BSEd in Secondary Education with Emphasis in Biology

Degree Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education prepares students to work with children from ninth through twelfth grade in public, private, and alternative school systems. You may consider a degree in education if you enjoy working with children and/or adolescents, want to strengthen the future through education, and want to make a difference in the lives of others. MU Students work closely with mentors, practicing teachers, administrators, and university faculty to develop the knowledge and skills to enhance learning outcomes for children and youth. The coursework through the College of Education & Human Development focuses on teachers’ roles in facilitating learning at all levels of development and considers the influences of cultural, political, historical, and economic factors on students, teachers, and schools. Upon successfully completing the initial teacher certification process, the state grants you certification in secondary biology. Practical and rewarding clinical training in schools and agencies begins sophomore year and continues each semester culminating in a senior-level teaching internship, enhancing teaching skills and confidence. Coursework within Secondary Biology provides you with experience in the methods of teaching biology in supporting learners in the development of scientific literacy. This includes consideration of the nature of science, methods for teaching science, strategies for assessing science learning, and pathways for developing into a professional biology educator.

Major Program Requirements

Students must complete all university, general education, and content requirements, in addition to degree requirements. Please meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss degree requirements and to create a semester plan.

Teacher Education programs in the College of Education & Human Development are accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Curriculum changes mandated to earn teacher certification may become effective at any point during your academic program. Therefore, it is extremely important that you DO NOT SELF ADVISE.

Early Experiences
LTC 1100Orientation1
or SPC_ED 1100 Orientation: Special Education
LTC 2200School Health and Student Wellbeing3
ESC_PS 2010Inquiry Into Learning I3
ESC_PS 2014Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience1
LTC 2040Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I3
or LTC 2040H Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I - Honors
LTC 2044Inquiry into Schools, Community and Society: Field1
IS_LT 2467Inquiry into Empowering Learners with Technology3
Mid-Level Experiences
LTC 4631Teach.Sci.Second.Sch.:Phil.,Hist., Sci.Inq.,Curr., Assm., & Teach I4
LTC 4634Teaching Middle and Secondary Science I Field1
LTC 4560Reading and Writing in the Content Areas3
LTC 4460Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages3
or LTC 4460H Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Honors
LTC 4641Teaching Middle and Secondary Science II3
LTC 4644Teaching Middle and Secondary Science II Field1
SPC_ED 4020Teaching the Exceptional Learner3
LTC 4565Reading and Writing in the Content Areas II3
Advanced-Level Experiences
LTC 4651Teach.Sci.Second.Sch.:Phil.,Hist.,Sci.Inq.,Curr.,Assm., & Tech III3
LTC 4654Teach Sci MS/Sec Sch: Phil,Hist,Sci Inq,Curr,Assm & Tech III Fld1
SPC_ED 4310Behavioral and Classroom Management3
ED_LPA 4060Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society II3
LTC 4971Internship and Capstone Seminar12
Internship and Capstone Seminar - Honors (Honors students can choose to enroll in 6 credit hours of LTC 4971H and 6 credit hours of LTC 4971 to fulfill 12 credit hour requirement for Internship and Capstone Seminar.)
Content Area
BIO_SC 1500Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory5
or BIO_SC 1500H Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory Honors
or BIO_SC 1010
BIO_SC 1020
General Principles and Concepts of Biology
and General Biology Laboratory
or BIO_SC 1030 General Principles and Concepts of Biology with Laboratory
BIO_SC 1200General Botany with Laboratory5
BIO_SC 2200General Genetics4
or BIO_SC 2200H General Genetics - Honors
BIO_SC 2300Introduction to Cell Biology4
or BIO_SC 2300H Introduction to Cell Biology- Honors
BIO_SC 3400Evolution and Ecology3-8
or BIO_SC 3650
BIO_SC 4600
General Ecology
and Evolution
BIO_SC 3700Human Physiology5
or MPP 3202 Elements of Physiology
or MPP 3202H Elements of Physiology - Honors
Additional Required Science Courses (12 credit hours minimum, at least 1 course from each area*)12
Physics
PHYSCS 1050Concepts in Cosmology3
PHYSCS 1200Everyday Wonders: Explaining How Ordinary Things Work4
PHYSCS 1210College Physics I4-5
or PHYSCS 2750 University Physics I
or PHYSCS 2750H University Physics I - Honors
PHYSCS 2200Life and the Universe3
PHYSCS 3200Physics of Space Explorations3
*Chemistry (must complete all 8 credit hours listed below)8
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
4
or CHEM 1400H
CHEM 1401
College Chemistry I - Honors
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 1410
CHEM 1411
College Chemistry II
and College Chemistry II Laboratory
4
or CHEM 1400H
CHEM 1411
College Chemistry I - Honors
and College Chemistry II Laboratory
Earth Science/Environmental Science
ENV_SC 1100Introduction to Environmental Science3
ENV_SC 4024Foundations of Environmental Education3
GEOL 1050Planet Earth3
GEOL 1200Environmental Geology with Laboratory4
or GEOL 1200H Environmental Geology with Laboratory - Honors
or GEOL 1100 Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory
or GEOL 1100H Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory - Honors

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student’s actual plan may vary based on course choices and where options are available.                      

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 11001LTC 22003
MATH 11003ENGLSH 10003
BIO_SC 15005American History or Government3
Humanities3BIO_SC 22004
Social or Behavioral Science3CHEM 14003
 CHEM 14011
 15 17
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3
ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441
Writing Intensive & Humanities3IS_LT 24673
BIO_SC 23004BIO_SC 34003
CHEM 14103Humanities 3
CHEM 14111Additional Required Science Course: Physics3-5
 15 16-18
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 46314LTC 46413
LTC 46341LTC 46441
SPC_ED 40203LTC 44603
LTC 45603LTC 45653
BIO_SC 12005Additional Required Science Course: Earth Science/Environmental Science3-4
 Elective if needed for 120 credit hour total minimum1
 16 14-15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 46513LTC 497112
LTC 46541 
ED_LPA 40603 
SPC_ED 43103 
BIO_SC 37005 
 15 12
Total Credits: 120-123

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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