Biology Major for the High School Teaching Certificate (6-12) Bachelor of Arts
Total Credit Hours: 128
Major Credit Hours: 71
The Department of Biology features a fully approved Biology program that prepares candidates to teach grades 6-12 in Illinois public and private schools. The program is approved by the State Teacher Certification Board, in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education, and includes all the requirements for a major in Biology. Biology majors in this specialization must declare a major in Secondary Education. See advisors in the Department of Biology and College of Education for specific approval and a list of required courses.
Teacher Candidates seeking a Type 09 Teaching Certificate in Science with a designation in Biology must complete the following coursework in the content area as well as professional education courses. For a detailed description of the courses please click on the appropriate link. Only grades of “C” and above are acceptable in professional education courses and any courses counted toward any endorsement or certificate. A “C-” or lower grade will require that the course be repeated.
Biology Department Policies:
A grade of “C-” or better must be earned in a prerequisite course in order to advance to the next course in the sequence.
Biology majors may take a Biology class only two times. If a student has not achieved a minimum of a “C-” after the second attempt, the student may not repeat the class.
The Biology Department will award 3 hours of credit for the General Education class 02-100 Introduction to Biology when students have received a score of 4 or 5 on AP tests. No credit is awarded for major classes based on AP scores.
Degree Requirements
I. Core Courses in Biology Major for Teacher Certification (71)
A. Required Courses in Biology (35)
| 02-110 | General Biology I | 4 |
| 02-111 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| 02-115 | General Biology II | 4 |
| 02-116 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| 02-144 | Fundamentals of Earth Science | 1 |
| 02-220 | Genetics | 4 |
| 02-221 | Genetics Lab | 1 |
| 02-224 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| 02-226 | General Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| 02-315 | General Ecology | 3 |
| 02-316 | General Ecology Lab | 1 |
| 02-355 | Molecular Biochemistry with Clinical Correlates | 3 |
| - | OR | |
| 02-357 | Nutritional Biochemistry with Clinical Correlates | 3 |
| 02-356 | Molecular Biochemistry Lab | 1 |
| 02-406 | Molecular Cell Biology | 4 |
| 02-496 | Biology Senior Thesis | 2 |
B. Other Requirements (35)
C. Select one of the following: (1)
| 02-380 | Biochemistry Journal Club | 1 |
| 02-381 | Physiology Journal Club | 1 |
| 02-382 | Microbiology Journal Club | 1 |
| 02-383 | Ecology Journal Club | 1 |
| 02-384 | Genetics Journal Club | 1 |
D. The advanced writing requirement is satisfied by successful completion of writing components in 02-111 and 02-116 General Biology Labs I and II, 02-226 General Microbiology Lab, and 02-496 Biology Senior Thesis.
II. Please see Secondary Education / Bachelor of Arts for required Education courses.