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BS in Biology 7-12 Composite 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/7-12 Composite 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 6 | 1 |
| BIOL 1307 | Biology for Science Majors II 6 | 3 |
| BIOL 1107 | Biology for Science Majors II Lab 6 | 1 |
| CHEM 1311 | General Chemistry I 6 | 3 |
| CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry I (Lab) 6 | 1 |
| CHEM 1312 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1112 | General Chemistry II (Lab) | 1 |
| PHYS 1301 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1101 | College Physics I Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 1302 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 1102 | College Physics II Lab | 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 481 | Seminar in Biology | 3 |
| UD Biology Electives | 3 | |
| Other Requirements | ||
| RDG 343 | Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | College Algebra 6 | 3 |
| MATH 1342 | Elementary Statistical Methods | 3 |
| 10sch Upper Division (300 & 400 level) Electives | 10 | |
| 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 8 | 3 |
| ED 495 | Clinical Experience I 8 | 3 |
| Block 2: | ||
| ED 496 | Clinical Experience II 9 | 3 |
| SPED 418 | Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas 9 | 3 |
| Electives (As needed to satisfy minimum degree requirements and 54 semester credit hours of Upper Division Coursework) | ||
| Minimum Grade of "C" required in all Major, Ed, SPED and Professional Development Courses | ||
| Minimum Hours for Degree | 120 | |
- 6
Satisfies Core Curriculum
- 7
Required Admission to Teacher Prep Program
- 8
Requires successful placement interview with a partnership public school district
- 9
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 7-12 Composite Science Certification 4 Year Plan
First Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I requires a 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 |
| CHEM 1311 | General Chemistry I requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry I (Lab) requires minimum grade of 'C' | 1 |
| UNIV 1100 | University Foundations | 1 |
| MATH 1314 | College Algebra Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1302 | Composition II requires minimum grade of 'C', 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 |
| MATH 1342 | Elementary Statistical Methods | 3 |
| COMM 1307 | Introduction to Mass Communication Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| or SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking | |
| CHEM 1312 | General Chemistry II requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| CHEM 1112 | General Chemistry II (Lab) requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum | 1 |
| Spring Total Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Total First Year Semester Credit Hours | 33 | |
Second Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| PSCI 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | United States History I Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| PHYS 1301 | College Physics I requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| PHYS 1101 | College Physics I Lab requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum | 1 |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core Curriculum Requirement | 3 | |
| Creative Arts Core Curriculum Requirement | 3 | |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSCI 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | United States History II | 3 |
| PHYS 1302 | College Physics II requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum | 3 |
| PHYS 1102 | College Physics II Lab requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum | 1 |
| GEOL 1403 | Physical Geology requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum | 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 | 34-35 | |
Third Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Curriculum Requirement | 3 | |
| 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 |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| 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 |
| BIOL 481 | Seminar in Biology requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| RDG 343 | Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| Spring Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Third Year Semester Credit Hours | 32 | |
Fourth Year
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| ED 495 | Clinical Experience I requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| ED 331 | Classroom and Behavior Management requires minimum grade of 'C' | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective (300-400 level) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective (300-400 level) | 4 | |
| Upper Division Elective (300-400 level) | 4 | |
| Fall Total Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| 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 | 23 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours required for Degree | 120 | |
Minimum Grade of "C" is required in all Major, ED, RDG, SPED, and Professional Development courses
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.
