Biology, Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Pre-Master of Education (7-12)
Students seeking state certification in secondary education must also complete requirements for a Master of Education degree, a one-year program at SRU. All of our programs are designed to steadily develop the quantitative, deductive and inductive reasoning skills that biologists must have.
All candidates completing this program and student teaching are eligible to receive Pennsylvania certification after achieving a passing or qualifying score on Pennsylvania Department of Education required exam(s). If you are interested in teaching in another state, please contact the Department of Education in that state.
Requirements for the Certification
Teacher certification is earned through the master of education degree at Slippery Rock University. Students seeking secondary school teaching certification in biology must earn a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree in biology and contact the Department of Secondary Education/Foundations of Education concerning its graduate program in education. Information about this program, including prerequisites for admission, may be obtained from the Secondary Education/Foundations of Education office in 114 McKay Education Building.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Competence in Laboratory and Research Skills: To conduct, assess, and communicate research investigations using established scientific practices. (SRU UG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 10)
- Core Concepts for Biological Literacy: (SRU UG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9)
- Knowledge/Content
- Evolution
- Structure and function across all levels of biological organization
- Diversity and interactions of life
- Information flow, exchange and storage in biological systems
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
- Connect information from cognate science courses and liberal arts courses to biological concepts
- Apply scientific information to current and future societal problems
- Knowledge/Content
- Participation in Diverse, Enriching Scientific Activities: Apply technical and professional skills in hands-on laboratory, clinical or field experiences. (SRU UG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)
- Professional Attitude: Graduates demonstrate professional attitude, behavior, and ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. (SRU UG 1, 5, 7, 8, 9)
Related Links
Curriculum Guide
GPA Requirement
Major GPA: 2.0 or higher
Overall GPA: 2.0 or higher
Core GPA: 2.0 or higher
Summary*
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Studies 2 Requirements | 45 | |
| Modern Language Requirement | 0-9 | |
| Other Basic Requirements | 0-3 | |
| Computer Competency | 0-3 | |
| Major/Concentration Requirements | 42 | |
| Natural Science and Math College-Wide Requirements | 12 | |
| Electives | 25 | |
* All undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits. Some courses meet multiple requirements, but are only counted once toward the 120 credit total required to graduate.
Rock Studies 2 Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| The Rock | ||
| SUBJ 139 | Foundations of Academic Discovery 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 104 | Critical Reading | 3 |
| MATH 125 | Precalculus | 4 |
| or MATH 225 | Calculus I | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice | ||
| Ethics and Civil Discourse | ||
| Civil Discourse and Democracy | ||
| Subtotal | 16 | |
| Integrated Inquiry | ||
| Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry | ||
| Select 3 Credits | 3 | |
| Humanities Inquiry | ||
| Select 3 Credits | 3 | |
| Social Science Inquiry | ||
| Select 3 Credits | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Inquiry | ||
| CHEM 107 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| Physical Sciences Inquiry | ||
| PHYS 201 | Elements of Physics I with Lab | 4 |
| or PHYS 216 | University Physics 1 with Lab | |
| Subtotal | 17 | |
| Thematic Thread | ||
| Select 12 Credits 2 | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
- 1
Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.
- 2
One course from each category; six credits must be 300-level or above; no more than 4 credits from one subject area; specific courses required in first major, regardless of prefix of course, cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements; any course with same prefix as first major cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements, even if it is not a course in the first major.
BA Modern Language Requirement
BA degree requires language proficiency at the 103 class level. Exemption by placement or examination is possible.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 0-9 credits | 0-9 | |
| Total Hours | 0-9 | |
Basic Math Requirement
Check with your adviser or a current degree audit report to see if you have been exempted from this course. The credit earned in this course will not be counted toward the 120 credit hour minimum needed to earn a degree.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 0-3 | |
Meet required minimum SAT or ACT math score OR | ||
| Beginning Algebra | ||
| Total Hours | 0-3 | |
Computer Competency
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrate "computer competency" by one of the following: | 0-3 | |
Pass Computer Competency Exam OR | ||
Select one of the following at SRU or another post-secondary institution: | ||
| Introduction to Computing for Liberal Arts | ||
| Computer Concepts | ||
| Introduction to Computing and Programming | ||
| Technology for Wellness | ||
| Total Hours | 0-3 | |
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION REQUIREMENT
Students must take and pass a course with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) designation prior to graduation. Students can meet this requirement by taking any DEI - designated course in any program at any time during their undergraduate career.
Major/Concentration Requirements
- 20 major credits must be taken at SRU or PASSHE
- 20 major credits must be taken at the 300 level or above
- Students desiring a Biology Major must maintain at least a 2.000 average in Biology.
- Students should complete all 200-level Biology requirements by the end of their sophomore year.
- Students must earn a "C" or better in both Biology I with Lab (BIOL 113) and Biology II with Lab (BIOL 114) before proceeding to their next biology course.
- Students must earn a "C" or better in both Genetics with Lab (BIOL 250) and Biometry with Lab (BIOL 325) prior to graduating.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Core Requirements | ||
| BIOL 113 | Biology I: Foundations of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 114 | Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 250 | Genetics with Lab 1,4 | 4 |
| BIOL 325 | Biostatistics and Experimental Design with Lab | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Required Upper-Level Biology | ||
| BIOL 305 | Wetlands and Aquatic Plants/Lab | 3 |
| or BIOL 306 | Freshwater Biomonitoring/Lab | |
| or BIOL 401 | Ecology with Lab | |
| BIOL 310 | Plant Diversity with Lab | 3 |
| or BIOL 312 | Zoology with Lab | |
| or BIOL 314 | Parasitology with Lab | |
| or BIOL 330 | Microbiology/Lab | |
| or BIOL 340 | Vertebrate Anatomy with Lab | |
| or BIOL 360 | Field Botany | |
| or BIOL 410 | Animal Physiology with Lab | |
| or BIOL 451 | Plant Physiology/Lab | |
| BIOL 316 | Immunology with Lab | 3 |
| or BIOL 335 | Cell Biology | |
| or BIOL 370 | Molecular Biology | |
| BIOL 350 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 492 | Biology Seminar 1 | 1 |
| Subtotal | 13 | |
| Additional Biology Electives | ||
| Select 3 credits from courses not chosen above, or any biology elective course listed below. Additional electives may be selected from the Marine Science offerings listed below. PLE courses are only offered during the summer months through our affiliation with Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. 2 | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 3 | |
| Related Sciences – Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 108 | General Chemistry II 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry II Lab 2 | 1 |
| CHEM 201 | Organic Chemistry I 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2 | 1 |
| Subtotal | 8 | |
| Independent Study/Internship Options | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 3 | |
| Independent Study or Internship Option | ||
| Biology Internship | ||
or BIOL 490 | Independent Study | |
| Non-Independent Study or Internship Option | ||
Select 3 credits, not chosen above, from Additional Biology Electives below. | ||
| Total Hours | 42 | |
- 1
Course counts for 50% of Major and Major GPA
- 2
Course counts for 50% of Major requirements but not for Major GPA
- 3
Course counts in Core GPA
- *
Some courses may require pre-requisites. Please see course descriptions to determine if there are any pre-requisites for that specific course.
Recommended Courses for Biology Pre-Masters in Education Courses
Listed below are the recommended courses for Biology Pre-Masters of Education majors. You will need to take these courses prior to obtaining your M. Ed.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SEFE 338 | Standards-Based Instruction & Assessment in the Inclusionary Classroom | 3 |
| SPED 121 | Overview of Special Education | 3 |
| One EGEO with Lab | 3 | |
| Two Math courses (one must be Calculus) | 6 | |
| Must take the following as part of your upper class Biology Electives: | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Ecology with Lab | ||
| Animal Physiology with Lab | ||
Natural Science and Math College-Wide Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 107 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 125 | Precalculus | 4 |
| or MATH 225 | Calculus I | |
| PHYS 201 | Elements of Physics I with Lab | 4 |
| or PHYS 211 | General Physics I with Lab | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended by the Biology Department | ||
| CHEM 202 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 212 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
Additional Upper-Level Biology Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 209 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 301 | Forest Ecology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 302 | Ecology of Amphibians & Reptiles/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 303 | Behavioral Ecology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 305 | Wetlands and Aquatic Plants/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 306 | Freshwater Biomonitoring/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 307 | Vertebrate Ecology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 308 | Aquatic Ecosystem Management / Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 309 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOL 310 | Plant Diversity with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 311 | Entomology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 313 | Herpetology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 314 | Parasitology with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 316 | Immunology with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 317 | Ecology and Fungi 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 320 | Ornithology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 321 | Wildlife Management/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 322 | Conservation Biology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 323 | Stream Ecology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 325 | Biostatistics and Experimental Design with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 326 | Field Methods in Biogeography/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 327 | Limnology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 330 | Microbiology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 331 | Mammology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 343 | Embryology with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 350 | Evolution 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 356 | Field Ecology / Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 357 | Environmental Microbiology with Lab 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 360 | Field Botany 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 361 | Flora of Western Pennsylvania 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 370 | Molecular Biology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 371 | Vertebrate Field Zoology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 373 | Ichthyology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 375 | Ecology of Fish / Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 380 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BIOL 400 | Disease Ecology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 401 | Ecology with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 402 | Biogeography/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 405 | Animal Physiological Ecology with Lab 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 409 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BIOL 410 | Animal Physiology with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 412 | Population Biology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 430 | Pathogenic Microbiology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 435 | Cellular and Molecular Analysis Laboratory | 3 |
| BIOL 450 | Biology Internship 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 451 | Plant Physiology/Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 470 | Histology with Lab 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 498 | Selected Topics 1 | 3 |
| MARS 221 | Marine Invertebrates 1 | 3 |
| MARS 241 | Marine Biology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 250 | Wetland Ecology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 260 | Marine Ecology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 270 | Coastal Vegetation 1 | 3 |
| MARS 298 | Selected Topics 1 | 3 |
| MARS 300 | Behavior of Marine Organisms 1 | 3 |
| MARS 310 | The Mammals of Coastal Ecosystems 1 | 3 |
| MARS 320 | Marine Microbiology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 330 | Tropical Invertebrates 1 | 3 |
| MARS 342 | Marine Botany 1 | 3 |
| MARS 343 | Marine Ichthyology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 344 | Anatomy of Marine Chordates 1 | 3 |
| MARS 345 | Ornithology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 350 | Physiology of Marine Invertebrates 1 | 3 |
| MARS 398 | Selected Topics 1 | 3 |
| MARS 420 | Marine Micropaleontology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 431 | Ecology of Marine Plankton 1 | 3 |
| MARS 458 | Exploration Methods in Marine Geology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 490 | Independent Study 1 | 3 |
| MARS 491 | Coral Reef Ecology 1 | 3 |
| MARS 492 | Marine Mammals 1 | 3 |
| MARS 498 | Selected Topics 1 | 3 |
| MARS 500 | Problems in Marine Science 1 | 3 |
- 1
Course counts for 50% of Major requirements and Major GPA
Co-Curricular and Experiential Learning
Students are encouraged to explore additional curricular and co-curricular opportunities. There is a strong correlation between long-term student success and participation in the following types of programs and activities:
- Student-faculty research
- Internships
- Volunteering
- Job Shadowing
Important Curriculum Guide Notes
This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.
PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions
BIOLOGY - BA (6 08)
w/ optional Pre Masters in Education (7-12) (PX)
This program is effective as of Summer 2023
Revised 07.10.2023
UCC 02.14.2023
Recommended Four-Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Writing | 3 |
| BIOL 113 | Biology I: Foundations of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 107 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| ESAP 101 | FYRST Seminar * | 1 |
| SUBJ 139 | Foundations of Academic Discovery 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 104 | Critical Reading | 3 |
| CHEM 108 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 114 | Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab | 4 |
| Language 101 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice | ||
| Ethics and Civil Discourse | ||
| Civil Discourse and Democracy | ||
| BIOL 250 | Genetics with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 201 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| Language 102 | 3 | |
| Declare a Thematic Thread 2 | ||
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Language 103 | 3 | |
| BIOL 325 | Biostatistics and Experimental Design with Lab | 3 |
| Creative & Aesthetic Inquiry | 3 | |
| MATH 125 or MATH 225 |
Precalculus or Calculus I |
4 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Humanities Inquiry | 3 | |
| Social Science Inquiry | 3 | |
| BIOL 370 | Molecular Biology 3 | 3 |
| SPED 121 | Overview of Special Education | 3 |
| PHYS 201 or PHYS 211 |
Elements of Physics I with Lab or General Physics I with Lab |
4 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Thematic Thread Requirement | 3 | |
| Thematic Thread Requirement | 3 | |
| EGEO/Lab | 3 | |
| BIOL 300+ | Upper Level BIOL Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Thematic Thread Requirement | 3 | |
| BIOL 401 | Ecology with Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 410 | Animal Physiology with Lab 3 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| 2nd Math Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| SEFE 338 | Standards-Based Instruction & Assessment in the Inclusionary Classroom | 3 |
| Thematic Thread Requirement | 3 | |
| BIOL 300+ | Upper Level BIOL Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| BIOL 492 | Biology Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours** | 120 | |
- 1
Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.
- 2
Work with your Academic Adviser to declare a Thematic Thread by the end of your fall semester in your second year.
- 3
Recommended BIOL 300+ Upper Level Elective
- *
Students are encouraged to take ESAP 101 as a Free Elective.
** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Some planners may show more than 120 credits because faculty have created flexibility in choosing courses. However, only 120 credits are required to obtain a degree. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year.
Major Code: 6 08
Concentration Code: PX
Revised date: 04.21.22