Biology - Major in Biology Program

Students seeking secondary education certification in physics must complete a major in physics including the following:
CHM 111 Principles of Chemistry I

An introduction to chemistry for the science major. First semester topics include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, and calculations involving chemical concentrations, gas laws and bonding. Fulfills requirement: Natural Science Analysis. Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry or permission of the instructor. Corequisite: CHM 113 or 115, if not previously completed. 3 credits.

CHM 113 Introductory Laboratory I

Laboratory course to accompany CHM 111. Experiments provide exposure to both quantitative and qualitative methods. Topics include stoichiometry, synthesis, standard curves, spectrophotometry, quantitative analysis, and gas laws. In addition to the use of essential laboratory equipment and instrumentation, there is a strong emphasis on the use spreadsheets to organize and analyze data. Corequisite: CHM 111, if not previously completed. 1 credit.

Required education courses:
PSY 220 Lifespan Development

This course provides an overview of developmental phenomenon focusing heavily on the prenatal environment through adolescence and highlighting adulthood and aging. Further, we will go beyond a 'milestone approach' to developmental psychology - in other words, rather than just memorizing what ages and stages children acquire certain skills, we will strive to understand why and how those skills are developing. Students will learn to articulate the relationship between theory and data and synthesize information to critically evaluate current developmental theories and apply developmental concepts to real-world issues. This course cannot be completed by students who have already taken PSY 238. 3 credits.

SED 115 Introduction to Teaching and Learning

This course is designed to provide an introduction to secondary education majors about how people learn and how to successfully use that information in the classroom. It will cover the characteristics of secondary schools and students and the management of teaching and learning resources. 2 hours a week of fieldwork is required. 3 credits.

SED 362 Teaching of the Sciences in the Secondary Schools

This course will offer comprehensive preparation for teaching science in secondary schools through discussing, reading, writing, and completing projects. As part of this course, students will design lesson plans that will include teaching the literacy of science for all students including those with disabilities; explore and utilize materials, techniques and methods of lab instruction for a variety of populations including those with disabilities; create and teach a lesson for a target audience; synthesize, reconfigure, and connect what they have learned within the areas of scientific literacy, writing and education; evaluate student work by creating their own rubrics to assess learning in units and assignments for all students including those with disabilities; use technology effectively as an instructional tool; establish and practice appropriate classroom management strategies. 4 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisite: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics major or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

SED 421 Content Area Literacy

This course will guide preservice students to develop competencies in teaching literacy strategies in their content area subject(s) in middle and high school. Emphasis will be placed on teaching activities, specialized skills, technology skills and study strategies for learning substantive content. 6 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisite: SED 115. 3 credits.

SED 431 Practicum and Methods II

This course is designed to provide preservice secondary education students with the skills to develop an integrated approach to teaching and learning. Students will create lesson and unit plans and develop integrated curricula. 8 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisites: SED 115, 421; secondary teacher certification candidate; junior or senior status; permission of the instructor; must be taken the semester prior to SED 440. 3 credits.

SED 440 Student Teaching

Students spend an entire semester in an area school under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. Prerequisites: A cumulative grade point average at or above the minimum GPA specified by PDE for the secondary 7-12 certificate, SED 431 and the appropriate teaching of course for the content certification, completion of all Chapter 354 and Act 49-2 course requirements. 12 credits.

SPE 252 Special Education Supports for Students in Inclusive Settings

This course is designed to introduce accommodations and supports for students receiving special education services. Special focus will be given to effective instructional strategies in inclusive settings, literacy development in core and intervention areas, and assessment. 3 credits.