BS in Biology 7-12 Life Sciences 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 requiredApplications 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:

  1. Application to the program submitted through TK20 (includes a $35 fee)
  2. Overall GPA of 2.70 or higher
  3. Passing score on writing sample and interview (completed during ED 311)
  4. Required content hours for this certification:
    1. 15 semester hours from the specified content area
    2. 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/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.

Major Requirements
General Education Requirements42
BIOL 1306Biology for Science Majors I 63
BIOL 1106Biology for Science Majors I Lab 61
BIOL 1307Biology for Science Majors II 63
BIOL 1107Biology for Science Majors II Lab 61
CHEM 1311General Chemistry I 63
CHEM 1111General Chemistry I (Lab) 61
CHEM 1312General Chemistry II3
CHEM 1112General Chemistry II (Lab)1
PHYS 1301College Physics I3
PHYS 1101College Physics I Lab1
PHYS 1302College Physics II3
PHYS 1102College Physics II Lab1
GEOL 1403Physical Geology4
BIOL 307General Ecology3
BIOL 308Invertebrate Zoology3
BIOL 310Genetics (EL)4
BIOL 402Cell and Molecular Biology4
BIOL 466Evolutionary Biology3
BIOL 481Seminar in Biology3
UD Biology Electives3
Other Requirements
RDG 343Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students3
MATH 1314College Algebra 63
MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods3
10sch Upper Division (300 & 400 level) Electives10
Professional Development
ED 311Teaching and Learning for Social Change (EL)3
ED 321Secondary School Methods3
Block 1:
ED 331Classroom and Behavior Management 83
ED 495Field-Based Co-Teaching Semester 83
Block 2:
ED 496Clinical Co-Teaching Semester (EL) 93
SPED 418Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas 93
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 Degree120
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

Fall
ENGL 1301Composition I requires a minimum grade of 'C', satisfies core curriculum3
BIOL 1306Biology for Science Majors I requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum3
BIOL 1106Biology for Science Majors I Lab requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum1
CHEM 1311General Chemistry I requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
CHEM 1111General Chemistry I (Lab) requires minimum grade of 'C' 1
IS 1100University Foundations mandatory for FTIC students only1
MATH 1314College Algebra Satisfies Core Curriculum3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours16
Spring
ENGL 1302Composition II requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum3
BIOL 1307Biology for Science Majors II requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum3
BIOL 1107Biology for Science Majors II Lab requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum1
MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods3
COMM 1307Introduction to Mass Communication Satisfies Core Curriculum3
or SPCH 1315 Public Speaking
CHEM 1312General Chemistry II requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum3
CHEM 1112General Chemistry II (Lab) requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum1
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours17
Total First Year Semester Credit Hours33

 Second Year

Fall
PSCI 2305U.S. Government and Politics3
HIST 1301United States History I Satisfies Core Curriculum3
PHYS 1301College Physics I requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum3
PHYS 1101College Physics I Lab requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum1
Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core Curriculum Requirement3
Creative Arts Core Curriculum Requirement3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours17
Spring
PSCI 2306State and Local Government3
HIST 1302United States History II3
PHYS 1302College Physics II requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum3
PHYS 1102College Physics II Lab requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum1
GEOL 1403Physical Geology requires minimum grade of 'C', satisfies Core Curriculum4
Upper Division Biology Elective (300-400 level) requires minimum grade of 'C' 3-4
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours17-18
Total Second Year Semester Credit Hours34-35

Third Year

Fall
Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Curriculum Requirement3
ED 311Teaching and Learning for Social Change (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
BIOL 307General Ecology requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
BIOL 402Cell and Molecular Biology requires minimum grade of 'C' 4
BIOL 466Evolutionary Biology requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours16
Spring
ED 321Secondary School Methods requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
BIOL 308Invertebrate Zoology requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
BIOL 310Genetics (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' 4
BIOL 481Seminar in Biology requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
RDG 343Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours16
Total Third Year Semester Credit Hours32

Fourth Year 

Fall
ED 495Field-Based Co-Teaching Semester requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ED 331Classroom 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 Hours17
Spring
ED 496Clinical Co-Teaching Semester (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
SPED 418Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours6
Total Fourth Year Semester Credit Hours23
Total Semester Credit Hours required for Degree120

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.