Biology Comprehensive Major: Secondary Licensure Emphasis

Program Requirements

The Secondary Licensure Emphasis requires a minimum of 59 credits including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, eight additional credits in Biology and/or ESS, and 25 credits in supporting courses.

Students must fulfill the requirements for the Secondary Licensure Option (described under Education). Students interested in pursuing this comprehensive program should consult with the Teacher Education Program advisor in addition to the advisor in their major as soon as possible. 

All Biology majors require the 26-credit Biology Nucleus.

Biology Nucleus
BIOL 150Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
BIOL 151Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)4
BIOL 301GENERAL ECOLOGY3
BIOL 310Cell Biology3
BIOL 312Genetics (with recitation)4
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3
CHEM 112General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1)1
CHEM 113General Chemistry II3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Laboratory II1
Total Credits26
Required Biology and/or ESS courses
BIOL 201Introduction to Microbiology (with laboratory)4
or BIOL 342 Microbiology (with laboratory)
Select one of the following:4-8
Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab)
Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory)
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory)
Total Credits8-12
Minimum supporting courses
CHEM 231Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry3
CHEM 234Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory1
GEOL 101Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3
GEOL 105Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)1
GEOL 201Historical Geology (with laboratory)4
MATH 213Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)3
PHYS 110Introductory Astronomy (GT-SC2)3
PHYS 120Meteorology (GT-SC2)3
PHYS 140Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
Total Credits25

Capstone Course Requirement

EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching fulfills the Capstone Requirement for students completing this emphasis.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BIOL 151 Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) 4
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) 3
CHEM 112 General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) 1
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits15
Spring
Arts & Humanities GE 3
BIOL 150 Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 114 General Chemistry Laboratory II 1
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
 Credits14
Year Two
Fall
BIOL 301 GENERAL ECOLOGY 3
CHEM 231 Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry 3
CHEM 234 Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory 1
ESS 201
Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab)
or Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory)
4
MATH 141 Precalculus (GT-MA1) 4
 Credits15
Spring
Arts & Humanities GE 3
BIOL 310 Cell Biology 3
MATH 213 Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) 3
PHYS 120 Meteorology (GT-SC2) 3
Social Science GE 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
Arts & Humanities GE
BIOL 201
Introduction to Microbiology (with laboratory)
or Microbiology (with laboratory)
4
BIOL 312 Genetics (with recitation) 4
GEOL 101 Physical Geology (GT-SC2) 3
GEOL 105 Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) 1
Social Science GE 3
 Credits15
Spring
EDUC 000 Education Gateway Course 0
EDUC 340 Application of Pedagogy and Practice 3
GEOL 201 Historical Geology (with laboratory) 3-4
PHYS 110 Introductory Astronomy (GT-SC2) 3
PHYS 140 Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
Social Science GE 3
 Credits16-17
Year Four
Fall
EDUC 403 INSTRTN&ASMT IN CONTENT AREA 3
EDUC 404 Creating Positive Learning Environments 3
EDUC 405 Data-driven Instructional Practices 3
EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching 3
EDUC 424 Differentiation: Applying Learner-Centered Instruction 3
 Credits15
Spring
EDUC 406 Content Area Literacy 3
EDUC 407 Maximizing Learning through 21st Century Skills 3
EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching 3
EDUC 429 Teaching English Learners for Secondary and K-12 Teachers 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits117-118