Biology Education, B.S.

Visit the Biology Department page for more information on the program and access to advising.

Program Description

Students interested in becoming a biology teacher in a 7th-12th grade setting must complete an accredited program which includes a baccalaureate degree and pass a licensure assessment. Students that successfully complete both the UVU professional teacher education program and meet licensure requirements will receive a baccalaureate in science degree in Biology Education and a Level two endorsement in Biology. This will allow them to teach Biology in 9th-12th grade as well as middle school science in 7th and 8th grade.

Matriculation Requirements

Admission to Professional Education status is a requirement for enrollment in professional studies level courses. Admission criteria includes:

1. ENGL and MATH QL courses must have a grade C or higher.
2. GPA of 3.0 or higher with no grade lower than a C in content area courses.
3. Completion of all General Education requirements and 70% of content area courses.
4. Pass LiveScan Criminal Background Check.

Program Requirements

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Must be completed with a grade of B- or higher.

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete the required minimum 120 credit hours.
2. If an AA or AS degree has been earned, a maximum of 64 of these credits may apply toward the BS.
3. At least 30 credit hours in residence at UVU or satellite sites are required, with 10 hours earned during the last 45 hours.
4. A minimum of 40 credits must be upper-division (numbered 3000 or above).
5. A minimum of 30 credits must be in the major (BIOL, BOT, MICR, or ZOOL prefixes), courses as follows: minimum of 9 Biology credits must be taken at UVU and a minimum of 20 Biology credits must be upper-division. 
6. Complete the appropriate application for graduation form.
7. Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
8. Overall Grade of 3.0 (B) or above with no grade lower than a C or better in major required content courses and no grade lower than a B- in Licensure and Methods courses.
9. Successful completion of at least two Writing Enriched courses.

10. Complete Departmental Assessment conducted by the Dept. of Biology Assessment Coordinator.

11. Complete an exit survey administered by the Biology Department.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.

An online graduation plan offers students a flexible yet structured approach to their academic journey. While this sample serves as a general guideline, individual plans may differ based on Math and English placement scores. Meeting with an academic advisor is strongly recommended to customize plans and ensure all graduation requirements are met.

Online course options are available at https://www.uvu.edu/online/courses/index.html, and advising support is available through your assigned advisor.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Apply the process of science through the use of hypothesis testing in the design and completion of scientific experiments.
2. Critically evaluate scientific and educational information to make educational decisions.
3. Quantitatively analyze educational data through graph interpretation, statistical analysis, and problem solving.
4. Effectively communicate scientific information in both written and oral formats as is appropriate for a 7-12th grade classroom.
5. Explain fundamental biological concepts including cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecological principles, organismal biology, and biodiversity.
6. Apply scientific concepts to everyday life in a way that is relevant to 7-12th grade students.