Biology, Teacher Licensure Program, B.S.

Westfield State University’s educator preparation programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). 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 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)
CAIS 0101 - Computers in Society (3 Credits)
Additional Licensure Requirements listed below

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

The Professional Sequence for Middle and Secondary 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:

EDUC 0208 - Teaching in U.S. Secondary Schools Credits: 3 (preferred)
or EDUC 0220 - Schools in US Society Credits: 3 (*FB)
EDUC 0215 - Theory of Critical Multicultural Education Credits: 3

Professional Sequence Courses Middle and Secondary:

EDUC 0221 - Foundations of Special Education Credits: 3 (*FB)
EDUC 0321 - Middle School and its Students Credits: 3 (*FB)
EDUC 0354 - Teaching Middle and High School Students Credits: 3 (*FB)
EDUC 0363 - Sheltered English Immersion Credits: 3
PSYC 0203 - Adolescent Development Credits: 3
Appropriate academic Methods course, such as the following:
ENGL 0350 - Methods of Teaching English in the Secondary and/or Middle School Credits: 4
GNSC 0371 - Methods of Science Education for the Middle School Credits: 3
GNSC 0373 - Methods of Chemistry Education Credits: 3
HIST 0332 - Methods of Teaching History: Middle and Secondary Credits: 3
MOVP 0314 - Physical Education Teaching Methodology: Elementary and Secondary Credits: 3
Note: *FB indicates Field Based course.

Practicum

Appropriate academic Practicum and Seminar, such as the following:

ART 0351 - Practicum (Teaching Art, 5-12) Credits: 12
BIOL 0390 - Teaching Secondary School Biology Credits: 3
EDUC 0364 - Practicum: Middle School Credits: 10 *
EDUC 0369 - Practicum: Secondary School Credits: 10 *
EDUC 0372 - 5-12 Practicum: English and History Credits: 10 *
ENGL 0322 - Practicum Seminar: English Education Credits: 2 **
MOVP 0352 - Practicum II in Physical Education - Secondary Credits: 6
*Must take EDUC 0300 - Practicum Seminar (2 credits) as a co-requisite.
**Middle and Secondary education students in English must take ENGL 0322.

General Education and Common Core Courses

BIOL 0102 - Environmental Biology for a Changing World , BIOL 0104 - Human Biology , and BIOL 0106 - Practical Biology for the World Today each satisfy General Education and Common Core requirements, however they DO NOT satisfy requirements for the Biology Major and should not be taken by students within the major. MATH 0105 - Calculus I and MATH 0108 - Elementary Statistics each satisfy General Education and Common Core requirements. BIOL 0237 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I and BIOL 0278 - Biostatistics each satisfy Common Core requirements, but do not satisfy General Education requirements. Courses should be selected with guidance from faculty advisor.

Introductory Biology/Math Courses

BIOL 0128 - General Biology II Credits: 4
BIOL 0129 - General Biology I Credits: 4
These courses DO NOT need to be taken in sequence, but should be taken in the first year.
Two of the following Math courses:
MATH 0105 - Calculus I Credits: 4
MATH 0108 - Elementary Statistics Credits: 3
BIOL 0278 - Biostatistics Credits: 3

Biology Seminars

Three 1-credit seminars as follows:

BIOL 0180 - Introductory Seminar in Biology Credits: 1
BIOL 0280-0289 - Biology Seminar Credits: 1
(Biology education students must take BIOL 0289 for this requirement.)
BIOL 0380 - Senior Seminar Credits: 1

Note:

The first-year seminar serves as an introduction to the field of biology, research methods, and career opportunities; assists students in integrating the knowledge gained in individual biology and cognate courses; and helps document 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

CHEM 0109 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHEM 0111 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHEM 0201 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 4

Additional Licensure Requirements:

BIOL 0201 - General Ecology Credits: 4
BIOL 0203 - Genetics Credits: 4
BIOL 0205 - Cell Biology Credits: 4 (preferred)
or BIOL 0223 - Microbiology Credits: 4
BIOL 0211 - Plant Biology Credits: 4
BIOL 0230 - Evolution Credits: 3
BIOL 0237 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
BIOL 0289 - Biology Seminar: History and Nature of Scientific Knowledge Credits: 1
BIOL 0390 - Teaching Secondary School Biology Credits: 3
PHSC 0101 - Introduction to Physics: Understanding the Natural World Credits: 4
6 credits of
BIOL 0377 - Research Experience
(3 of these credits may be satisfied by
BIOL 0399 - Independent Research
)
3 additional credits at the 300-level (
BIOL 0377 - Research Experience
or other 300-level biology)

Note:

Students progress toward meeting Advanced Standing in Teacher Education is monitored at the end of the sophomore year (57 credits). All students must meet the requirements for Advanced Standing to achieve teacher candidacy. Please see section on Licensure for Teaching under Academic Policies.

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), a GPA of 3.0 in all pedagogy coursework, and have a passing grade in the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (i.e., Communication and Literacy and the Biology subject area tests).

Pedagogical Coursework

An overall 2.8 GPA plus a 3.0 GPA in the pedagogical sequence specific to your licensure program prior to practicum is required. Consult with the department on which courses are classified as part of the pedagogy requirements.

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a general education or common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in General Education: WISE or Common Core .