Secondary Education Minor, Biology

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Students who wish to teach high school biology normally follow either the BA Biology major or BS Biology major curriculum and select the Secondary Education minor which leads to initial licensure. Candidates for teacher licensure in Massachusetts must also take and pass the Massachusetts Teachers Test.

Biology Students in Secondary Education must select:

BIO 320 - General Ecology as one of their Biology Electives
One course in the Geological Sciences

Education Component (27 credits total)

All Secondary Education students will take the following four education courses:

Pre-Practicum Methods Course (3 credits)

EDU 337S - Secondary School Curriculum Materials & Methodology in Science (Pre-Practicum)

Student Teaching Practicum and Seminar (12 Credits)

EDU 496 - Practicum in Student Teaching in Secondary Education (9-12)

American Government and Psychology Support Courses (6 credits)

PSY 252 - Adolescent Psychology [Note:
PSY101 is a prerequisite for PSY252
]
Choose one American Government Course:
HST 204 - U.S. History and Constitutional Government I or
HST 208 - History of American Constitutions

Additional Information and Notes

Students interested in this minor should contact the Coordinator of Secondary Education, Biology, and the Biology Department Chairperson. Selection of this minor is subject to approval by the Education Department Chairperson.

Biology teachers are in current critical need. More positions are becoming available, and there are numerous efforts underway to improve the economic picture for teachers. The Salem State College Teacher of Biology Program is approved by the Massachusetts State Department of Education, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and falls under the Interstate Certification Compact.

* Students planning to pursue the Secondary Education minor should see the School of Education section of the catalog for requirements for admission to teacher licensure.