Biology Major - Secondary Education Specialization

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Program Coordinator/Contact
Volker Brözel, Department Head
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Alfred Dairy Science Hall 228
605-688-6141
e-mail: biomicro@abs.sdstate.edu
http://www.sdstate.edu/biomicro/
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
The curriculum in the Biology Secondary Education specialization is designed to provide students with the background needed for a successful career teaching biology in middle and high schools. Students complete a broad distribution of courses that include all the major areas in Biology as well as coursework in pedagogical and professional development. For secondary education majors that may teach in a rural school or apply to graduate school, speak to an advisor about taking additional chemistry, physics, and math classes.

Academic Requirements
A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained in the major courses.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Course Delivery Format
Program coursework is on-campus, in classrooms and laboratories, as well as field-based settings. Additional coursework is available at off-campus attendance centers. Limited coursework is available online.

Requirements for Biology Major - Secondary Education Specialization: 120 Credits

System General Education Requirements*: 33-35

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity :
SOC 100
and/or
PSYC 101
Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics Credits: 4-6

MATH 102
and
MATH 120

or
MATH 115

or
MATH 121-121L

or
MATH 123

(123L)
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151-151L
and
BIOL 153-153L
Credits: 8

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar:
BIOL 109-109L**
Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility (Suggested
AIS/ANTH 421
or
AIS/HIST 368
) Credits: 3

Major Requirements: 48-49

Biology and Microbiology: 13

BIOL 202-202L - Genetics and Organismal Biology and Lab
Credits: 3, 1
BIOL 204-204L - Genetics and Cellular Biology and Lab
Credits: 3, 1
MICR 233-233L - Introductory Microbiology and Lab
Credits 3, 1
BIOL 290 - Seminar
Credits: 1

Chemistry and Physics: 16

CHEM 112-112L - General Chemistry I and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 4
CHEM 114-114L - General Chemistry II and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 4
CHEM 326-326L - Organic Chemistry I and Lab(COM)
Credits: 4
PHYS 101-101L - Survey of Physics * (COM) and Lab
Credits: 4

Advanced Writing: 3

ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) (AW)
Credits: 3

Specialization Requirements: 16-17

BOT 201-201L - General Botany and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 3
BIOL 221-221L - Human Anatomy and Lab (COM)
Credits: 4
BIOL 373 - Evolution (COM)
Credits: 3
NRM 311 - Principles of Ecology (COM)
Credits: 3
Take at least one of the following
- BIOL 200-200L - Animal Diversity and Lab*
  Credits: 4
- BIOL 325-325L - Physiology and Lab (COM)
  Credits: 4
- BIOL/PHIL - 383 Bioethics** (G)
  Credits: 4
- CHEM 328-328L - Organic Chemistry II and Lab(COM)
  Credits: 4
- PHIL/REL 454-554 - Environmental Ethics ** (COM)
  Credits: 3
- WL 302 - Animal Behavior
  Credits: 3

Teaching Specialization Requirements

Professional Semester III

SPED 405 - Educating Secondary Students with Disabilities
Credits: 2
SEED 410 - Social Foundations, Management and Law
Credits: 2
EDER 415 - Educational Assessment
Credits: 2
ELED 488 - K-8 Student Teaching (COM)
or
SEED 488 - 7-12 Student Teaching (COM)
Credits: 8
*Candidates in K-12 areas such as Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Art, Modern Language, and Music split their student teaching credits, enrolling in both SEED 488 and ELED 488

Additional Requirements

Prior to enrolling in PSI, students complete
SOC 100
or
PSYC 101
as part of the University General Education Core.
Students must also receive a “C” grade or better in
SPCM 101
,
ENGL 101
, and
Math 102
or higher.
There are GPA requirements for entry into and continuation within the teacher education program. For additional information please consult the Secondary Education Handbook.

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.