Aug 24, 2025

Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Biological Sciences: Secondary Education, BS

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• Program name updated as an addendum on 08.20.25.

The Secondary Teaching option prepares students to apply for a Professional Educator License (PEL) from the State of Illinois to teach science and upper level Biology in grades 9-12. Students interested in pursuing this option should consult an advisor early as requirements change.

General Education Requirements (36 credit hrs)

Core Requirements (12 credit hrs) See list …

English composition (6 hrs)
Oral communication (3 hrs)
- CMAT 1130 required
Mathematics (3 hrs)
- MATH 1200 required

General Requirements (24 credit hrs)

Humanities/Fine Arts (9 hrs); at least 3 hrs Humanities and 3 hrs Fine Arts ( excluding ART classes )
Social Sciences (9 hrs); in at least two different disciplines
- PSYC 1100 and PSYC 2040 required
Natural Sciences (6 hrs); 3 hrs Physical Science and 3 hrs Life Sciences, one of which must be a lab course
- CHEM 1400 required
- and one of the following is required: GEOG 1400 , PH S 1140 , or PH S 1150

College of Arts and Sciences General Education Requirements (3 credit hrs)

General Education
One course in a World Language (3 hrs)
One general education or major course carrying the diversity designation (embedded)

Program/Major Requirements (72-74 credit hrs)

Core Biology Requirements (20 credit hrs)

BIOL 1600 - Introduction to Biological Professions Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 1702 - Introduction to Biology II Credit Hours: 4
BIOL 2400 - Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 3040 - Genetics Lecture/ Discussion/ Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
BIOL 3051 - Cell Biology Lecture / Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
BIOL 3072 - Ecology Lecture/ Laboratory Credit Hours: 4

Core Supportive Requirements (26 credit hrs)

CHEM 1410 - General Chemistry I Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 1450 - General Chemistry II Lecture Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1460 - General Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 2400 - Organic Chemistry I Lecture Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 2410 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
MATH 1210 - College Alg & Trig Credit Hours: 3
MATH 1600 - Basic Prob/Statis I Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1510 - General Physics I Lecture and Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
PHYS 1520 - General Physics II Lecture and Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
and one of the following:
GEOG 1400 - Intro Physical Geog Credit Hours: 3
PH S 1140 - Prac Earth/Spa Sci Credit Hours: 3
PH S 1150 - Basic Astronomy Credit Hours: 3

Core Program/Major Electives (16-18 credit hrs)

16 to 18 credit hours can be selected from the following:

One 2000-level Biology course with a lab
Four 3000-level or higher courses in Biology or Biochemistry, at least two with a lab and at least two at 4000-level.

Professional Education Requirements (30-33 credit hrs)

ED 2000 - Social and Cultural Foundations of Education Credit Hours: 3
ED 2020 Critical Issues in Urban Ed Credits / Units: 3
BIOL 4715 - Readings in Science Education: Research, Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 1
or
CAS 4500 - Learning in the Discipline: Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 1-2
ED 4200 - Principles and Practices in Middle and Secondary Schools Credit Hours: 3
CAS 2630 - Classroom Management Credit Hours: 1
or
ED 4311 - Classroom Management Credit Hours: 1
LITC 4300 - Content Area Reading and Assessment Grades 5-12 Credit Hours: 3
or
ENG 4336 - Amer English Grammar Credit Hours: 3
or
ESL 4120 - Teaching English Language Learning Credit Hours: 3
or
ESL 2120 - Teaching English Language Learning Credit Hours: 3
S ED 4300 - Characteristics of Students with Special Needs and Strategies for Differentiating Instruction Credit Hours: 3
or both S ED 4301 and S ED 4303 to substitute for S ED 4300
S ED 4301 - Characteristics of Exceptional Children Credit Hours: 3
and
S ED 4303 - Teaching Students with Exceptional Needs Credit Hours: 2
BIOL 4630 - Methods of Teaching Biological Science in Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12)/ Field Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4725 - Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Biology/ Field Credit Hours: 3
or
ED 4474 - Restorative Justice Action Research in Education Credit Hours: 4
BIOL 4750 - Student Teaching: Secondary Level Biology Credit Hours: 6

Capstone Requirement (6 credit hrs)

BIOL 4750 - Student Teaching: Secondary Level Biology Credit Hours: 6

4-Year Plan

Student-centric Sequencing by Term (Degree Plan):
Consult with your academic advisor for support.

Spring Year 2

MATH 1600 - Basic Prob/Statis I Credit Hours: 3
Humanities Elective Credit Hours: 3
Fine Arts Elective Credit Hours: 3
Biology 2000-Level Elective (with lab) Credit Hours: 4
PSYC 2040 - Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence Credit Hours: 3

Summer Year 2

BIOL 3092 - Illinois Biology Teacher Licensure Examination Review Credit Hours: 0 or
ED 3092 - Teacher Licensure Test Review Credit Hours: 1-3
Humanities Elective II Credit Hours: 3

Fall Year 3

ED 2000 - Social and Cultural Foundations of Education Credit Hours: 3
ED 2020 - Critical Issues in Urban Education Credit Hours: 3
ED 2312 - Teaching with Technology (3) Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1510 - General Physics I Lecture and Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
BIOL 3040 - Genetics Lecture/ Discussion/ Laboratory Credit Hours: 4

Spring Year 3

ED 4200 - Principles and Practices in Middle and Secondary Schools Credit Hours: 3
ED 2471 - Pre-Clinical Field Experience I Credit Hours: 1-2
BIOL 4630 - Methods of Teaching Biological Science in Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12)/ Field Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1520 - General Physics II Lecture and Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
BIOL 3051 - Cell Biology Lecture / Laboratory Credit Hours: 4

Summer Year 3

BIOL 3092 - Illinois Biology Teacher Licensure Examination Review Credit Hours: 0 or
ED 3092 - Teacher Licensure Test Review Credit Hours: 1-3
Social Science Course Credit Hours: 3
Biology Elective - 3000/4000 Level with Lab (if needed) Credit Hours: 4

Fall Year 4

BIOL 3072 - Ecology Lecture/ Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
ESL 2120 - Teaching English Language Learning Credit Hours: 3
S ED 4300 - Characteristics of Students with Special Needs and Strategies for Differentiating Instruction Credit Hours: 3
LITC 4300 - Content Area Reading and Assessment Grades 5-12 Credit Hours: 3
ED 4474 - Restorative Justice Action Research in Education Credit Hours: 4

Spring Year 4

BIOL 4750 - Student Teaching: Secondary Level Biology Credit Hours: 6
BIOL 4715 - Readings in Science Education: Research, Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 1