Biology, teaching endorsement (6-12)

Owned by Jenni Piper
Last updated: Apr 07, 2024 by Jim Yoder
2 min read

Contacts: Jim Yoder and Steve Cessna
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Semester Hours: teacher education courses + biology major, general biology track

Admission Requirements: All students seeking licensure to teach shall make application for admission to teacher education and to student teaching. Application for admission to teacher education is made at the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year and application for admission to student teaching is made at the end of the fall semester of the junior year. Transfer students are required to attend a teacher education program transfer orientation meeting their first semester on campus.

Entrance and exit requirements including cut-off test scores for all teacher education programs are found in the Teacher Education Handbook or www.emu.edu/education/test-scores.

Admission to teacher education requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a teacher education interview. Admission to student teaching requires a 2.7 cumulative GPA. In addition, students must have a C or better in all education courses (courses with ED prefix and content area methods courses) to be admitted to student teaching. Exit requirements include meeting the Virginia cut off score requirements for the Praxis Subject Assessment (consisting of subject area components); and an earned GPA of 2.7. The Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) is required for teacher licensure. Additionally, the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary assessment is required for early/primary education (PreK-3), and elementary education (PreK-6). Students may obtain an additional endorsement without completing an approved licensure program by passing the Praxis Subject Assessment in the content area (Biology, Chemistry, English, History and Social Science, Mathematics, Visual Arts, English as a Second Language, Health and Physical Education, Foreign Language, and Music) with the exception of PreK-3, PreK-6, and Special Education.

This program will prepare students to teach biology by instructing them in the standards of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). General biology major and the secondary education (6-12) courses make up the program for biology teacher licensure, grades 6-12.

Required Courses 

  • CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry I (4) 

  • ENVS 135 Earth Science (2) 

  • (PHYS 151 College Physics I OR PHYS 252 University Physics I) and PHYS 253 University Physics I laboratory (4)

Enrollment in upper-level biology, biochemistry, chemistry and environmental science courses (BIOL, BIOCH, CHEM, ENVS 300s and 400s) requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all science and math courses (BIOL, BIOCH, CHEM, ENVS, MATH, PHYS). Students who fail to earn a C- in any coursework required for their major should promptly schedule a meeting with their advisor.