Interdisciplinary Studies (Life Science, 4-8, Teacher Certification), Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies


Core Curriculum - 42 Hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once. The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.

020 Mathematics – 3 hours

Choose one:
MATH 1314College Algebra

3

MATH 1414College Algebra

4

030 Life and Physical Science – 6 hours

Choose one pair: 
PHYS 1401General Physics I

4

PHYS 1402General Physics II

4

PSCI 1421Physical Science I

4

PSCI 1422Physical Science II

4

Pair must have the same course prefix. 

090 Integrative and Experiential Learning – 6 hours

Choose labs corresponding to Life and Physical Science section, and complete:

CHEM 1111General Chemistry I Lab

1

Major Requirements – 60 Hours

Required Courses - 53 hours

Biology Foundation - 17 hours

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4

BIOL 1407General Biology II

4

BIOL 3301Biological Evolution

3

BIOL 3330/MATE 3321/PHYS 3330Functions and Modeling

3

BIOL 4392/MATE 4392/PHYS 4392Research Methods in the Science and Mathematics Classroom (UTeach)

3

Science Foundation - 36 hours

Complete the required courses below and choose one science pair:
ENVR 1401Introduction to Environmental Science I

4

CHEM 1311General Chemistry I

3

GEOG 2313Principles of Geography Physics Elementary

3

GEOL 1403Physical Geology

4

GEOL 3401Geomorphology

4

GEOL 3405Oceanography

4

MATE 3305Fundamentals of Statistics and Probability

3

MATH 2412Precalculus

4

MATH 2413Calculus I

4

PHIL 3317/MATE 3317Perspectives on Science and Mathematics

3

Prescribed Electives - 7 hours

Choose from:
BIOL 3404Conservation Biology

4

BIOL 3409Ecology

4

BIOL 3413Genetics

4

GEOL 4403Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

4

GEOL 4302Environmental Geology

3

Teacher Certification – 21 Hours

Area of Certification: Life Science (4-8)

UTCH 1101Inquiry Approaches to Teaching

1

UTCH 1102Inquiry-Based Lesson Design

1

UTCH 3301Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science

3

UTCH 3302Classroom Interactions

3

UTCH 3303Project-Based Instruction

3

UTCH 4101Apprentice Teaching Seminar

1

UTCH 4601Apprentice Teaching

6

READ 4305Disciplinary Literacy in Content Area Classrooms

3

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 123

Major Admissions Requirements

Admission to the Teacher Education Program at the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability is required for completion of teacher certification requirements with the undergraduate degree. All admission requirements are in accordance to Texas Administrative Code rules §227.10 and the HEA Title II accountability requirements. All applicants must meet the current certification requirements in effect at the time of application, regardless of the catalog year of degree plan.

Major Progression Requirements

Teacher Education Program progression requirements include GPA, course grades, certification courses, benchmarks/key assessments and testing.

Admission to the College of Education and P-16 Integration is required for participation in Apprentice Teaching and Seminar (UTCH 4101, 4601). Students unable to be admitted to UTCH 4601 and UTCH 4101 will be required to substitute hours, as recommended by advisor.

Major Graduation Requirements

Minimum GPA of 2.75 in the major is required for graduation. BIOL 1406, BIOL 1407CHEM 1311/1111, CHEM 1312/1112, UTCH 1101, UTCH 1102, UTCH 3301, UTCH 3302, UTCH 3303, UTCH 4101, UTCH 4601 with a grade of ‘C’ or better grade in all of these courses; and approval of UTeach portfolio are required for graduation.