Bachelor of Science Biology with a Major in Secondary Biology Education (6-12) (BS)
Requirements
Lower-Division General Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | 6 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Language and Culture | 0-6 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| The Nature of Science | 8 | |
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
Mathematics: Select MATH 205 or MATH 211; C or better required
Information Literacy and Research: CS 121G, CS 126G, HLTH 120G, or OEAS 130G recommended.
Nature of Science: met by CHEM 121N-CHEM 122N and CHEM 123N-CHEM 124N
Upper-Division General Education Requirements
Met in the major through professional education coursework.
Requirements for Graduation
Requirements for graduation include completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better, completion of the Biology and Senior Assessments, a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA, in the major area, and in the professional education core, with no grade less than a C in the major and C- in the professional education core; successful completion of the Teacher Candidate Internship and a minimum of 120 credit hours, which must include both a minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours in upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University. Note that a grade of C (2.0) or better must be earned in all biology courses used to satisfy departmental requirements.
Licensure requirements also include certificate of completion in First Aid/AED/CPR, Dyslexia Awareness Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, and Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and Cultural Competence Training.
Biology Core
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Biology Core Courses (C or better required in each course) | ||
| BIOL 121N & BIOL 122N | General Biology I and General Biology I Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 123N & BIOL 124N | General Biology II and General Biology II Lab | 4 |
| Upon completion of the above sequences, students must complete the following core courses, some of which are prerequisites or corequisites for upper-level biology courses (see course descriptions for individual courses): | ||
| BIOL 291 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 292 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 293 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 294 | Genetics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 20 | |
Biology with a Major in Secondary Biology Education (6-12)
This program leads to eligibility for teacher licensure in Virginia and is available only to individuals holding a baccalaureate degree or completing requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Complete lower-division requirements | 33-40 | |
| Complete upper-division requirements (met in the major through professional education coursework) | ||
| Biology Core | ||
| Complete biology core requirements | 20 | |
| Biology Requirements | ||
| BIOL 240 | Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| or BIOL 250 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | |
| BIOL 307 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4-5 |
| or BIOL 336 | Vertebrate Zoology | |
| BIOL 308 | Botany | 4 |
| Biology electives at the 300/400 level to include a lab/field course and a writing intensive, "W", course | 8 | |
| Non-Biology Requirements | ||
| CHEM 121N | Foundations of Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 122N | Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 123N | Foundations of Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 124N | Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Earth Science | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| Introductory General Physics | ||
| STAT 130M | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 310 | Introductory Data Analysis | |
| Professional Education Coursework (overall 2.75 GPA required) | ||
| STEM 103 | Foundations of STEM Teaching: An Inquiry-Based Approach | 2 |
| STEM 201 | Knowing and Learning in STEM Education | 3 |
| STEM 202 | Classroom Interactions in STEM Education | 3 |
| STEM 401 | Project Based Instruction in STEM Education | 3 |
| STEM 485 | Apprentice Teaching | 9 |
| SPED 400 | Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics | 3 |
| TLED 408 | Reading and Writing in Content Areas | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 116-124 | |
Elective Credit
Elective credit may be needed to meet the minimum requirement of 120 credit hours for the degree.
Additional Requirements and Information
Admission
Students must first declare secondary biology education (6-12) as their major with the appropriate advisor. All students must apply for and be admitted into the approved secondary biology education program. Students must meet the required criteria for admission by earning the minimum required grade point averages (GPA).
For the most current information on the prescribed Virginia Board of Education admission assessment, visit the Virginia Department of Education at https://www.doe.virginia.gov/.
Required grade point averages (GPA)
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
- A major/content GPA of 2.75 is required - all biology courses must be passed with a grade of C (2.0) or above and all other science content courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher.
- A professional education GPA of 2.75 is required – all professional education courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher
Although students may enroll in a limited number of education courses, students must be admitted into the approved secondary biology education program prior to enrolling in any instructional strategies practicum education course. Students must also meet with an education advisor in the Office of Clinical Experiences.
Continuance
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75, a major/content GPA of 2.75 and a professional education GPA of 2.75. Biology courses must be passed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher. The remaining courses required for the major and in the professional education core must be completed with a grade of C- or higher for continuance. A professional education GPA of 2.75 is required for continuance. Students must take and pass the Praxis Subject Assessment, Biology content knowledge (formerly Praxis II) prior to or while enrolled in the instructional strategies course. All assessments must be passed prior to the start of the Teacher Candidate Internship Orientation session.
Background Clearance Requirement
Old Dominion University requires a background clearance check of candidates interested in many of the professional education programs. Professional education programs have several field experiences that are required for continuance and graduation from the program. The background clearance must be successfully completed prior to a field experience placement. Candidates will be provided a field experience placement when the background check process is completed with resolution of any issues. The process to complete the ODU clearance background check is located at: http://www.odu.edu/success/academic/teacher-education/placement/background-checks. The ODU clearance process includes: an FBI fingerprint, a child protective service/social service review, and a Virginia State Police sex offender registry review. Candidates interested in the professional education programs are advised to complete this clearance process immediately upon entry into the program since the clearance process takes a minimum of eight weeks to complete.
Virginia Board of Education Prescribed Assessments for Licensure
Praxis Subject Assessment, Biology content knowledge: (test code: 5236) – passing score of 154 is required
Students are encouraged to complete the following courses (or their approved equivalents) prior to taking the Praxis content knowledge licensure tests:
Nature & Impact of Science & Engineering: BIOL 121N & BIOL 122N, BIOL 123N & BIOL 124N (freshman)
Cell Biology: Cell Structure & Function: BIOL 293 (sophomore year)
Genetics & Evolution: BIOL 294 and BIOL 292 (sophomore year)
Diversity of Life and Organismal Biology: BIOL 308 and BIOL 307 or BIOL 336 (junior year); BIOL 240 or BIOL 250 (sophomore or junior year)
Ecology: Organisms & Environments: BIOL 291 (sophomore year)
Please consult with your academic advisor with any questions and before registering for your licensure test.
To review more information on the Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website, www.odu.edu/oce.
Due to changing University requirements, national accreditation standards, and the Virginia Board of Education licensure regulations, the teacher preparation programs in the College of Sciences are under constant revision. Any changes resulting from these factors supersede the program requirements described in this Catalog. Students are encouraged to obtain current program information from their advisors and from the Office of Clinical Experiences website at: www.odu.edu/oce.
Honors Program in Biology
A. Honors Research
Undergraduates with junior or senior standing and a GPA of 3.00 or better are eligible to participate in Honors Research. After consultation with the CDA (Chief Departmental Advisor), students select a professor who agrees to oversee the research project. Students then enroll in two courses, BIOL 487 and BIOL 488W. The courses may be taken in any sequence: fall-spring, spring-summer, summer-summer, summer-fall. Normally both semesters are required but a student may receive credit for only one semester. The research project, time commitment by the student and the basis for the grade are mutually determined by the student and professor. Because first-semester research results are often preliminary, the grade for BIOL 487 is based on a review paper and/or research proposal, which provides the student with an overview of the field. The second semester is graded on the final research paper and a seminar presented to the honors committee and interested faculty. Professors should encourage students to publish results and present papers at scientific meetings when appropriate. Students should also be urged to apply for funds from agencies that provide seed money to undergraduates. The program director can provide information on scientific societies that sponsor meetings and/or offer small grants. Successful completion of both courses with a C (2.0) or better will allow the student to use BIOL 488W as a lab course in meeting his/her requirements.
B. Bachelor's Degree with Honors in Biological Sciences and Honors Designation for Biology courses
Students maintaining an overall GPA of at least 3.25 and of 3.50 in biology can receive a "Bachelor's Degree with Honors in Biological Sciences" subject to satisfaction of the minimum University standards for the Honors degree and completion of one of the following two options:
Option 1: Successful completion of two semesters of biological research taken as BIOL 487 / BIOL 488W (Honors Research).
Option 2: Successful completion of three upper-division courses in Biological Sciences and achievement of the "Honors" designation in each.
Students petitioning for designation of an upper-division biology course as "Honors" must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 and a GPA of at least 3.50 in biology.
To receive the "Honors" designation for a course, students must achieve a final course score of at least 95% or the equivalent of an "A" on the University grade scale.
Faculty are encouraged to assign and work with students on other activities deemed appropriate for an "Honors" course designation and utilize the results of these activities in the assignment of a course grade.
Degree Program Guide
The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years. It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor. Additional information can also be found in Degree Works.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 110C | English Composition (Grade of C or better required) | 3 |
| MATH 162M | Precalculus I | 3 |
| BIOL 121N & BIOL 122N | 4 | |
| CHEM 121N | Foundations of Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 122N | Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C |
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research or Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics |
3 |
| BIOL 123N & BIOL 124N | 4 | |
| CHEM 123N | Foundations of Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 124N | Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 205 or MATH 211 |
Calculus for Life Sciences or Calculus I |
3 |
| STEM 103 | Foundations of STEM Teaching: An Inquiry-Based Approach | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BIOL 291 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 292 | Evolution | 3 |
| STAT 130M | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| STEM 201 | Knowing and Learning in STEM Education | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOL 293 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 294 | Genetics | 3 |
| STEM 202 | Classroom Interactions in STEM Education | 3 |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Information Literacy and Research (CS 121G, CS 126G, HLTH 120G, or OEAS 130G recommended) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| BIOL 240 or BIOL 250 |
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology I |
4 |
| Literature | 3 | |
| BIOL 308 | Botany | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| 300/400-level Biology elective lab/field course | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Physical Geology | ||
| Historical Geology | ||
| Introductory General Physics | ||
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Senior | ||
| First Semester | ||
| STEM 401 | Project Based Instruction in STEM Education | 3 |
| SPED 400 | Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics | 3 |
| BIOL 307 or BIOL 336 |
Invertebrate Zoology or Vertebrate Zoology |
5 |
| 300/400-level Biology elective "W" course | 3-4 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17-18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| STEM 485 | Apprentice Teaching | 9 |
| TLED 408 | Reading and Writing in Content Areas | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-121 | |
Language and Culture I & II may be met in high school and are not included in this 4-year plan. Please see requirement details.
BA or BS to MBA (Master of Business Administration) Dual Dominion Program
The Dual Dominion BA/MBA or BS/MBA program is an early entry to the MBA program of study. The early-entry program is designed for well qualified non-business undergraduate ODU students to start their MBA program prior to completing their undergraduate degree. Well qualified non-business undergraduate students may take MBA-level courses as early as three semesters prior to graduation and count up to 12 graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree. Students participating in the early-entry program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Early-entry program students should carefully consider their undergraduate degree program requirements when planning their course of study. Students in the early-entry program work in close consultation with the MBA Program Office and should refer to information in the Strome College of Business section in the graduate catalog to develop an individualized plan of study based on the required coursework.
BA or BS to MPA (Master of Public Administration) Dual Dominion Program
The Dual Dominion BA/MPA or BS/MPA program provides qualified Old Dominion University undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration while taking credits in the MPA program as an undergraduate student. The program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to immediately continue their education after the bachelor's degree. The program is especially relevant to individuals seeking to work (or currently working) in the public or non-profit sectors, but is suitable for students from any undergraduate major. Graduate courses may be taken during the fall and spring semester of the student's senior undergraduate year. Up to 12 graduate credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree and can meet upper-level General Education requirements. After receiving the undergraduate degree, a student will continue with the MPA program, taking MPA courses until completing the required 39 credit hours. Students in the Dual Dominion program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree).
Requirements for admission to the graduate program can be found in the School of Public Service section of the Graduate Catalog. For additional information, please contact the School of Public Service in the Strome College of Business.