Biology Education

About this Composite Major

Students pursuing this degree will be qualified to teach secondary science courses across the science curriculum with VCSU's Bachelor of Science in Education with a Biology major plus 12 semester hours in each of the other sciences (chemistry, earth science, and/or physics).

As a Biology Education major, you will have multiple specialized courses, including Introduction to Education (40 hours); Practicum (80 hours); Culturally Diverse Practicum (25 hours involving 3 consecutive full days in a classroom), and a twelve-week student teaching field experience. Student teaching is the culminating experience of the program and the opportunity for students to apply all they have learned regarding their classroom preparation and field experience opportunities.

Meet a Student

- VCSU graduate Michaela Halvorson stands near a lake in North Dakota.

"“VCSU’s science department is amazing. I feel blessed to have all these fantastic teachers who come with real world experience under their belts. When I ask them a question, they are always so knowledgeable and willing to help you out. Alongside the awesome faculty, the classes take you out on outdoor experiences that help you further not only your knowledge but the experience that employers are looking for.” —Michaela Halvorson, Milnor, N.D.

Accreditations

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Become a Biology Educator

A Biology Education degree will prepare you for a career as a biology or science teacher. You’ll also acquire skills to manage your classroom and teach effectively. Career opportunities with this degree can include:

Chemistry teacher
Biology teacher
Education Coordinator
Physics teacher
Physics professor
Lab technician

Get Involved in your Major

The Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Club is a local VCSU club that organizes outings and fundraisers for those interested in the outdoors. The Pre-Professional Club provides preparation for entry into graduate school and professional programs for VCSU students. In addition, there is a wide variety of activities on campus such as Choir, Band, and Intramural sports, and also Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) and Student North Dakota United (SNDU).

Teacher Education Requirements

- Biology Professor Nick Gault works with a student studying skeletons as part of an anatomy class at Valley City State University.

Students are typically admitted into Teacher Education during their sophomore year or the beginning of their junior year of college. This program requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher and successful completion of the Praxis I test. Additional criteria for Admission to Teacher Education can be found at the following website: www.onestop.vcsu.edu.

Practical Experience

The Rhoades Science Center includes a greenhouse, a planetarium, and laboratories for biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, computer science, and photography studies. Students have access to: a fully equipped Aquatic Macro invertebrate Laboratory and Biomedical Research laboratory; weather stations; river gauge station; fish hatchery; the dam and reservoir at Lake Ashtabula; the Soil Conservation Service; and the North Dakota State Extension Service. Biology faculty have ongoing connections with North Dakota Department of Health, ND Parks and Recreation, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Contact Information

Department Chair

Dr. Nicholas Galt, nicholas.galt@vcsu.edu, (701) 845-7459

Faculty Contact

Lindsey Kiecker, lindsey.kiecker@vcsu.edu, (701) 845-7451

Department Location

Rhoades Science Center 203

Schedule your visit today!

http://visit.vcsu.edu/

(701) 845-7101 or (800) 532-8641

General Education Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
English Composition
Select one of the following:		6
ENGL 110	College Composition I
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
or
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
ENGL 210	College Composition III: Persuasive Writing
Speech Communication
Select one of the following:		3
COMM 110	Fundamentals of Public Speaking
COMM 212	Interpersonal Communication
COMM 216	Intercultural Communication
Mathematics
Select one of the following:		3
MATH 103	College Algebra
MATH 104	Finite Mathematics
MATH 107	Precalculus ¹
MATH 110	Mathematics in Society
MATH 165	Calculus I
MATH 210	Elementary Statistics
Lab Science
Select two of the following, one must come from the Natural and Physical Sciences category		8
Natural and Physical Sciences (ND:LABSC)
BIOL 111	Concepts of Biology
BIOL 150	General Biology I
BIOL 151	General Biology II
BIOL 170	General Zoology
CHEM 115	Introductory Chemistry
CHEM 116	Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry ¹
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I ¹
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II
GEOL 100	Introduction to Earth Science
GEOL 106	The Earth Through Time
PHYS 100	Concepts of Physics
PHYS 110	Introductory Astronomy
PHYS 211	College Physics I
PHYS 212	College Physics II
PHYS 251	University Physics I
PHYS 252	University Physics II
Additional Sciences (ND:SCI)
PSYC 240	Cognition and Brain Science
TECH 161	Technology, Engineering, and Design
TECH 165	Technology Solutions for Society
Wellness
Select one of the following:		2
HPER 100	Concepts of Fitness and Wellness
HPER 212	Introduction to Stress Management
Computer Science and Literacy
Select one of the following:		3
CIS 147	Principles of Information Security
CIS 170	Introduction to Computer Information Systems ²
CSCI 120	Introduction to Programming
CSCI 127	Introduction to Programming in Java
CSCI 160	Computer Science I
CSCI 289	Social Implications of Computer Technology ²
SE 110	Discovering Computing
Digital Literacy
Select one of the following:
CIS 170	Introduction to Computer Information Systems ²
CSCI 289	Social Implications of Computer Technology ²
Humanities
Literacies
Select one of the following:		3
ASL 101	American Sign Language I
ASL 102	American Sign Language II
COMM 211	Oral Interpretation
ENGL 220	Introduction to Literature
ENGL 225	Introduction to Film
ENGL 231	Bible as Literature
ENGL 232	Mythology
ENGL 236	Women and Literature
ENGL 241	World Literature I
ENGL 242	World Literature II
ENGL 261	American Literature I
ENGL 262	American Literature II
HUM 201	Civilization, Thought, and Literary Heritage
PSYC 200	Ethics and Philosophy of Science
SPAN 101	1st Year Spanish I
SPAN 102	1st Year Spanish II
SPAN 201	2nd Year Spanish I
SPAN 202	2nd Year Spanish II
THEA 110	Introduction to Theatre Arts
Art and Music
Select one of the following:		3
ART 110	Introduction to the Visual Arts
ART 115	Introduction to Digital Media
ART 210	Art History I
ART 211	Art History II
ART 233	History of Craft
HUM 202	Fine Arts and Aesthetics
MUS 100	Music Appreciation
MUS 101	Music Fundamentals
MUS 201	World Music
MUS 207	History of Popular/Rock Music
Social Science
Select 6 credits from the following:		6
ANTH 111	Introduction to Anthropology
COMM 112	Understanding Media and Social Change
COMM 114	Human Communication
ECON 201	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 202	Principles of Macroeconomics
GEOG 151	Human Geography
HIST 103	United States to 1877
HIST 104	United States to Present
HIST 211	World Civilizations to 1500
HIST 212	World Civilizations since 1500
HIST 267	Environmental History
HIST 270	Native American Studies
POLS 115	American National Government
POLS 116	State and Local Government
PSYC 111	Introduction to Psychology ¹
SOC 110	Introduction to Sociology
SOC 111	Introduction to Anthropology
Additional Humanities or Social Science
Select one additional course from Humanities or Social Science or select from the following:		2
ART 122	Two-Dimensional Design
ART 130	Drawing I
ART 150	Ceramics I
ART 180	Photography I
ART 182	Art With a Smartphone
GEOG 111	Survey of Geography
MUS 104	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 105	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 130	Valkyries
MUS 131	Concert Choir
MUS 140	Athletic Band
MUS 141	Concert Band
PHYS 275	Planetarium Science
THEA 201	Theatre Practicum
Total Credits		39

¹: Required
²: CIS 170 and CSCI 289 may be used to satisfy both the Computer Science and Literacy and the Digital Literacy requirement for Gen Ed.

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
BIOL 150	General Biology I	4
BIOL 151	General Biology II	4
BIOL 170	General Zoology	4
BIOL 310	Microbiology	4
BIOL 311	General Botany	4
BIOL 395	Laboratory Preparation and Management	1
BIOL 410	Field Ecology	4
BIOL 440	Biostatistics and Experimental Design	3-4
or MATH 321	Applied Probability and Statistics
BIOL 490	Secondary Science Methods and Techniques	3
BIOL 491	Integrated Science Capstone	2
GEOL 100	Introduction to Earth Science	4
PHYS 211	College Physics I	4
or PHYS 251	University Physics I
Total Credits		41-42

Students seeking K-12 certification will be placed in an Elementary and Secondary classroom setting.

Total General Education 39 Hrs
Total Major Requirement 41-42 Hrs
Total Professional Education Sequence 32-33 Hrs
Total Credits Needed to Graduate 120 Hr

To become a “highly qualified” teacher in other areas of science (Chemistry, Physics or Earth Science), a student must take a minimum of 12 credits in each of the other science areas in which they intend to teach. This conforms to the No Child Left Behind Policy.

Professional Education Sequence

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Professional Education Sequence
EDUC 240	Educating Exceptional Students	3
EDUC 250	Introduction to Education	3
EDUC 283	Understanding Cultural Diversity in Education	3
EDUC 300	Educational Technology	2
EDUC 351	Secondary Practicum and Classroom Management	2
EDUC 352	Culturally Diverse Practicum	1
or EDUC 464	Practicum in the EL Classroom
EDUC 375	Teaching Reading in the Content Areas	2
EDUC 400	Educational Psychology	2
EDUC 450	Trends in Assessment and Educational Issues	2
EDUC 480	Student Teaching (Secondary)	9
PSYC 250	Developmental Psychology	3
Total Credits		32

EDUC 351 and EDUC 480 should be taken the same semester. The field experience from 351 will occur prior to the student teaching experience from 480.

For degree and graduation requirements, visit degree requirements and graduation requirements.

Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
BIOL 150	4	BIOL 151	4
CHEM 121 (Gen Ed)	5	BIOL 395	1
CIS 170 (Gen Ed)	3	CHEM 116 (Gen Ed)	4
ENGL 110 (Gen Ed)	3	ENGL 125 (Gen Ed)	3
UNIV 150	1	Literacies (Gen Ed)	3
	16		15
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Additional Humanities or Social Science (Gen Ed)	2	BIOL 170	4
EDUC 250	3	BIOL 311	4
MATH 107 (Gen Ed)	4	COMM 110 (Gen Ed)	3
PHYS 211 or 251	4	EDUC 240	3
PSYC 111 (Gen Ed)	3	EDUC 300	2
	16		16
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Art and Music (Gen Ed)	3	BIOL 310	4
BIOL 490 or 410	3 or 4	BIOL 440	4
EDUC 375	2	EDUC 283	3
EDUC 450	2	EDUC 352	1
HPER 100 (Gen Ed)	2	EDUC 400	2
PSYC 250	3
	15-16		14
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
BIOL 410 or 490	3 or 4	EDUC 351	2
BIOL 491	2	EDUC 480	9
GEOL 100	4
Social Science (Gen Ed)	3
	12-13		11
Total Credits 115-117

Please note: This plan is intended for general information only. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor each semester before registration. 1-2 additional courses may be needed to get to 120 credits.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the major concepts in biology.
Exhibit critical thinking skills by applying the scientific method to solve problems.
Exhibit the ability to read and communicate in a scientific style.
Analyze the consequences of activities on themselves and their environment.