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Biological Sciences Area (MSUTeach Track) – Bachelor of Science

A description of MSUTeach and specific coursework for the MSUTeach Biology Track can be found in the MSUTeach Program section of the College of Science.

Program Competencies

Students graduating with the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology should possess the following:

  1. Written, oral and interpersonal communication skills in the sciences that will allow the graduate to collect, analyze, interpret, utilize and present information that is contemporary in the biological sciences.
  2. An awareness of the basic concepts of the physical and biological sciences and how these concepts are applicable in the profession.
  3. An awareness of the importance of the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, health sciences as well as the biological and physical sciences to the human community.
  4. A basic understanding of literacy of all disciplines of biology, from molecular to cellular to organismal to population levels that unite organismal, continuity, diversity and unity of life.
  5. A general competency in basic inorganic and organic chemistry as well as in introductory physics, mathematics and statistics.

Assessment

  1. Department exit examination scores administered in the capstone course.
  2. Laboratory skills performance assessments administered in selected program core biology courses.
  3. Performance of graduates on entrance examinations to post-baccalaureate programs (GRE, MCAT, PCAT, DAT).
  4. Praxis II, Biology Content Knowledge, examination scores.
  5. Employer feedback.
  6. Graduate feedback.
  7. Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Reading, Writing, Math) examination scores.
  8. Praxis II, Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 examination scores.


Program Requirements

General Education

MATH 152College Algebra

3
and
MATH 141Plane Trigonometry

3
or
MATH 174Pre-Calculus Mathematics

3
or
MATH 175Calculus I

4
BIOL 171Principles of Biology (NSC1)

4
CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I (NSC2)

4
BIOL 499DPrinciples of Evolution

3
Total Credit Hours:38-41

Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University.

Note: Students taking MATH 152 as a general education core class must also complete MATH 141.

Area Requirements

Biological Sciences Core Requirements:

BIOL 210General Zoology

4
BIOL 215General Botany

4
BIOL 301Fundamentals of Biochemistry

4
BIOL 304Genetics

3
BIOL 461Ecology

3
CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4
CHEM 326Organic Chemistry I

4
Total Credit Hours:26

Choose one of the following:

BIOL 317Principles of Microbiology

4
BIOL 380Cell Biology

3
Total Credit Hours:3-4
 

Choose one of the following:

PHYS 201Elementary Physics I

4
PHYS 231Engineering Physics I

5
Total Credit Hours:4-5

Choose one of the following:

PHYS 202Elementary Physics II

4
PHYS 232Engineering Physics II

5
CHEM 327Organic Chemistry II

4
ESS 108Physical Geology

4
Total Credit Hours:4-5

Choose one of the following

MATH 353Statistics

3
MATH 365Introduction to Mathematical Statistics

3
Total Credit Hours:3

MSUTeach Track Requirements

BIOL 155Environmental Biology

3
UTCH 100Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching

1
UTCH 150Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design

1
UTCH 200Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science

3
UTCH 250Perspectives on Science and Mathematics

3
UTCH 300Classroom Interactions*

3
UTCH 350Project-Based Instruction*

3
UTCH 400Research Methods

3
UTCH 450Apprentice Teaching

12
Total Credit Hours:32

Note: Enrollment in UTCH 450 requires admission into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). 

Choose two of the following:

BIOL 317Principles of Microbiology

4
BIOL 318Local Flora

3
BIOL 334Entomology

3
BIOL 337Comparative Anatomy

3
BIOL 338Developmental Biology

4
BIOL 356Conservation Biology

3
BIOL 357Environmental Testing Methods

3
BIOL 380Cell Biology

3
BIOL 384Pathologic Basis of Disease

3
BIOL 385Neurobiology

3
BIOL 407Invertebrate Zoology

3
BIOL 409Limnology

3
BIOL 421Biology of Ferns

3
BIOL 424Immunology

3
BIOL 425Animal Physiology

3
BIOL 426Plant Physiology

3
BIOL 427Pathogenic Microbiology

3
BIOL 428Virology

3
BIOL 429Histology

3
BIOL 431Herpetology

3
BIOL 433Ichthyology

4
BIOL 437Ornithology

3
BIOL 438Mammalogy

3
BIOL 443General Parasitology

3
BIOL 446Biotechnology

3
BIOL 447Organ Systems Physiology

3
BIOL 449Plant Anatomy

3
BIOL 451Advanced Cell Biology

3
BIOL 452Aquatic Entomology

3
BIOL 456Plant Morphology

3
BIOL 473Medical-Veterinary Entomology

4
BIOL 478Animal Behavior

3
BIOL 480History of Science

3
BIOL 490Advanced Biochemistry

3
Total Credit Hours:6-8

Note: BIOL 317 and BIOL 380 cannot count as both Biology track electives and other required program hours.

Free Electives

Free Electives (chosen by student)

0-4
Total Credit Hours:0-4

Total Credit Hours: 120-124