Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Shepherd University Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Shepherd University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology Teaching Field Grades 9-Adult, B.A.


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The curricula for the Biology teaching field focuses on patterns, processes, and relationships of organisms, consistent with the Next Generation Science Standards.  This program of courses allows students to obtain the knowledge base and experiences necessary to become certified to teach Life Science in grades 9-12, or to major or minor in the field of Biology.  Throughout the curricula, four ideas are emphasized: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes; Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics; Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits across Generations; and Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity.  The Life Science curricula enables students to build knowledge bases about the structures and processes of the natural world through observations and experiments as well as to build basic competency in the supporting disciplines of Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science. 

Secondary Science Education Program Goals
  • To understand and articulate the knowledge and practices of contemporary science.
  • To train students to plan learning units of study as well as equitable, culturally-responsive opportunities for all students based upon their understandings of how students learn and develop science knowledge, skills, and habits of mind.
  • To train students to plan for engaging all students in science learning by identifying appropriate learning goals that are consistent with knowledge of how students learn science and are aligned with standards.
  • To train students to develop and implement biological, chemical, and physical safety protocols in their classrooms and workspace, including applicable ethical considerations and equipment maintenance.
  • To develop methods and practices that provide evidence that students have learned and can apply disciplinary core ideas, concepts and practices as a result of instruction.
  • To foster the ability to continually improve their knowledge of science content and pedagogy and to identify with and conduct themselves as part of the science education community.
  • To engage students in a planned sequence of field experiences and clinical practice in diverse settings under the supervision of experienced and highly qualified science teachers.

Curriculum for a Biology Teaching Field Grades 9-Adult


Note(s):


Note Concerning Math Requirement: The prerequisite for MATH 205  is mathematical competence equivalent to the successful completion of MATH 108  Precalculus, and the prerequisite for MATH 324 is competence equivalent to the successful completion of MATH 108  or MATH 154 .

Other Requirements: Although one may declare secondary education with a specialization in biology 9-12 as a major upon admission to the University, to be officially admitted to the Shepherd University teacher education program and pursue this teaching field, the student must meet the following criteria as well as those criteria that apply to all teaching specializations:

  1. The student must have completed BIOL 208 - Plants As Organisms , BIOL 209 - Animals As Organisms , CHEM 207  and CHEM 209 - General Chemistry II , CHEM 207L  and CHEM 209L - General Chemistry II Laboratory , or their equivalents with a grade of C or better in each course.
  2. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of academic work at Shepherd University with an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a GPA of at least 2.5 in this specialization.

See professional education course listings under Education: Professional Studies Core for Secondary Education (37 hours required). Special Methods of Teaching Sciences is EDUC 423 . Retention in and completion of this program requires the student to meet retention, admission to student teaching, and certification standards set by the Professional Education Unit Council. All of the standards for this program can be found in Information and Planning Handbook for Students Pursuing the Biology 9-Adult, Chemistry 9-Adult, or General Science 5-Adult Specializations.

Contact Person: Dr. Ruth Conley, Byrd Science Center 214, 304-876-5376.

Four-Year Course Progression


Biology Education 9-Adult
FALL   FIRST YEAR     SPRING   FIRST YEAR  
Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit   Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit
EDUC 150 1 Seminar in Education (FY4) 1   HIST 1xx 1 Choose History with advisor (CC) 3
ENGL 101 1 Writing-Rhetoric I (CC2) 3   ENGL 102 1 Writing-Rhetoric II (CC2) 3
BIOL 211   Fundamentals I: Molecular/Cellular Function 4   BIOL 212   Fundamentals II: Diversity of Life 4
CHEM 207/207L 1 General Chemistry/Lab I (LS1) 4   CHEM 209/209L 1 General Chemistry/Lab II (LS1) 4
COMM 202 2 Fundamentals of Speech (HM6-GL) 3   MATH 314   Statistics 3
    TOTAL 15       TOTAL 17
                 
         
FALL   SECOND YEAR     SPRING   SECOND YEAR  
Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit   Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit
Core Curriculum 2 Choose Wellness with advisor (CC) 3   EDUC 320 2 Social and Psychological Conditions of Learning (SO8-MD) 3
EDUC 200   Foundations of American Education (SO8-MD) 3   BIOL 305   Cell Biology 4
BIOL 303   General Ecology 4   Core Curriculum 2 Choose CK, GL, or MD with advisor( AR5) 3
BIOL 225***   Human Anatomy and Physiology I 3   BIOL 226***   Human Anatomy and Physiology II 3
MATH 205 1 Calculus with Applications (MA3) 4   Core Curriculum** 2 Choose CK, GL, or MD with advisor (HM6) 3
    TOTAL 17       TOTAL 16
         
FALL   THIRD YEAR     SPRING   THIRD YEAR  
Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit   Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit
EDUC 360 2 Survey of Exceptional Children (SO-MD6) 3   EDUC 370   Creating Learning Environments 3
BIOL 344   Genetics 4   BIOL 302   Microbiology 4
GSCI 301***   Physical Geology 4   Core Curriculum* 2 Choose CK, GL, or MD with advisor (SO) 3
PHYS 201/201L   College Physics I/Lab 4   PHYS 202/ 202L   College Physics II/Lab 4
    TOTAL 15       TOTAL 14
         
FALL   FOURTH YEAR     SPRING   FOURTH YEAR  
Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit   Sub./Course No. Tier Title Credit
EDUC 425   Principles and Practice of Research OR     EDUC 461   Student Teaching Seminar 3
BIOL 350   Principles and Practice of Research for Teachers 3-4   EDUC 457   Student Teaching, Grades 9-12 (CP and WM9)    9
EDUC 380   Technology in 21st Century Teaching and Learning 3       TOTAL 12
EDUC 423   Special Methods of Teaching Science 3          
EDUC 443   Reading in the Content Area 3          
EDUC 400   Inclusion in the Regular Classroom 3          
    TOTAL 15-16       DEGREE TOTAL 121-122
May 25, 2021                

*PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology is recommended.

**Most students will need to choose a CK course for the Humanities Core Curriculum

***Course substitutions are available for students transferring from another institution or another major or program, with advisement and approval from the science education coordinator.

1 CC Life Science; 2 Core Curriculum; 3 CC Math; 4 CC First-Year Experience; 5 CC Arts; 6 CC Humanities; 7 CC Wellness; 8 CC Social Sciences; 9 Serves as both the Writing in the Major and Capstone requirements.         

 

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