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Biology Major, B.S. in Ed., Standard Secondary Certificate

B.S. in Education, Standard Secondary Certificate 

The Biology Major will prepare students for graduate programs, pre-professional programs, certificate programs, and careers in diverse biological disciplines. Experiences in the program will strengthen skills in teamwork, inquiry and analysis, oral and written communication, problem solving, ethical reasoning, critical and creative thinking, and quantitative and information literacy. Biology students have the opportunity to perform one-on-one research with Biology faculty members and often present their work at local, regional, national, or international venues. To support student success, the Biology department offers numerous scholarship opportunities, granting greater than $60K in awards annually. Biology students are part of a learning community that includes local networking opportunities (registered student organizations and clubs), state and regional collaborations and partnerships (e.g., government agencies, tribal organizations), and global experiences (study abroad opportunities).

The secondary education major prepares students for teacher certification in Biology (DA endorsement). Candidates completing the certification requirements will be qualified to teach a variety of life science courses in grades 6-12. These courses include General Biology, Ecology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Environmental Science, Genetics, Biochemistry, and Forensic Science, in addition to specialized Biology electives unique to school districts. Extensive hands-on learning opportunities and clinical experiences, supported by state-of-the art teaching, field, and laboratory facilities, will empower students to apply their undergraduate training for employment as educators.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Biology majors on the Secondary Certification are required to complete, with at least a 2.7 GPA, 75% of the credit hours on the declared major or minor, including BIO 502, prior to approval for student teaching.

At least six (6) hours of the biology requirements must be taken at CMU.

Program Requirements

Core Courses I (20 hours)

BIO 111Foundations of Evolution and Diversity

4(3-3)

BIO 112Foundations of Cell Biology

4(3-3)

BIO 211Foundations of Genetics

4(3-3)

BIO 212Foundations of Form and Function

4(3-3)

BIO 213Foundations of Ecology

4(3-3)

Core Course II (3 hours)

BIO 502Teaching Biology

3(2-3)

Required Courses I (3-4 hours)

Select one Organismal course from the following:

BIO 320Biology of Microorganisms

4(3-3)

BIO 337Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4(3-3)

BIO 390Comparative Animal Physiology

4(3-3)

BIO 391Plant Physiology

4(3-3)

BIO 392Mammalian Physiology

4(3-3)

BIO 509Ichthyology

4(3-3)

BIO 511Aquatic Insects

3(1-4)

BIO 515Ornithology

4(2-4)

BIO 523Ecology and Systematics of Freshwater Algae

3(2-3)

BIO 540Mammalogy

4(3-3)

BIO 549Herpetology

3(2-3)

BIO 555Great Lakes Wetland and Aquatic Plants

4(2-4)

BIO 557Woody Plants of Michigan

4(2-4)

BIO 565Microbial Diversity and Physiology

3(3-0)

BIO 585Conservation Medicine

3(3-0)

Note: BIO 565 has an accompanying 1-credit lab (BIO 566) that is recommended if this course is selected.

Required Courses II (3-4 hours)

Select one Cell or Molecular course from the following:

BIO 324Eukaryotic Cell Biology

3(3-0)

BIO 325Biotechnology

3(1-5)

BIO 524Molecular Biology

3(3-0)

BIO 534Endocrinology

3(3-0)

BIO 536Histology

3(2-3)

BIO 537Immunology

3(3-0)

BIO 539Virology

3(3-0)

BIO 544Developmental Biology

4(3-3)

BIO 545Molecular Genetics

3(3-0)

BIO 570Medical Cell Biology

3-4(Spec)

BIO 580Medical Microbiology

4(2-4)

Note: Some of these courses may have prerequisites that are not otherwise part of the major.  

Required Courses III (3-4 hours)

Select one Ecology or Evolution course from the following:

BIO 306Natural History of Vertebrates

3(2-3)

BIO 366Freshwater Biology

3(2-3)

BIO 367Introduction to Marine Sciences

3(3-0)

BIO 440Wildlife Ecology

3(3-0)

BIO 501Evolution

3(3-0)

BIO 510Fisheries Biology and Management

4(3-3)

BIO 518Animal Behavior

4(3-3)

BIO 519Invertebrate Diversity

4(2-4)

BIO 525Plant Ecology

3(2-3)

BIO 526Limnology

3(3-0)

BIO 541Wildlife Biology and Management

4(2-4)

BIO 560Avian Ecology

3(2-3)

BIO 561Wetland Ecology and Management

3(3-0)

BIO 562Plant Systematics and Evolution

4(3-3)

BIO 585Conservation Medicine

3(3-0)

Note: BIO 526 has an accompanying 2-credit lab (BIO 527) that is recommended if this course is selected.

Other Requirements I (20 hours)

CHM 131General Chemistry I

4(3-3)

CHM 132General Chemistry II

4(3-3)

MTH 130Pre-Calculus Mathematics

4(4-0)

MTH 132Calculus I

4(4-0)

PHY 130QRCollege Physics I

4(4-0)

PHY 131College Physics II

4(4-0)

Note: You may only count one of MTH 130 or MTH 132, not both.

Other Requirements II (0 hours)

Capstone Exit Exam and Survey

This capstone experience may include taking the Biology Major Field Test, analyzing and interpreting data, and/or completing an exit survey.

Electives (3-6 hours)

Select advanced level elective courses from the list below to total a minimum of 38 hours of Biology. Courses selected in Required Courses I, II, or III may not count toward elective credit.

BIO 306Natural History of Vertebrates

3(2-3)

BIO 320Biology of Microorganisms

4(3-3)

BIO 324Eukaryotic Cell Biology

3(3-0)

BIO 325Biotechnology

3(1-5)

BIO 334/GEO 334Soil Science

3(2-2)

BIO 337Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4(3-3)

BIO 366Freshwater Biology

3(2-3)

BIO 367Introduction to Marine Sciences

3(3-0)

BIO 390Comparative Animal Physiology

4(3-3)

BIO 391Plant Physiology

4(3-3)

BIO 392Mammalian Physiology

4(3-3)

BIO 397Special Topics in Biology

1-6(Spec)

BIO 403WIUndergraduate Research

3-4(Spec)

BIO 440Wildlife Ecology

3(3-0)

BIO 497Special Topics in Biology

1-9(Spec)

BIO 500Biological Statistics

3(2-2)

BIO 501Evolution

3(3-0)

BIO 509Ichthyology

4(3-3)

BIO 510Fisheries Biology and Management

4(3-3)

BIO 511Aquatic Insects

3(1-4)

BIO 515Ornithology

4(2-4)

BIO 518Animal Behavior

4(3-3)

BIO 519Invertebrate Diversity

4(2-4)

BIO 523Ecology and Systematics of Freshwater Algae

3(2-3)

BIO 524Molecular Biology

3(3-0)

BIO 525Plant Ecology

3(2-3)

BIO 526Limnology

3(3-0)

BIO 527Limnological Methods

2(0-4)

BIO 534Endocrinology

3(3-0)

BIO 536Histology

3(2-3)

BIO 537Immunology

3(3-0)

BIO 539Virology

3(3-0)

BIO 540Mammalogy

4(3-3)

BIO 541Wildlife Biology and Management

4(2-4)

BIO 544Developmental Biology

4(3-3)

BIO 545Molecular Genetics

3(3-0)

BIO 546Molecular Genetics Laboratory

1(0-3)

BIO 549Herpetology

3(2-3)

BIO 555Great Lakes Wetland and Aquatic Plants

4(2-4)

BIO 557Woody Plants of Michigan

4(2-4)

BIO 560Avian Ecology

3(2-3)

BIO 561Wetland Ecology and Management

3(3-0)

BIO 562Plant Systematics and Evolution

4(3-3)

BIO 565Microbial Diversity and Physiology

3(3-0)

BIO 566Microbial Diversity and Physiology Laboratory

1(0-3)

BIO 570Medical Cell Biology

3-4(Spec)

BIO 580Medical Microbiology

4(2-4)

BIO 585Conservation Medicine

3(3-0)

BIO 597Special Topics in Biology

1-9(Spec)

Notes: Credit toward the Biology major may be earned in BIO 397, BIO 403WI, BIO 497, and BIO 597 only with permission of advisor. Students who choose BIO 566 will also have to take the pre/co-requisite course BIO 565.

Total: 55-61 semester hours