Why Choose a Teacher Licensure Program in Biology?

The Biology Department, in collaboration with the Education Department, offers a program of study leading to licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Education as a Teacher of Secondary School Biology. The Biology Teacher Education Program at Westfield State University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education (NCATE) and has been recognized by the National Science Teachers Association.

Requirements for the Teacher Licensure Program in Biology

Students wishing to be licensed to teach Biology at the High School level must complete the following:

• The Professional Sequence for the Secondary (8-12) Specialist
• The Introductory Biology/Math Courses (11-12 Credits)
• Biology Seminars
• Required Chemistry Courses for the Biology Major (16 Credits)
• Additional Licensure Requirements listed below

Professional Sequence: Middle (Grades 5-8) and Secondary (Grades 8-12)

The Professional Sequence for Middle and Secondary must be completed by students intending to teach an academic subject area in the Middle or Secondary School. Students must complete an academic major in the subject area in which the licensure is sought.

Professional Sequence Core:

• EDUC 0220 - Schools in American Culture (*FB)
• EDUC 0380 - Critical Multicultural Education

Professional Sequence Courses Middle and Secondary:

• EDUC 0221 - Introduction to Students with Exceptional Learning Needs (*FB)
• EDUC 0321 - The Middle School and its Students **
• EDUC 0354 - Educational Planning and Evaluation: Middle and Secondary Schools (*FB)
• EDUC 0363 - Sheltered English Immersion
• PSYC 0203 - Adolescent Development
• Appropriate academic methods course Credits 3 (*FB)

Note

*FB indicates field-based course.

** Note: Required for Middle School licensure.

Appropriate Practicum

• EDUC 0364 - Practicum: Middle School or
• EDUC 0369 - Practicum: Secondary School

Common Core Courses

Courses in the Laboratory Science section of the Common Core are BIOL 0102 - Environmental Biology, BIOL 0104 - Human Biology, BIOL 0106 - Biology Today, and BIOL 0237 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I. The 100-level courses (BIOL 0102, BIOL 0104, and BIOL 0106) do not satisfy requirements for the Biology Major and should not be taken by students majoring in Biology.  MATH 0105  and MATH 0108 each satisfy the traditional mathematics area of the Common Core.  BIOL 0278 satisfies the applied analytical reason sing area of the Common Core.  Both math courses should be selected with guidance from faculty advisor.

Introductory Biology/Math Courses

• BIOL 0128 - Introduction to Organismal, Ecological, and Evolutionary Biology
• BIOL 0129 - Introduction to Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
•  Two of the following Math core courses:
• MATH 0105 - Calculus I
• MATH 0108 - Elementary Statistics
• BIOL 0278 - Biostatistics

Note:

BIOL 0128 and BIOL 0129 DO NOT have to be taken in sequence, but should be taken in the first year.  MATH 0105  and MATH 0108 each satisfy the traditional mathematics area of the Common Core and BIOL 0278 satisfies the applied analytical reasoning area of the Common Core.  Both math courses should be selected with guidance from faculty advisor.

Biology Seminars

Three 1-credit seminars as follows:

• BIOL 0180 - Introductory Seminar in Biology
• BIOL 0280-0289 - Biology Seminar
• (Biology education students must take BIOL 0289 for this requirement.)
• BIOL 0380 - Senior Seminar

Note:

The first-year seminar serves as an introduction to the field of biology, research methods, career opportunities; assists students in integrating the knowledge gained in individual biology and cognate courses; and helps documents the student's progress toward meeting the departmental learning goals.  A topical seminar (BIOL 0280-0289 is typically taken during the junior or senior year) and focuses on specific topics, while the Senior Seminar requires the presentation of a portfolio documenting the student's progress toward meeting the departmental learning goals.

Required Chemistry Courses

Two semesters of chemistry may be used to satisfy the Science requirement of the Common Core.

• CHEM 0109 - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 0111 - General Chemistry II
• CHEM 0201 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 0203 - Organic Chemistry II

Additional Licensure Requirements:

 

• BIOL 0201 - General Ecology
• BIOL 0203 - Genetics
• 
  
• BIOL 0205 - Cell Biology (preferred) or
• BIOL 0223 - Microbiology
• 
  
• BIOL 0211 - Plant Biology
• BIOL 0230 - Evolution
• BIOL 0237 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIOL 0289 - Biology Seminar: History and Nature of Scientific Knowledge
• BIOL 0390 - Teaching Secondary School Biology
• PHSC 0101 - Introduction to Physics
• Three additional 300-level Biology courses selected in consultation with the Program Coordinator. Credits: 9

Note:

Students progress toward meeting Advanced Standing in Teacher Education is monitored at the end of the sophomore year (57 credits).  All students must meet the requirements for Advanced Standing to achieve teacher candidacy.   Please see section on Licensure for Teaching under Academic Policies.

In order to be eligible for student teaching, a student must have completed all required course and field work, have an overall GPA of 2.8 (including transfer work), and have a passing grade in the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (i.e., Communication and Literacy and the Biology subject area tests).

Pedagogical Coursework

A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required in pedagogical coursework specific to your licensure program prior to practicum.  Consult with the department on which courses are classified as part of the pedagogy requirements.

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in the Common Core .