B.S. in Chemistry/Biochemistry (7-12 Composite Science Teacher Certification)
Our flexible undergraduate degree plan with teacher certification combines liberal arts study with a chemistry/biochemistry concentration, teacher education coursework, and hands-on student teaching experience. This plan allows you to major in chemistry while also pursuing your teacher certification and a specialization in an almost unlimited number of other areas, such as business, journalism, biology, mathematics, nutrition, or computer science. We offer two options for certification: teacher certification in physical science for grades 6-12, and teacher certification in science for grades 7-12.
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
- As a member of an undergraduate teaching lab team and research team, you will learn how to work and communicate with diverse team members.
- Writing laboratory reports, papers, senior theses coupled with presenting your work to your peers, at conferences, or to the general public, you will gain valuable verbal and written communication skills.
- With our departmental focus on civic engagement and laboratory safety as our first priority, you will understand social and personal responsibility.
- Earning a degree in any field of chemistry naturally requires excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills related to chemistry, these skills can also be used to address other issues and solve other problems.
Teacher Certification Skills
- 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.
- Identify, select, and implement entry-level instructional plans when serving as an instructor in the school setting.
- Successfully manage organizational and student behavior when teaching in the school setting.
- Efficiently and accurately assess student progress and use data to develop and modify instruction for K-12 students.
- 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;
-
Completed the Digital Literacy Pre-assessment;
-
Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee;
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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): 124
Major: 36 sch; Required Minor: 26 sch
Program Code: CHEMISTRY.BS.EDUC; CIP Code: 40.0501.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| 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
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 1123 & CHEM 1121 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| 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 |
| CHEM 3313 | Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| CHEM 3333 & CHEM 3331 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 3633 & CHEM 3632 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 1133 & PHYS 1131 | Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics Laboratory I | 4 |
| PHYS 1143 & PHYS 1141 | Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| Total SCHs | 36 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1113 & BIOL 1111 | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory (may be applied from core) | 4 |
| BIOL 1123 & BIOL 1121 | Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology II Laboratory (may be applied from core) | 4 |
| BIOL 4223 & BIOL 4221 | Ecology and Ecology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 4593 | Science in the Secondary Classroom | 3 |
| MATH 2014 | Calculus I (may be applied from core) | 4 |
| SCI 2113 | Earth Science: Global Perspectives | 3 |
| SCI 3133 | Climate Change: A Human Perspective | 3 |
| ZOOL 4243 & ZOOL 4241 | Medical Physiology and Medical Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| Total SCHs | 29 | |
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.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Pedagogical and Professional Responsibility | ||
| EDUC 2003 | Schools and Society | 3 |
| EDUC 3003 | Learning Theory and Development | 3 |
| EDUC 3482 | Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration | 2 |
| EDUC 4113 | Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 4243 | Classroom Environment and Management | 3 |
| EDUC 4946 | Clinical Student Teaching | 6 |
| Related Studies in Education | ||
| READ 3013 | Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum | 3 |
| EDSP 3203 | Learners with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 26 | |
Notes:
- 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.
- EDUC 4113 and EDUC 4243 must be taken during the same semester.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | CHEM 1311 & CHEM 1111 | 4 |
| Social/Behavioral Core | 3 | ||
| BIOL 1113 & BIOL 1111 | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | BIOL 1406 & BIOL 1106 | 4 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| Wellness/Mathematics CAO Core | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 1123 & CHEM 1121 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | CHEM 1312 & CHEM 1112 | 4 |
| MATH 2014 | Calculus I | MATH 2413 | 4 |
| BIOL 1123 & BIOL 1121 | Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology II Laboratory | BIOL 1407 & BIOL 1107 | 4 |
| Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core | 3 | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| SCHs | 18 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 2213 & CHEM 2211 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | CHEM 2323 & CHEM 2123 | 4 |
| PHYS 1133 & PHYS 1131 | Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics Laboratory I | PHYS 1301 & PHYS 1101 | 4 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 3223 & CHEM 3221 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 | |
| PHYS 1143 & PHYS 1141 | Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics Laboratory II | PHYS 1302 & PHYS 1102 | 4 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| CHEM 3333 & CHEM 3331 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory | 4 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| EDUC 2003 | Schools and Society | EDUC 1301 | 3 |
| BIOL 4593 | Science in the Secondary Classroom | 3 | |
| CHEM 3633 & CHEM 3632 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Laboratory | 5 | |
| SCI 3133 | Climate Change: A Human Perspective | 3 | |
| SCHs | 14 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| EDUC 3003 | Learning Theory and Development | 3 | |
| EDUC 3482 | Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration | 2 | |
| BIOL 4223 & BIOL 4221 | Ecology and Ecology Laboratory | 4 | |
| ZOOL 4243 & ZOOL 4241 | Medical Physiology and Medical Physiology Laboratory | 4 | |
| CHEM 3313 | Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| SCHs | 19 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| EDUC 4113 | Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment | 3 | |
| EDUC 4243 | Classroom Environment and Management | 3 | |
| SCI 2113 | Earth Science: Global Perspectives | GEOL 1401 | 3 |
| EDSP 3203 | Learners with Exceptionalities | 3 | |
| READ 3013 | Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum | 3 | |
| SCHs | 18 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| EDUC 4946 | Clinical Student Teaching | 6 | |
| SCHs | 6 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 124 | ||
