Bachelor of Science in Biology (4-8 Science Certification)

Good 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. The Department of Biology is pleased to offer a degree in Biology which also includes the courses and requirements leading to completion of a Texas 4-8 Science Teaching Certificate.

This Bachelor of Science degree leading to teacher certification requires a total of 131-132 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 3003, EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113, EDUC 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;
  • Important: Purchase and creation of a Tk20 account is required

• 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): 132   

Major: 31 SCH;  Required Minor: 29 SCH (Education)

Program Code: BIOLOGY.BS.4-8EDUC;  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

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
ENG 1013	Composition I	3
ENG 1023	Composition II	3
Mathematics		3
Life & Physical Sciences		6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture		3
Creative Arts		3
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865	3
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present	3
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government	3
POLS 2023	Texas Government	3
Social & Behavioral Sciences		3
CAO: Women's Studies		3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics		3
Total SCHs		42

Courses Required for Major

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
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 4593	Science in the Secondary Classroom	3
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 4681	Biology Seminar	1
Biology Elective from BACT, BIOL, or ZOOL		3
Biology Elective hours must include coursework appropriate for science majors. The following courses are not acceptable electives: BACT 1003/BACT 1001, BIOL 1013, BIOL 1023, BIOL 1033, BIOL 1223, ZOOL 2013/ZOOL 2011, and ZOOL 2023/ZOOL 2021.
Total SCHs		31

Departmental Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
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
CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1111	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1213 & CHEM 1211	Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:		4
CHEM 1123 & CHEM 1121	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1223 & CHEM 1221	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
Choose one of the following:		4
PHYS 1133 & PHYS 1131	Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 2153 & PHYS 2151	General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:		4
PHYS 1143 & PHYS 1141	Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics Laboratory II
PHYS 2163 & PHYS 2161	General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II
MATH 1303	College Algebra	3-4
or MATH 2014	Calculus I
MATH 1703	Elementary Statistics I	3
SCI 2113	Earth Science: Global Perspectives	3
Total SCHs		41-42

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 3482, EDUC 4113/EDUC 4243, and EDUC 4946. Information is available from the Office of Educator Preparation Services.

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
Fall		TCCN	SCHs
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
SCI 2113	Earth Science: Global Perspectives	GEOL 1401	3
MATH 1303	College Algebra	MATH 1314	3
ENG 1013	Composition I	ENGL 1301	3
UNIV 1231	Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar	EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300	1
	SCHs		18
Spring		TCCN
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 1703	Elementary Statistics I	MATH 1342	3
ENG 1023	Composition II	ENGL 1302	3
Multicultural Women's Studies			3
	SCHs		17
Second Year
Fall		TCCN
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
EDUC 2003	Schools and Society	EDUC 1301	3
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government	GOVT 2305	3
	SCHs		18
Spring		TCCN
CHEM 3223 & CHEM 3221	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II		4
POLS 2023	Texas Government	GOVT 2306	3
BIOL 4223 & BIOL 4221	Ecology and Ecology Laboratory		4
Creative Arts			3
Biology Elective			3
	SCHs		17
Third Year
Fall		TCCN
BIOL 4813 & BIOL 4811	Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory		4
ZOOL 4243 & ZOOL 4241	Medical Physiology and Medical Physiology Laboratory		4
PHYS 1133 & PHYS 1131	Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics Laboratory I	PHYS 1301 & PHYS 1101	4
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865	HIST 1301	3
READ 3013	Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum		3
	SCHs		18
Spring		TCCN
BIOL 4823 & BIOL 4821	Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory		4
PHYS 1143 & PHYS 1141	Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics Laboratory II	PHYS 1302 & PHYS 1102	4
EDSP 3203	Learners with Exceptionalities		3
EDUC 3003	Learning Theory and Development		3
EDUC 3482	Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration		2
Social/Behavioral Science			3
	SCHs		19
Fourth Year
Fall		TCCN
BIOL 4593	Science in the Secondary Classroom		3
BIOL 4681	Biology Seminar		1
READ 3423	Literacy Foundations: 4-8		3
EDUC 4113	Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment		3
EDUC 4243	Classroom Environment and Management		3
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present	HIST 1302	3
Language, Philosophy & Culture			3
	SCHs		19
Spring		TCCN
EDUC 4946	Clinical Student Teaching		6
	SCHs		6
	Total SCHs:		132