2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog/Student Handbook 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog/Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, Teacher Licensure Program, B.S.


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The Biology Department, in collaboration with the Education Department, offers a program of study leading to licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Education as a Teacher of Secondary School Biology. The Biology Teacher Education Program at Westfield State University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education (NCATE) and has been recognized by the National Science Teachers Association.

Students wishing to be licensed to teach Biology at the High School level must complete the following:


  • The Professional Sequence for the Secondary (8-12) Specialist
  • The Introductory Biology/Math Courses (11-12 Credits)
  • Biology Seminars
  • Required Chemistry Courses for the Biology Major (16 Credits)
  • Additional Licensure Requirements listed below

Professional Sequence: Middle (Grades 5-8) and Secondary (Grades 8-12) Specialist


The Professional Sequence for Middle and Secondary Specialist must be completed by students intending to teach an academic subject area in the Middle or Secondary School. Students must complete an academic major in the subject area in which the licensure is sought.

Professional Sequence Core:


Note


*FB indicates field-based course.
** Note: Required for Middle School licensure.

Common Core Courses


Courses in the Laboratory Science section of the Common Core are BIOL 0102 - Environmental Biology , BIOL 0104 - Human Biology , BIOL 0106 - Biology Today , and BIOL 0237 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I . The 100-level courses (BIOL 0102 , BIOL 0104 , and BIOL 0106 ) do not satisfy requirements for the Biology Major and should not be taken by students majoring in Biology.  MATH 0105   and MATH 0108  each statisfy the traditional mathematics area of the Common Core and should be selected with guidnace from faculty advisor.

Introductory Biology/Math Courses


Note:


BIOL 0128  and BIOL 0129  DO NOT have to be taken in sequence, but should be taken in the first year.  MATH 0105   and MATH 0108  each statisfy the traditional mathematics area of the Common Core and should be selected with guidnace from faculty advisor.

Biology Seminars


Three 1-credit seminars as follows:

Note:


The first-year seminar serves as an introduction to the field of biology, research methods, career opportunities; assists students in integrating the knowledge gained in individual biology and cognate courses; and helps documents the student’s progress toward meeting the departmental learning goals.  A topical seminar (BIOL 0280-0289 is typically taken during the junior or senior year) and focuses on specific topics, while the Senior Seminar requires the presentation of a portfolio documenting the student’s progress toward meeting the departmental learning goals.

Required Chemistry Courses


Two semesters of chemistry may be used to satisfy the Science requirement of the Common Core.

Additional Licensure Requirements:


Note:


Student progress toward meeting Advanced Standing in Teacher Education is monitored at the end of the sophomore year (57 credits). Please see the section on Licensure for Teaching  .

In order to be eligible for student teaching, a student must have completed all required course and field work, have an overall GPA of 2.8 (including transfer work), and have a passing grade in the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (i.e., Communication and Literacy and the Biology subject area tests).

Additional Graduation Requirements


All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements  and complete a common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in the Common Core  .

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