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Students interested in teaching at the elementary school or secondary school level with an emphasis on biology should pursue one of the pathways described below.

Elementary Teaching

Students interested in teaching at the elementary school level must complete a degree in Liberal Studies (see University Catalog) with a Concentration in a disciplinary area. The Liberal Studies Concentration in Biology is outlined below.

Liberal Studies Concentration in Biology 

Requirements (20 units):

1. Complete the following courses:

    Biol 1050 General Biology I, 4 units
    Biol 2310 Human Genetics, 2 units, or Biol 2650 Environmental Biology, 3 units
    (any of the above courses may be used to satisfy area B.2 of general education)

2. Select one of the following courses dealing with the diversity of biological organisms (each 4 units):

    Boty 3130 Morphology of Plants, Algae & Fungi
    Boty 3700 Flowering Plants
    Ento 3000 Principles of Entomology
    Zool 3610 General Vertebrate Zoology
    Zool 4420 Invertebrate Zoology I
    Zool 4430 Invertebrate Zoology II 

3. Select a minimum of 9 upper-division elective units from the following list (each 3 units)*:

    Biol 3000 Frontiers in Biology
    Biol 3020 Evolution
    Biol 4020 Biology for Decision Making
    Biol 4050 Ecosystem Case Studies
    Biol 4200 Ecological Agriculture
    Biol 4610 Elements of Environmental Science

* Fifteen units of the concentration may not cross count with upper-division GE or the Liberal Studies major.

Secondary Teaching

Students interested in teaching science at the junior high or high school level should complete a core of science courses and a concentration in one of four areas (biology, chemistry, geosciences or physics). Unless students already have an undergraduate degree, the simplest route is to complete the science core and a major in one of the four areas. The Science Core (Breadth) and Biology Concentration (Depth) are outlined below.

Single Subject Credential Program policy requires that a candidate demonstrate subject matter competency before starting work in a cohort and doing the field practicum requirements. Candidates may apply to the credential program but cannot take EDSC 4100, 4300, 4440, 4850 & 4855 until subject matter competency has been demonstrated. Subject matter competency can be demonstrated by completing a Subject Matter Preparation Program (SMPP) in Science (with a concentration in one of the four science areas) OR pass all components of a standardized series of tests in biology, chemistry, physics and geosciences called the CSET. The SMPP in Science (concentration in biology) is outlined below and additional information on the CSET exams may be obtained at http://www.cset.nesinc.com. For additional information on the Single Subject Credential Program, consult the Single Subject Credential portion of the University Catalog in the Teacher Education section. 

Science Breadth Requirements (everyone)

Biol 1010 (3) Principles of Biology (will be waived if student completed a year of high school biology with A or B)

Boty 1050 (4) Intro to Botany

Zool 1050 (4) Intro to Zoology

Chem 1100 (5) Principles of Chemistry I and co-requisites Chem 1102 (Lab) and Chem 1104 (Discussion)

Chem 1110 (5) Principles of Chemistry II and co-requisites Chem 1112 (Lab) nd Chem 1114 (Discussion)

Chem 3010 (3) Organic Chemistry and co-requisite Chem 3012 (1) Organic Chemistry Lab

Phys 2100 (5) Basic Physics I*

Phys 2110 (5) Basic Physics II*

Geol 2400 (3) Intro to Earth Science and co-requisite Geol 2102 (1) Principles of Geology Lab (This lab can be completed concurrently with Geol 2400, it is not necessary to take Geol 2100)

Geol 2200 (4) Historical Geology

Astr 2100 (3) Descriptive Astronomy

Nsci 4961 (3) Teaching Secondary Science (should be completed after most of the breadth and depth courses)

* Those seeking the Physics concentration substitute Phys 2100 and 2110 with Phys 2250 (5) General Physics I and Phys 2260 (5) General Physics II.

Also see the SSCP Pre-program Advising Booklet, available through Department of Teacher Education for additional courses and requirements.

Biology Depth Requirements