Biology Major for the High School Teaching License (9-12) / 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 9-12 in Illinois public and private schools.  The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education and includes all the requirements for a major in Biology.  Biology majors in this concentration must declare majors in both Biology and 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 Professional Educator License with a Biology Endorsement must complete all requirements of the College of Education (College of Education) and 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.

Degree Requirements

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.

I. Core Courses in Biology Major for Teacher Licensure (71)

A. Required Courses in Biology (35)

02-110General Biology I

4

02-111General Biology I Lab

1

02-115General Biology II

4

02-116General Biology II Lab

1

02-144Fundamentals of Earth Science

1

02-220Genetics

4

02-221Genetics Lab

1

02-224General Microbiology

4

02-226General Microbiology Lab

1

02-315General Ecology and Evolution

3

02-316General Ecology Lab

1

02-355Molecular Biochemistry with Clinical Correlates

3

-
OR

02-357Nutritional Biochemistry with Clinical Correlates

3

02-356Molecular Biochemistry Lab

1

02-406Molecular Cell Biology

4

02-496Biology Senior Thesis

2

B. Other Requirements (35)

03-110General Chemistry I

4

03-111General Chemistry I Lab

1

03-115General Chemistry II

4

03-116General Chemistry II Lab

1

03-220Organic Chemistry I

4

03-221Organic Chemistry I Lab

1

03-225Organic Chemistry II

4

03-226Organic Chemistry II Lab

1

13-200Calculus I

4

-
OR

13-211Calculus for the Life Sciences

4

17-140Fundamentals of Space Science

1

17-200College Physics 1

4

17-201College Physics 1 Lab

1

17-205College Physics 2

4

17-206College Physics 2 Lab

1

C. Select one of the following: (1)

02-380Biochemistry Journal Club

1

02-381Physiology Journal Club

1

02-382Microbiology Journal Club

1

02-383Ecology Journal Club

1

02-384Genetics 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.