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Biology Education BIED

Career Path: Health Sciences, Human Services

Required Courses		Credit Hours
Biology Major (41-42 credit hours)
BIOL 121	General Biology 1 *Z	4
BIOL 122	General Biology 2 *Z	4
BIOL 205	Human Anatomy/Physiology*Z	5
BIOL 218	Microbial Ecology *Z	3
BIOL 341	Natural History of Invertebrates*Z	3
BIOL 342	Vertebrate Natural History*Z	3
BIOL 351	Field Botany*Z	3
BIOL 353	Plant Physiology*Z	4
BIOL 375	Principles of Genetics*Z	3
BIOL 442	Ecology*Z	3
Related Requirement (3 hours required)
CHEM 124	Intro to Organic & Biochemistry*Z	3
Recommended Electives (3-4 hours required)
BIOL 340	Evolution * WZ	3
BIOL 344	Entomology*Z	3
BIOL 347	Environmental Conservation*Z	3
BIOL 349	Medical Parasitology*Z	3
BIOL 370	Developmental Biology*Z	4
BIOL 373	Cell Biology*Z	3
Professional Education Sequence
Level I
Note: Students seeking admission to teacher education candidacy must meet all university requirements for admission to the specific program they wish to enter.
EDUC 251	Life Span Human Growth & Dev	3
EDUC 206	Ed Tech in Sec Classrooms	3
EDUC 289	Principles of Teaching and Learning	3
Level II
Note: Prior to admission to the Teacher Education Program and Level II courses, students must pass all sections of the Basic Skills Test, complete all Professional Education Prerequisite courses with a minimum of 2.5 GPA, with no grade lower than a C (2.0), have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and meet all other program requirements. Students may have no more than two repeats in Level I coursework.
EDUC 303	School, Work & Society	3
EDUC 308	Teaching Strategies for SPED/Diverse Pop	3
EDUC 339	Instructional Planning and Practice	2
EDUC 430	Instruction Delivery & Evaluation	4
EDUC 439	Instructional Theory into Practice	2
EDUC 443	Teaching Reading/Secondary Areas	3
Level III
Note: Prior to student teaching and professional seminar (Level III courses), students must obtain the appropriate GPA for their major/minor as established by each department, earn an overall GPA of 2.75 in the professional education courses, have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and meet all other program requirements.
EDUC 491	Secondary Directed Teaching	12
EDUC 499	Professional Seminar	2
TOTAL		40
NOTE: STUDENTS MUST OBTAIN THE APPROPRIATE GPA FOR THEIR MAJOR/MINOR AS ESTABLISHED BY EACH DEPARTMENT. A 2.75 GPA IS REQUIRED IN THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSE SEQUENCE. A 2.50 CUMULATIVE GPA IS ALSO REQUIRED BEFORE STUDENT TEACHING. NOTE: Though faculty advisors are responsible for advising students regarding degree requirements, it is the student who is ultimately responsible for choosing the correct courses and for following the correct program.

Why Choose Biology Education?

Biology teachers guide students in discovering the marvelous logic, efficient simplicity and the design behind a myriad of complex events in nature. The technological revolution has added an infectious new excitement to the lessons of biology. Biology education today provides access to new knowledge, helping people understand how things happen in the natural and physical environment.

The employment outlook for biology education students is excellent. Graduates are prepared to teach in high schools and also have the necessary basic preparation to enter a career in industry or pursue an advanced degree in science. One semester of directed teaching at the secondary level is required. A teaching minor is also required.

Professional Opportunities

Biology education is a four-year curriculum that may be selected as a major. A teaching minor also is required. You cannot have a biology teaching minor with this teaching major. Successful completion of the program leads to recommendation for a Michigan secondary provisional certificate. The program is designed to take full advantage of the unusual, hands-on Ferris instructional capabilities in developing both teaching and subject matter competency. Students receive the broad background in classroom, laboratory and field training essential to be effective teachers.

Admission Requirements

High school students and transfer students with 29 credit hours or less must possess a high school grade point average of 2.25 (on a 4.0 scale) or an ACT composite score of 15. Transfer students with 30 credit hours or more must possess a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Students transferring into the program with completed majors or minors must have the appropriate GPA as established by each department. Consult individual program description for other admission requirements.

Teacher Certification Requirements

As required by the State of Michigan to receive teacher certification, all teacher candidates must: (1) pass the Michigan Basic Skills Test, (2) pass the pedagogy tests in their subject area majors and minors, and (3) have a 2.50 minimum GPA to receive teacher certification in Michigan. These state requirements are in addition to the FSU graduation requirements of your individual program.

Graduation Requirements

The biology education program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree through the School of Education, College of Education & Human Services. Graduates must complete all of FSU's general education, biology, and education requirements. Professional education requirements include a semester of directed student teaching. Consult individual program description for other graduation requirements.

A 2.50 GPA is required for succesful completion of the Biology major.

More Information

College of Education & Human Services
Bishop Hall Room 421
Ferris State University
1349 Cramer Circle
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2737
Telephone: (231) 591-5361