BIOLOGY TEACHING MINOR

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 minor is designed for individuals who wish to be certified to teach biology at the secondary level (WDPI category Early Adolescence through Adolescence, ages 10-21; WDPI license 605).

The minor requires completion of the requirements listed below and the Education professional requirements and the licensing requirements for teacher education (see EDUCATION).

A teaching minor in Biology must be combined with a Chemistry or Broad Field Science major for licensure to teach science in grades 6, 7, and 8 and general science in grade 9 if the applicant holds middle or middle/secondary science licenses.

Biology Teaching minors seeking Wisconsin certification will be required to pass PRAXIS Exam 10435 to be eligible for certification.

Twenty-five credits in biology to include:

1. Required courses:
   BIO 151F5 General Biology I (4 cr)
   BIO 152F5 General Biology II (4 cr)
   BIO 312 Microbiology (4 cr)
   BIO 351 Organismal Botany (4 cr)
   BIO 352 Organismal Zoology (4 cr)
   BIO 401 Genetics (3 cr)
    
2. A minimum of 2 credits from the following:
   BIO 205 Field Biology (2 cr)
   BIO 250 Environmental Biology (3 cr)
   BIO 430 Animal Behavior (4 cr)
   BIO 450 Ecology (4 cr)

Additional requirements:

1. NATS 459S Teaching Science in Middle/Secondary schools (3 cr)
    
2. Completion of WDPI content exam, PRAXIS Exam 10435, with a passing score.