TEACHER CERTIFICATION OPTION IN BIOLOGY

The rationale and organizing principles that guide the School of Education's development of professional education programs is couched in a tripodal model which mirrors our goals for our students. We believe that our students must be knowledgeable about learners, content, and pedagogy. Students must be reflective as they plan, implement, and evaluate pedagogical and curricular issues. Students must be collaborative, developing and honing communication and leadership skills necessary to work with colleagues, students, parents, and community leaders to plan and implement efficient and effective educational programs and to initiate change when needed. We believe that critical thinking is the connecting strand which permeates these three elements. Critical thinking is a process which involves assessment, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and appropriate action. It is our goal to prepare the Professional Educator for the 21st century.

The Department of Biology provides the major knowledge base for students certifying to teach biology in the state of South Carolina. The department supports and encourages the conceptual framework strands in the School of Education: critical thinking, collaboration, and reflection.

General Education Requirements	51 hours
Communications	12 hours
ENG 112	3
ENG 200	3
SPCO 101	3
Computer Science	3
Social Sciences	9 hours
ANTH 200 or GEOG 101	3
POL 101 or 103	3
GEOG 105	3
Humanities	12 hours
Literature (in any language).	3
History.	3
ART 101	3
MU 101	3
Mathematics
Mathematics and/or Logic	6 hours
Natural Sciences	12 hours
(Biological and physical sciences [includes chemistry and physics]
with labs must be represented; psychology does not count as science
for teacher certification)
CHEM 101	4
BIOL 105-106	8
Professional Education Courses	32 hours
EDUC 290	2
EDUC 299	2
EDUC 300	4
EDUC 303	2
EDUC 380	2
EDUC 393	2
EDUC 437	3
EDUC 488	2
EDUC 489	1
EDUC 490	12
Supporting Courses	9 hours
HLTH 301	3
PSY 316	3
ASTR 101	4
Additional Courses for Biology Major/Certification
BIOL 301or 407	4
BIOL 401	4
BIOL 499	1
Plant Biology one course from:
BIOL 206, 207, 208, 303, 306 (with approval),
307, 310, or 313	4
Animal Biology one course from
BIOL 201, 202, 205, 209, 302, 305, 306 (with
approval) 312, 315, 406, or 501	4
Ecology one course from:
BIOL 308, 402, 408, 411	4
Additional elective in biology to bring the total
up to 25 hours above the 100-level	4
Additional requirements for biology major:
CHEM 102	4
CHEM 201	4
PHYS 200, 201, and 202 or 215 and 216	8-12
Minor or Second Collateral	7-12 hours