Apr 29, 2024  
2023-2024 General Catalog [Current] 
    
2023-2024 General Catalog [Current]

Biology Education (B.A., B.S.)


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Program Information

  • All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the major.
  • All Biology majors must show a minimal level of competency as demonstrated by the ETS® major field test in Biology. All students must satisfactorily complete the ETS® field test in Biology before taking any capstone course in the Department of Biology (BIOL 4070 BIOL 4220 BIOL 4400 , BIOL 4410 BIOL 4500 BIOL 4650 ).
  • Courses may not be repeated more than two (2) times without instructor approval.
  • Credits over 10 years old may not be accepted for use in the major.

General Education Requirement (30-35 Credits)


See General Education  for course options.

  • Core Course Requirements (12-15 Credits)
  • Knowledge Area Requirements (16-20 Credits)

Please note: All students must complete a minimum of 30 credits between the Core and Knowledge Area requirements.

Bachelor’s Degree Type: Arts or Science Requirement (12* or 16** Credits)


Select one degree type from either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science:

Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree Requirement (12 Credits*)


  • Bachelor of Science Degree - Math or Science minimum requirement 12 Credits

* Note: A portion of the B.S. requirements may be met by fulfilling the General Education  Core and Knowledge Areas. Because of this, these credits are typically not counted in the degree total at the bottom of page. Some students majoring in non-science fields may need additional math/science courses to reach the minimum 12 credits. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details. 

or

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Requirement (16 Credits**)


  • Bachelor of Arts Degree - Foreign Language Requirement 16 Credits

** Note: One semester of a foreign language may also fulfill the General Education  Humanities requirement. The 16 credits may be fulfilled by taking four semesters of a foreign language or by testing out of a language and purchasing the credits. These credits are typically counted in the degree total at the bottom of the page. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details. 

Biology Education Curriculum (63-75 Credits)


Core Requirements (23 Credits)


All students majoring in biology must complete the following core courses. We recommend this sequence:

Required Support Courses (18 or 28 Credits)


Biology Requirements (16-18 Credits)


Must complete 16-18 credits (including one human-, one animal-, and one plant-based course) from the following:

Biology Teaching Core (6 Credits)


In order to meet state standards for a license to teach biology in secondary schools in Utah, students will complete the following (in addition to the core requirements listed above):

Additional Coursework


Additional coursework in computer science, geology, and physics selected in consultation with the departmental advisor.

  • Secondary Teaching Certification requires specific professional education courses. Consult the department of teacher education for additional advisement.
  • This degree does not include the requisite number of upper-division hours. Students completing this degree will fill the upper-division requirements while completing course work for the Secondary Teaching Certificate.

Free Electives (0-38 Credits)


Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn a minimum of 40 upper-division credits (courses numbered 3000-4999). Students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Recommended Electives


Although not required, the Department of Biology recommends all Biology majors take the following variable credit courses:

Total Credits, B.A. Degree: 120-126


Total Credits, B.S. Degree: 120



 

Professional Education Requirements for Secondary Licensure (36-37 Credits)*


To qualify for a teaching license, students must also complete the sequence of professional education courses listed by the Department of Teacher Education . Please see the degree requirements for Secondary Education Licensure . Some classes required for the licensure cannot be taken until the teacher candidate has been admitted to the College of Education and Human Development. Please consult your advisor or the Department of Teacher Education for further instruction.

* Students who complete their teaching methods course(s) and student teaching as part of their major requirements will earn fewer than 36 credits. Those course credits are counted only once in the degree total.

Total Credits, B.A. Degree with Licensure: 126-157


Total Credits, B.S. Degree with Licensure: 120-141



 

Licensure Notification


This program typically leads to licensure/certification and was designed to meet such qualifications for the state of Utah. Students who are or may be planning to pursue licensure/certification in any other U.S. state or territory may need to meet additional education requirements. This is not a reflection of SUU’s accreditation or quality, as each state and territory regulates their own education requirements for occupational licensure.

Students enrolled in a teacher preparation program may potentially be able to use a Utah educator license to obtain licensure through reciprocity. Additional information may be found through the Department of Teacher Education’s reciprocity table.

An overview of all of SUU’s programs that lead to licensure/certification and the programs’ current determination statuses may be found at www.suu.edu/provost/licensure.html.

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