Biology (Teacher Certification), Bachelor of Science

Program Overview

This program leads to a profession which requires an occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001 This requires that all applicants seeking to become licensed must undergo a criminal background check prior to licensure. Students in this program should check with the College of Education and P-16 Integration on the requirements for a criminal background check prior to student teaching.  

Admission requirements for this program beyond university admission requirements. 

Progression requirements for this program.

  • Teacher Education Program progression requirements include GPA, course grades, certification courses, benchmarks/key assessments and testing.
  • Admission to the College of Education is required for participation in Apprentice Teaching and Seminar (UTCH 4101, UTCH 4601). Students unable to be admitted to UTCH 4601 and UTCH 4101 will be required to substitute hours, as recommended by advisor.

Specific graduation requirements for this program beyond university bachelor’s degree requirements. 

 

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

MATH 2412Precalculus

4

030 Life and Physical Science – 6 hours

CHEM 1311General Chemistry I

3

CHEM 1312General Chemistry II

3

080 Social and Behavioral Sciences – 3 hours

PSYC 2301General Psychology

3

090 Integrative and Experiential Learning – 6 hours

CHEM 1111General Chemistry I Lab

1

CHEM 1112General Chemistry II Lab

1

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4

One credit hour from BIOL 1406 applies. 

Major Requirements – 60 hours

Required Courses - 48 hours

Biology Foundation - 22 hours

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4

BIOL 1407General Biology II

4

BIOL 3301Biological Evolution

3

BIOL 3412Cell Biology

4

BIOL 3413Genetics

4

BIOL 3409Ecology

4

Three credit hours from BIOL 1406 applies. 

Science Foundation - 26 hours

CHEM 2123Organic Chemistry I Lab

1

CHEM 2323Organic Chemistry I

3

MATH 2412Precalculus

4

MATH 2413Calculus I

4

PHIL 3317Perspectives on Science and Mathematics

3

PHYS 1401General Physics I

4

PHYS 1402General Physics II

4

BIOL 3330Functions and Modeling

3

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

3

One credit hour from MATH 2412 applies. 

Prescribed Electives - 12 hours

Students must take at least one course from each list below. Of the 12 hours, at least 9 hours must be advanced.

Plants

Choose at least one:

BIOL 3408Plant Morphology

4

BIOL 4318Ethnobotany

3

BIOL 4405Plant Physiology

4

BIOL 4408Plant Pathology

4

BIOL 4410Marine Botany

4

BIOL 4414Plant Taxonomy

4

Animals

Choose at least one:

BIOL 2428Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4

BIOL 3345Animal Nutrition

3

BIOL 3311Mammalian Physiology

3

BIOL 3414Invertebrate Zoology

4

BIOL 4319Medical Entomology

3

BIOL 4402Marine Zoology

4

BIOL 4404Ichthyology

4

BIOL 4407Animal Parasitology

4

BIOL 4409Herpetology

4

BIOL 4411Ecological Physiology of Animals

4

BIOL 4412Ornithology

4

BIOL 4415Entomology

4

BIOL 4416Mammalogy

4

BIOL 4432Animal Behavior

4

Microbiology

Choose at least one:

BIOL 3401General Microbiology

4

BIOL 3403Medical Microbiology and Immunology

4

BIOL 4413General Virology

4

Teacher Certification – 21 hours

Area of Certification: Life Science (7-12)

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 the Classroom

3

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 123

 

View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.

 

UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements. 

 

Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.