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BS in Biology 4-8 Science Certification
Required Admission into the Teacher Preparation Program
The Texas A&M University–Texarkana Teaching and Professional Programs in Education (TPPE) is a TEA approved Educator Preparation Program and offers baccalaureate degrees for students seeking teacher certification in Texas. In addition to being admitted into a Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved Texas Educator Preparation Program, to become a certified Texas educator, passing the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) is required. Applications for admission to the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Teacher Preparation Program are accepted for in February for the Spring and September for the Fall Semesters. Listed below are the Admission requirements for the A&M University-Texarkana Educator Preparation Program:
Admission Requirements:
- Application to the program submitted through TK20 (includes a $35 fee)
- Overall GPA of 2.70 or higher
- Passing score on writing sample and interview (completed during ED 311)
- Required content hours for this certification:
- 15 semester hours from the specified content area
- no grade below “C"
Out-of-Country Applicants
Out-of-country applicants to the teacher preparation program must meet ONE of the following:
- Verification of satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language- Internet-Based Test (TOEFL-IBT). The acceptable passing scores are: Speaking 24, Listening 22, Reading 22, Writing 21.
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree in the U.S.
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree outside of the U.S. from the list of approved countries generated by the Texas Education Agency.
For more information email education@tamut.edu.
Biology w/4-8 Science Teacher Certification Degree Requirements
Students should refer to their DegreeWorks degree audit in their Web for Students account for more information regarding their degree requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| General Education Requirements | 42 | |
| BIOL 1306 | Biology for Science Majors I 6 | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | Biology for Science Majors I Lab 7 | 1 |
| BIOL 1307 | Biology for Science Majors II 6 | 3 |
| BIOL 1107 | Biology for Science Majors II Lab 7 | 1 |
| GEOL 1403 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| BIOL 307 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 308 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BIOL 310 | Genetics (EL) | 4 |
| BIOL 402 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 466 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 472 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| Upper Division Biology Electives | 3 | |
| Other Requirements | ||
| RDG 343 | Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students | 3 |
| RDG 350 | Early Literacy Development and the Science of Teaching Reading (EL) | 3 |
| MATH 1350 | Fundamentals of Mathematics I 5 | 3 |
| MATH 1351 | Fundamentals of Math II | 3 |
| PHYS 1415 | Physical Science I | 4 |
| PHYS 1417 | Physical Science II | 4 |
| Upper Division Electives | 7 | |
| Professional Development | ||
| ED 311 | Teaching and Learning for Social Change (EL) | 3 |
| ED 321 | Secondary School Methods | 3 |
| Block 1 | ||
| ED 331 | Classroom and Behavior Management 9 | 3 |
| ED 495 | Field-Based Co-Teaching Semester 9 | 3 |
| Block 2 | ||
| ED 496 | Clinical Co-Teaching Semester (EL) 10 | 3 |
| SPED 418 | Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas 10 | 3 |
| Minimum grade of "C" required for all Major and Professional Development courses. | ||
| Electives (as needed to satisfy minimum degree requirements including 54 semester credit hours of upper division) | ||
| Minimum Hours for Degree | 120 | |
- 5
has a prerequisite of MATH 1314
- 6
Satisfies core curriculum
- 7
May satisfy core curriculum in Components Area Option
- 8
Requires Admission to Teacher Prep Program
- 9
Requires successful placement interview with a partnership public school district
- 10
Requires passing all TExES exams
Note: A minimum of 54 upper division hours (300 and 400 level courses) are required for this degree. Resident credit totaling 25% of the hours is required for the degree. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in three areas for graduation: Overall GPA, Institutional GPA, and Major GPA.
Biology 4-8 Science Certification 4 Year Plan
First Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| BIOL 1306 | Biology for Science Majors I requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | Biology for Science Majors I Lab requires minimum grade of 'C' , Satisfies Core Curriculum | 1 |
| HIST 1301 | United States History I Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | College Algebra Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| IS 1100 | University Foundations mandatory for FTIC students only | 1 |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1302 | Composition II Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| BIOL 1307 | Biology for Science Majors II requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| BIOL 1107 | Biology for Science Majors II Lab requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum | 1 |
| SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| or COMM 1307 | Introduction to Mass Communication | |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture Core Curriculum Requirement | 3 | |
| HIST 1302 | United States History II Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| Spring Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total First Year Semester Credit Hours | 33 | |
Second Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| PHYS 1415 | Physical Science I | 4 |
| PSCI 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
| MATH 1350 | Fundamentals of Mathematics I | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Science Core Curriculum Requirement | 3 | |
| Creative Arts Core Curriculum Requirement | 3 | |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | Semester Credit Hours | |
| PHYS 1417 | Physical Science II | 4 |
| MATH 1351 | Fundamentals of Math II | 3 |
| PSCI 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| GEOL 1403 | Physical Geology requires minimum grade of 'C' | 4 |
| Upper Division Biology Elective (300-400 level) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3-4 | |
| Spring Total Semester Credit Hours | 17-18 | |
| Total Second Year Semester Credit Hours | 33-34 | |
Third Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ED 311 | Teaching and Learning for Social Change (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| BIOL 307 | General Ecology requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| BIOL 402 | Cell and Molecular Biology requires minimum grade of 'C' | 4 |
| BIOL 466 | Evolutionary Biology requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| Electives as needed to satisfy minimum degree requirements including 54 semester credit hours of upper division coursework or total semester credit hours | 2-3 | |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ED 321 | Secondary School Methods requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| BIOL 308 | Invertebrate Zoology requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| BIOL 310 | Genetics (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 4 |
| RDG 350 | Early Literacy Development and the Science of Teaching Reading (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective (300-400 level) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3-4 | |
| Spring Total Semester Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Summer | Semester Credit Hours | |
| RDG 343 | Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| Summer Total Semester Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Total Third Year Semester Credit Hours | 34-35 | |
Fourth Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ED 495 | Field-Based Co-Teaching Semester requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| ED 331 | Classroom and Behavior Management requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| BIOL 472 | Introduction to Forensic Science requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective (300-400 level) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3-4 | |
| Elective - Upper or Lower Division as needed to meet upper division and overall requirement requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 | |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ED 496 | Clinical Co-Teaching Semester (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| SPED 418 | Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| Spring Total Semester Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Fourth Year Semester Credit Hours | 21 | |
| 120 | ||
Minimum Grade of "C" is required in all Major, ED, RDG, SPED, and Professional Development course
Note: A minimum of 54 upper division hours (300 and 400 level courses) are required for this degree. Resident credit totaling 25% of the hours is required for the degree. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in three areas for graduation: Overall GPA, Institutional GPA, and Major GPA.
