UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, continued

Undergraduate Major in Biology/Education

Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a Teaching Credential

Biological Sciences students who are interested in pursuing a teaching career should consider the UCI Cal Teach Science and Mathematics Program. This program offers Biology/Education majors the opportunity to earn their bachelor's degree concurrently with a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential. Individuals who hold this credential are authorized to teach biology and general science in a middle school or high school.

Students complete the degree requirements for this major, which include Biological Sciences 14, 101, 108, Logic and Philosophy of Science 60, Education 55, 109, 143A, 143B, 148, and two quarters of Education 158. Beyond course work, some additional requirements for teacher certification are described below. With careful, early planning, it is possible for students to complete their bachelor's degree and teacher certification in four years. This is a more time-efficient and cost-effective route than the traditional five-year teacher preparation model, which usually involves a full academic year of teacher education courses and clinical teaching experience after completion of a bachelor's degree.

After the School of Biological Sciences verifies the completion of all requirements for the bachelor's degree, students are awarded their degree from UC Irvine. By contrast, the Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential is awarded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) upon completion of a bachelor's degree and the state-approved UCI teacher education program, which combines course work, student teaching, and a teaching performance assessment. The UCI Department of Education must verify completion of all requirements for the teaching credential and then recommend that the credential be awarded to a candidate by the CTC.

Additional Requirements for Teacher Certification. In addition to the required course work for a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential, some additional requirements must be satisfied:

A.   The School of Biological Sciences requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) to graduate with the bachelor's degree. However, students must earn a grade of C or better in the following courses in order to be recommended for the Preliminary Single Subject Credential: Biological Sciences 101, Education 55, 109, 143A, 143B, 148, and 158.

   In the final phase of teaching preparation, students enrolled in Education 158 gain teaching experience as a "student teacher" at a local middle school or high school, while also attending a weekly student teaching seminar at UCI. Each student teacher is paired with a highly qualified science teacher who acts as a mentor while the student teacher gradually takes on full responsibility for daily lesson planning, instruction, and assessment. Cal Teach program instructors select the mentor teachers and match them with student teachers. During the winter and spring quarters when students are enrolled in Education 158, they should expect to spend a minimum of four hours per day (typically mornings), five days per week, in their student teaching assignment at a middle school or high school.

B.   The following must be completed and verified prior to the start of student teaching in Education 158:

1.   Pass the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), a basic mathematics and literacy skills test. For more information, see http://www.cbest.nesinc.com/.

2.   Pass the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) in science: biology/life science. Although secondary teachers are only required to pass the CSET exam in one discipline, those who pass the CSET exam in more than one disciplinary field (e.g. biology/life science and chemistry) can be authorized to teach classes in each of those disciplines. For more information about the CSET exam, see http://www.cset.neinc.com/.

3.   Secondary school science teachers in California are expected to have a broad range of general science knowledge in addition to their discipline of specialization, because their Single Subject Teaching Credential in one of the sciences also authorizes them to teach classes in general or integrated science. The general science subtests of the CSET exam cover foundational topics in astronomy, geodynamics, Earth resources, ecology, genetics and evolution, molecular biology and biochemistry, cellular and organismal biology, waves, forces and motion, electricity and magnetism, heat transfer and thermodynamics, and structure and properties of matter. Although students can prepare for the CSET exam's general science subtests through independent study, Biological Sciences students can also prepare by taking lower-division courses that cover the content. Here are some suggested courses for Biology/Education majors: Earth System Science 1 and 7, and Physics 20A.

4.   Obtain a Certificate of Clearance from the State of California.

5.   Obtain a TB test with negative results.

6.   Demonstrate readiness for student teaching responsibilities as evidenced in course work and satisfactory observations of a candidate during field experiences in Biological Sciences 101, Education 143A-B, and Education 148.

C.   The following must be completed and verified before the Department of Education is able to recommend an individual for the Preliminary Single Subject Credential:

1.   Pass a state-approved teacher performance assessment, which is completed concurrently with student teaching in Education 158.

2.   Complete a college-level course or pass an examination on the U.S. Constitution. Political Science 21A satisfies this requirement. Contact the UCI Department of Education Student Affairs Office for information about the exam.

3.   Obtain a CPR certificate in adult, child, or infant training.

Declaring Intention to Complete the Biology/Education Major and Teacher Certification. Prospective teachers who want to complete their degree and a teaching credential in four years are encouraged to start planning early by reviewing the sample program for the Biology/Education major, and consulting with an academic counselor. Interested students are encouraged to get started on the suggested first- and second-year credentialing course work, including Biological Sciences 14 and 101, and can do so without officially declaring their intention to complete the credential. However, students must declare their intention to complete requirements for the Biology/Education major and requirements for the Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential prior to enrolling in Education 55, which they would typically take in fall of their third year. Forms for declaring an intention to complete the teaching credential are available in the Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office or in the Cal Teach Science and Mathematics Resource and Advising Center (137 Biological Sciences Administration).

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE B.S. DEGREE IN BIOLOGY/EDUCATION

University Requirements: See pages 54-61.

School Requirements: See pages 132-133.

Major Requirements

A.   Required Major Courses: Three courses selected from Biological Sciences D103, D104, D105, E106, E109, N110.

B.   Upper-Division Laboratories: Two laboratories required. At least two selected from Biological Sciences D111L, E106L, E112L, E115L, E131L, E161L, E166, E172L, E179L, M114L, M116L, M118L, M121L, M122L, M124L, M127L, M130L, N113L; one laboratory can be satisfied with completion of Excellence in Research in the Biological Sciences.

C.   Upper-Division Biology Electives: Two upper-division, four-unit courses selected from Biological Sciences D103-D190, E106-E190, M114-M190, N110-N190, Pharmaceutical Sciences 170A, 170B, 171, 173, 174, Chemistry 177. Biological Sciences D103, D104, D105, E106, E109, N110 may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement. Chemistry 130A-B-C or 131A-B-C or Physics 147A-B can be used to partially satisfy the Upper-Division Biology Elective Requirement. Additionally, Psychology/Biological Sciences double majors may also use Psychology 112A-B-C to partially satisfy the Upper-Division Biology Elective Requirement.

D.   Science Teaching Courses: Biological Sciences 14, 101, 108; Logic and Philosophy of Science 60/History 60; Education 55, 109, 143A-B, 148, and two quarters of 158.

Sample Program - Biology/Education