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BS in Biology 4-8 Science Certification
Required Admission into the Teacher Preparation Program
The Teacher Preparation Program at Texas A&M University-Texarkana is an approved educator preparation program through the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The program provides baccalaureate degrees for students pursuing teacher certification in Texas.
To become a certified Texas educator, candidates must:
- Gain admission to a TEA-approved Educator Preparation Program
- Complete all program requirements and graduate from the program
- Pass the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)
Applications are accepted twice per year:
- Spring Semester: Applications due in February
- Fall Semester: Applications due in September
Admission Requirements
General Requirements
- Program Application: Submit application through the Educator Portal
- Academic Standing: Maintain an overall GPA of 2.70 or higher
- Assessment: Pass a screening instrument (completed during ED 311 course)
- Content Area Requirements: 15 semester credit hours from the specified content area
Educators who apply for certification are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by fulfilling one of the following requirements:
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or one of its territories.
- Verification of a minimum scaled score that falls within the High-Intermediate level in each section on the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL-iBT).
- An undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States listed in the figure provided below.
Figure: 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C) - A standard certificate issued by the department of education in another state where examinations for the certificate were taken and passed. Applicants must submit official test score reports along with the out-of-state standard certificate for the credentials review. EPP candidates must submit official score reports to the program.
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 | Growth and Development for EC-12 Grade | 3 |
| ED 321 | Secondary School Methods | 3 |
| Block 1 | ||
| ED 331 | Classroom and Behavior Management 9 | 3 |
| ED 495 | Clinical Experience I 9 | 3 |
| Block 2 | ||
| ED 496 | Clinical Experience II 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 |
| UNIV 1100 | University Foundations | 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 | Growth and Development for EC-12 Grade 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 | Clinical Experience I 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 Experience II 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.
