Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2015-2016 
    
Catalog 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.S. with a Concentration in Teacher Education


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Degree Programs Offered

The curriculum for the undergraduate major in Biology with a teacher education concentration, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences ,  provides a strong background in the basic concepts of molecular, organismic, and population biology for the student who is interested in a career in science teaching at the secondary level.

Teacher Licensure

This program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to the Initial Secondary License qualifying students to teach biology and general science. Students who major in biology with a concentration in secondary education may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students wishing to pursue this endorsement must take three hours in the psychology of early adolescent development, three hours in curriculum instruction and three hours of methods related to the middle school. Students should contact their advisor for specific course requirements.

To be recommended for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching license, the student must present evidence of having passed the Basic Skills, Subject-Matter Knowledge, and Assessment of Professional Teaching examinations of the Illinois Licensure Testing System.

Students must meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals  section in the catalog.

Admission to Biology Teacher Education

In addition to meeting all university admissions requirements for undergraduate students, applicants must meet the following requirements to continue in the program:

  1. have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all lower division courses applied to the degree program;
  2. submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher;
  3. submit evidence of having passed the Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly Basic Skills)of the Illinois Licensure Testing System;
  4. submit scores from the ETS Proficiency Profile;
  5. complete EDUC-2310  (or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better, and
  6. Attend the Secondary Education Orientation.

All candidates for Illinois teacher licensure at Governors State University are required to submit to an Adam Walsh fingerprint-based criminal background check by Accurate Biometrics prior to their initial field experience in the schools. For more information on this testing and available test sites, please visit accuratebiometrics.com. Consult with your advisor for information concerning the related GSU policies and procedures.

Student Progress

The faculty monitors and evaluates student progress continually. The section, Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals , in this catalog provides a general description of the standards used to evaluate student progress. A more detailed statement of the standards and processes followed by the secondary education faculty is available in the Secondary Education Undergraduate Student Handbook.

Conditional Continuation

The faculty may permit a student to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty reviews of the student’s records identify evidence that the student will likely be successful in the program. The status of all students allowed to continue under conditions is reviewed by the faculty each term, and the students are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status. When conditions are met, the student is informed in writing of the transfer to good standing status. A student may not be admitted to student teaching without being in good standing status.

Admission to Student Teaching

Students must apply for admission to student teaching before enrolling in EDUC - 4999 Student Teaching (12) . An application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the director of Field Experiences in the Division of Education. The application must be submitted by November 30 for the fall term and January 31 for the spring term proceeding the academic year in which the student intends to teach. Student teaching is not offered in the summer term. This application for student teaching will certify that the student applying has or will have met the following requirements:

  1. completed at least 48 hours of general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher,
  2. completed professional education course requirements, except student teaching, including a minimum of 100 clock-hours of field experience with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, with a grade of “C” or better in each course, and EDUC-4330  and EDUC-4340  with a grade of “B” or better;
  3. must have completed methods course no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
  4. have no more than six hours remaining to be completed in the major in which the student is enrolled with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher and completed all courses with a grade of “C” or better;
  5. met all state requirements applicable to the subject matter area(s) in which the student will teach as outlined in Section IX, Staff Qualifications of the Illinois State Board of Education publication, Minimum Requirements for State Licensure;
  6. submit evidence of having passed the Biology content area exam of the Illinois Licensure Testing System; and
  7. received a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

Degree Requirements


Students must meet all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree; and, in addition, students must complete the General Education Requirement for Teacher Licensure, Initial Secondary License listed below. Completion of this requirement meets the general education requirement. In addition, students must:

  1. have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher;
  2. earn a grade of “C” or better in all general education courses;
  3. have a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher for all general education courses;
  4. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in biology and chemistry courses with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
  5. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher for EDCP-2101 , EDUC-3440 , and SPED-2100 , with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
  6. earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-2310 , EDUC-4330 , and EDUC-4340 ;
  7. earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-4999 ;
  8. complete a minimum of 100 clock-hours of supervised pre-student teaching experiences;
  9. provide evidence of successful completion of the Illinois and U.S. Constitution examinations;
  10. complete at least one three-hour course in nonwestern or third world cultures;
  11. complete the following course work with a grade of “B” or better: eight hours of general biology with laboratory, three hours of botany with laboratory, three hours of zoology with laboratory, eight hours of general chemistry with laboratory, eight hours of organic chemistry with laboratory;
  12. show evidence of having passed the Assessment of Professional Teaching;
  13. meet any additional requirements listed in the Teacher Licensure section of this catalog; and
  14. receive a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

General Education Requirements for Teacher Licensure, Initial Secondary License, Biology (48 Hours)


The following courses must be taken at the lower-division level:


  • General Biology with Lab (8)
  • General Chemistry with Lab (8)

Additional Courses


The following courses can be taken at either the lower-division or upper-division level and must include at least one three-hour course in non-Western or Third World cultures:

  • Written Communication (6)
  • Oral Communication (3)
  • American History (3)
  • U.S. Government (3)
  • Humanities (6)
  • Fine Arts (3)
  • Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • Health (2)

Required Courses (85 Hours)


Total - 135 Hours


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Degree Programs Offered