by contacting the Office of Educator Preparation Services at 940-898-2829.

Contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS) at copeadvising@twu.edu or 940-898-2829 with any questions.

Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Requirements

  • Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(1)]
  • Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(2)]
  • The potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(1)]
  • The right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation from TEA. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(3)]

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 123   

Major: 36 SCH;  Required Minor: 26 SCH (Education)

Program Code: BIOLOGY.BS.7-12LIFE;   CIP Code: 26.0101.00 

Lecture and lab must be taken concurrently.  A minimum grade of C is mandatory in all required courses for Biology majors. 

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

BIOL 2113
BIOL 2111
Plant Biology
and Plant Biology Laboratory
4
BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4223
BIOL 4221
Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4593Science in the Secondary Classroom3
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
BIOL 4823
BIOL 4821
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory
4
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar1
Total SCHs28

Departmental Requirements

BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
4
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
MATH 1303College Algebra3-4
or MATH 2014 Calculus I
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I3
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics II
and Principles of Physics Laboratory II
General Physics II
and General Physics Laboratory II
Total SCHs38-39

Students must satisfy the 3 SCH global perspectives graduation requirement.

Professional Education Studies

Admission to the Educator Preparation Program is required. Students must apply for admission into the Educator Preparation Program prior to enrolling in EDUC 3003/EDUC 3482EDUC 4113/EDUC 4243, and EDUC 4946. Information is available from the Office of Educator Preparation Services.

Pedagogical and Professional Responsibility
EDUC 2003Schools and Society3
EDUC 3003Learning Theory and Development3
EDUC 3482Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration2
EDUC 4113Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment3
EDUC 4243Classroom Environment and Management3
EDUC 4946Clinical Student Teaching6
Related Studies in Education
READ 3013Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum3
EDSP 3203Learners with Exceptionalities3
Total SCHs26

Notes:

  1. EDUC 2003 may be taken at a community college. Check with the Office of Educator Preparation Services to make sure the course has the equivalent number.
  2. EDUC 4113 and EDUC 4243 must be taken during the same semester.

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106
4
CHEM 1113
CHEM 1111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1311
& CHEM 1111
4
MATH 1303College Algebra MATH 13143
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
BIOL 1407
& BIOL 1107
4
CHEM 1123
CHEM 1121
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1312
& CHEM 1112
4
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core3
 SCHs 17
Second Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 2113
BIOL 2111
Plant Biology
and Plant Biology Laboratory
BIOL 1411
& BIOL 1111
4
BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 2323
& CHEM 2123
4
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
EDUC 2003Schools and Society EDUC 13013
 SCHs 18
SpringTCCN
BIOL 4223
BIOL 4221
Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory
4
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
 SCHs 15
Third Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
PHYS 1133
PHYS 1131
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 1301
& PHYS 1101
4
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
Creative Arts Core3
Language, Philosophy & Culture Core3
 SCHs 17
SpringTCCN
BIOL 4823
BIOL 4821
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory
4
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar 1
PHYS 1143
PHYS 1141
Principles of Physics II
and Principles of Physics Laboratory II
PHYS 1302
& PHYS 1102
4
EDUC 3482Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration 2
EDUC 3003Learning Theory and Development 3
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
 SCHs 17
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 4593Science in the Secondary Classroom 3
EDSP 3203Learners with Exceptionalities 3
EDUC 4113Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment 3
EDUC 4243Classroom Environment and Management 3
READ 3013Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum 3
Social/Behavioral Science Core3
 SCHs 18
SpringTCCN
EDUC 4946Clinical Student Teaching 6
 SCHs 6
 Total SCHs:  123