Biology — Secondary Teaching Emphasis, BS

College of Sciences and Technology

What is the study of Biology?

Biology, as the study of living things, is an academic endeavor with a basic research focus on seeking answers to questions rather than on applying biological knowledge to solve problems. As scientists, biologists have two prime motivations: (1) intellectual curiosity about biological systems, and (2) the philosophy that creating and disseminating reliable knowledge has intrinsic worth.

The broad biology curriculum for this major prepares students for a teaching endorsement in biology. The supporting courses for the major in math, physics, and chemistry, along with the biology core curriculum at the 200-level and 300-level, plus one 400-level course in evolution, fulfill the goals of a liberal arts education. The depth courses for this major provide students with a broad background in biology that includes laboratory courses in genetics, molecular and organismal biology as well as a course that examines the relationship between science and society.

Why Should I Consider this Major?

The B.S. Biology – Secondary Teaching Emphasis will allow a student to become a secondary school teacher while giving her or him the flexibility to pursue any other career in biology or continue to post-baccalaureate studies. A diploma granted under this major will indicate “Bachelor of Science”; official transcripts will indicate Biology – Secondary Teaching Emphasis.

How to Declare:

Declare your Biology, Phase I major as soon as you discover you are interested. Contact Maren Brinson in the Biology Department Office, BI 315 for details.

The Biology Department has a two-step process for admission into our degree programs:

Phase I: Students declare their intent to major in biology, and are in the process of completing the introductory biology (BIOL 204, 205, 206) and general chemistry (CHEM 121, 122, 123) series.

Phase II: Admissions is based on academic performance in the Phase I introductory courses. Students must have achieved an average grade of 2.9 or higher in their introductory biology and general chemistry courses before they can advance to Phase II and begin taking upper-division coursework. Students may repeat only one course in Phase I in order to remain eligible for Phase II.

 

Optional Secondary Education Professional Program:
To receive a Biology endorsement with teaching certification students will need to take SCED 481 and 491 after being admitted to Woodring College of Education. Students who elect to complete certification as an undergraduate while completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree can count these two courses as electives for the major. To receive a Science endorsement, take GEOL 211 and 212 and ASTR 315 in addition to the courses listed for the Biology endorsement.

To receive a recommendation for state of Washington certification, students must complete a professional preparation program in secondary education. See the Woodring College of Education, Secondary Education Professional Program for program admission, completion and teacher certification requirements.

Coursework

  • BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity
  • BIOL 205 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • BIOL 206 - Introduction to Organismal Biology
  • BIOL 321 - Genetics
  • BIOL 323 - Cell and Molecular Biology
  • BIOL 325 - Ecology
  • BIOL 432 - Evolutionary Biology
  • One course from:
    • BIOL 340 - Biometrics
    • MATH 240 - Introduction to Statistics
  • Choose one of the following series:
    • CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I
    • CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
    • CHEM 123 - General Chemistry III
  • OR
    • CHEM 125 - General Chemistry I, Honors
    • CHEM 126 - General Chemistry II, Honors
    • CHEM 225 - General Chemistry III, Honors
  • CHEM 351 - Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 352 - Organic Chemistry
  • One course from:
    • MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
    • MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors
  • Choose one of the following series:
    • PHYS 114 - Principles of Physics I
    • PHYS 115 - Principles of Physics II
    • PHYS 116 - Principles of Physics III
  • OR
    • PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I
    • PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II
    • PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III

Depth Requirements:

  • BIOL 326 - Ecology Laboratory
  • One course from:
    • BIOL 322 - Genetics Lab
    • BIOL 324 - Methods in Molecular Biology
  • One of the following:
    • BIOL 460 - Invertebrate Zoology
    • BIOL 465 - Vertebrate Zoology
    • BIOL 467 - Comparative Vertebrate Physiology (AND)
    • BIOL 468 - Comparative Vertebrate Physiology Laboratory
    • BIOL 482 - Developmental Biology of Animals (AND)
    • BIOL 484 - Cell Biology Laboratory
  • One of the following:
    • BIOL 450 - Plant Anatomy
    • BIOL 451 - Developmental Biology of Plants
    • BIOL 452 - Systematic Botany
    • BIOL 479 - Plant Physiology
  • SCED 370 - Science and Society
  • Electives: 0-2 credits to make 97-100 total (75-77 credits of basic requirements plus 22-23 upper-division biology depth and elective credits). Additional elective credits can be taken to fulfill University graduation requirements.
  • Upper-division courses under advisement, including:
  • SCED 481 - Fundamentals of Teaching Science
  • SCED 491 - Methods in Secondary Education for Science Teachers (see comments above)

GURs:

The courses below satisfy GUR requirements and may also be used to fulfill major requirements.

  • QSR: MATH 124, 134, 240
  • LSCI: BIOL 204, 205, 206; CHEM 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 225; PHYS 115, 116, 161, 162, 163
  • SCI: PHYS 114

Sample Careers

Biology Teacher

Department

Contact

Major Information
Program Coordinator:

Maren Brinson
BI 315
(360) 650-6165
Maren.Brinson@wwu.edu

Department Chair:

Dr. Joann Otto
BI 315
(360) 650-4044
Joann.Otto@wwu.edu

Biology-Education Advisors:

Deborah Donovan
BI 310
360-650-7251
Deborah.Donovan@wwu.edu

Alejandro Acevedo-Gutierrez
BI 309
360-650-3653
alejandro.acevedo-gutierrez@wwu.edu

Related Majors

Biology—General Emphasis, BS