BIOLOGY TEACHING MAJOR WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

POLICIES

The teaching majors and minors are part of a program leading to a Wisconsin initial educator license to teach science at the Early Adolescence through Adolescence level (ages 10-21).

Science teaching majors in the programs listed are required to seek program approval from an advisor in the Natural Science Department. Transfer students must take a minimum of 12 Natural Science credits at Edgewood for a major and a minimum of 8 credits for a minor. Post-baccalaureate and transfer students intending to complete a science teaching major should consult with a Natural Science Department advisor during their first semester on campus.

Science education students fulfill their computer competency requirement by taking any of the following courses/course combinations:

• BIO 351 Organismal Botany (4 cr) and BIO 352 Organismal Zoology (4 cr)
• CHEM 323 Organic Chemistry II (4 cr) and CHEM 351 Analytical Chemistry (4 cr)
• GEOS 301 Weather and Climate (4 cr)
• PHYS 310 Principles of Mechanics (3 cr)

Science education students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in their science courses. In addition, to apply a science and/or mathematics course to a teaching major or minor, a student must receive a grade of “CD” or better.

Students must complete their Initial Content Knowledge Endorsement prior to being admitted to Teaching Science in Middle/Secondary Schools (NATS 459S).

Full implementation of PI 34 for teacher and administrator licensing in Wisconsin took full effect on September 1, 2004. Students completing programs for licensing after August 31, 2004 must now meet new licensing and license-renewal rules applicable to their respective programs, including PRAXIS I/PRAXIS II testing and performance-based portfolio assessment. See EDUCATION.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

This major is designed for individuals who wish to be certified to teach biology and/or environmental science at the secondary level (WDPI category Early Adolescence through Adolescence, ages 10-21; WDPI license 605 and 615). This major requires completion of the requirements listed below, the Education professional requirements and the licensing requirements for teacher education (see EDUCATION).

Biology Teaching majors with Environmental Science seeking Wisconsin certification will be required to pass PRAXIS Exam 10435 to be eligible for certification. It is recommended that Biology Teaching majors with Environmental Science complete the Natural Science Teaching minor to build their understanding of physics as defined in the "WDPI Content Guidelines for Life and Environmental Science Including Biology and Environmental Studies" and prepare for the WDPI content exam.

Thirty-five required biology credits to include:

1. One year of chemistry:
   CHEM 110F5 Introductory Chemistry (4 cr) and CHEM 111F5 Introductory Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (4 cr)
      or
   CHEM 120F5 General Chemistry I (4 cr) and CHEM 121F5 General Chemistry II (4 cr)
    
2. One mathematics course from the following:
   MATH 111 College Algebra (3 cr)
   MATH 112 College Algebra and Trigonometry (4 cr)
   MATH 231 Calculus I (4 cr)
    
3. Seven credits of required social science courses:
   PS 351 Selected Issues in Public Policy (2-4 cr)
   PS 352 Environmental Politics (4 cr)
   GEOG 265 Environmental Conservation (2 cr)
   PHIL 107F7 Philosophies of Earth (3 cr)
    
4. Seven credits of required geoscience courses:
   GEOS 102F5 Introduction to Earth Science I (4 cr)
   GEOS 206 Environmental Geology (3 cr)
    
5. One semester of the methods of teaching science and accompanying practicum: NATS 459S Teaching Science in Middle/Secondary Schools. Students must be fully admitted to teacher education and have completed their science coursework before being admitted to NATS 459S.
    
6. NATS 250F7 Philosophy of Science.
    
7. Completion of WDPI content exam, PRAXIS Exam 10435, with a passing score.