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Life Science Specialty, Science Education Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure)


This program is designed to meet the requirements for Science teacher licensure with a specialty in Life Science in the State of Minnesota. Students who complete this major will be eligible for teacher certification in Life Science in grades 9-12 and for teaching all sciences in grades 5-8. Students should consult their academic advisor in Life Science prior to developing their program.

Students should complete the science core courses listed below prior to beginning the Life Science specialty. Consult with your academic adviser if you wish to have an alternative method of satisfying this requirement considered or wish to begin a specialty prior to completion of the science core courses.

I. Core Courses for Science Teaching in Grades 5-8

Note: PHYS 2101 has a prerequisite not included in this major.

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I (4 credits)
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II (4 credits)
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I
or CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II
or CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II (4 credits)
GEOL 1110 Physical Geology
or GEOL 1120 Historical Geology (4 credits)
PHYS 1101 General Physics I (4 credits)
or PHYS 2101 Physics I (5 credits)
SCI 3100 Integrative Science for Teachers (4 credits)
SCI 3450 Science Methods for Grades 5-8 (4 credits)

Total Science Credits 32-33 Credits

 

II. Required Professional Education Core

33 Credits

III. Life Science Specialty

  1. Required Biology Courses
    BIOL 2360 Genetics (4 credits)
    BIOL 2610 General Ecology (3 credits)
    BIOL 2620 Field and Laboratory Methods in Ecology (1 credit)
    BIOL 3710 Microbiology (4 credits)
    BIOL 3720 Plant Form and Function (4 credits)
    or BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants (4 credits)
    BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution (3 credits)
  2. Required Biology Elective
    Select one of the following:
    BIOL 3150 Animal Behavior (3 credits)
    BIOL 3310 Entomology (4 credits)
    BIOL 3510 Ornithology (4 credits)
    BIOL 4520 Mammalogy (4 credits)
    BIOL 4534 Ichthyology (4 credits)
  3. Required Biology Research Elective
    Select one of the following:
    BIOL 3980 Research (1 credit)
    BIOL 4980 Research (1 credit)
    BIOL 4894 Advanced Laboratory Projects in Biology I (2 credits)
    BIOL 4895 Advanced Laboratory Projects in Biology II (2 credits)
    BIOL 4896 Advanced Field Projects in Biology I (2 credits)
    BIOL 4897 Advanced Field Projects in Biology II (2 credits)

    Total Credits for Life Science Specialty 23-25 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 88-91 Credits

A Total of 128 Semester Credits is Required for a Bachelor’s Degree

Recommended Courses for Further Study:
BIOL 2110 Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL 3361 Limnology I
BIOL 3590 Cell Biology
BIOL 4100 History and Philosophy of Science
GEOL 2730 Introduction to Planetary Science
or SCI 2100 Astronomy


SUGGESTED SEMESTER SCHEDULE FOR LIFE SCIENCE SPECIALTY, SCIENCE EDUCATION MAJOR, B.S. (TEACHER LICENSURE)

The following is a list of required Science (Life Science) Major, B.S. courses arranged by year. This schedule is intended to assist students in planning their courses. There is some flexibility in this schedule, but graduation within four years will require close adherence to the specified sequence of courses. Always consult your Biology academic advisor as to the proper courses and sequence of courses needed for graduation. It is possible, in some circumstances, that courses in a student's Liberal Education program may be used in his or her academic major.

Freshman

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I and CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II
or CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I and CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II
Liberal Education requirements

Sophomore

BIOL 2360 Genetics
BIOL 2610 General Ecology
BIOL 2620 Field and Laboratory Methods in Ecology
BIOL 3720 Plant Form and Function
GEOL 1110 Physical Geology
or GEOL 1120 Historical Geology
PHYS 1101 General Physics I
or PHYS 2101 Physics I
Consider starting Professional Education sequence
Liberal Education requirements

Junior

BIOL 3710 Microbiology
SCI 3100 Integrated Science for Teachers
SCI 3450 Science Methods for Grades 5-8
Other Professional Education requirements
Liberal Education requirements

Senior

Biology Elective (BIOL 3150, 3310, 3510, 4520, or 4534)
Research Elective (BIOL 3980, 4980, 4894, 4895, 4896, or 4897)
BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution
Complete Professional Education requirements, including one semester of student teaching
Complete Liberal Education requirements


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