Skip to content

College of Education

Main Navigation

Biology Teaching Combined BS/MEd

 

BSMED home
Chem BSMED
EarthSci BSMED
PHYSICS BSMED
Teach for Utah
NSF Noyce

About the Program of Study

The Biology BS/MEd meets the requirements for a BS in Biology Teaching and USBE endorsements in Biology and Chemistry. Additional electives can be taken to earn an optional endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL). Additional coursework is required to obtain a teaching license and can be taken post-BS or as part of the joint BS/MEd program in Chemistry Teaching and Educational Psychology. Note that the BS/MEd option only adds one course to the requirements for licensure, so most students will benefit from this pathway.

  1. Meet with an advisor in the School of Biological Sciences once per semester. This will ensure that you are making the most of your University of Utah experience and staying on track to meet important requirements. Advisors will let you know about course availability, any prerequisites you may need to take, and additional opportunities in the college. Contact the Biology advising team here: Biology Advising.
  2. Students should also meet with an advisor in the College of Education to discuss education course requirements for licensure, prerequisites, and the admissions process to the MEd program. Contact an advisor in UITE during your second or third year to make sure you are on track to meet education requirements: UITE Advising.
  3. Students can choose from a number of allied science electives to meet multiple science endorsements. Be sure to check in with the BS/MEd personnel to learn more (contact ally.rocks@utah.edu). You can refer to the Utah State Board of Education endorsement guide here: Utah State Board of Education Endorsement Guide.

Application to Licensure and MEd Programs

Students are also required to apply to the Licensure and MEd in Educational Psychology program prior to their final (5th) year. A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the MEd program. Admission to the licensure program requires a B- or higher in all education and licensure courses. Please contact an advisor in UITE for assistance with both applications.

Degree Requirements

Required Science Core Courses(30-37 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
MATH 1050 & 1060 or MATH 1080 College Algebra & Trigonometry or Precalculus 7 or 5
MATH 1210 Calculus I  4
MATH 1220 Calculus II 4
MATH 2210 Calculus III 3
CHEM 1210 General Chemistry I 4
CHEM 1215 General Chemistry I Lab 1
CHEM 1220 General Chemistry II 4
CHEM 1225 General Chemistry II Lab 1
CHEM 2310 Organic Chemistry I  r
PHYS 2010 General Physics I 4
PHYS 2020 General Physics II 4

Required Biology Courses(26 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
BIOL 1610 Fund Princ of Biology I 3
BIOL 1615 Fund Princ of Biology I Lab 1
BIOL 1620 Fund Princ of Biology II 3
BIOL 1625 Fund Princ of Biology II Lab 1
BIOL 2020 Princ of Cell Biology 3
BIOL 2030 Principles of Genetics 3
BIOL 3410 Ecol & Evol 3
BIOL 3510 Biochemistry I 3
BIOL 3310 or 5350 or 5370 or 5480 Comparative Vertabrate Mor[hology or Ornithology or Mammalogy or Entomology 3
BIOL 2325 or 2420 Human Anatomy or Physiology 3

Complete 1 Cell and Molecular Biology Lab (2-3 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
BIOL 3125 Mol Evol Lab 3
BIOL 3215 Cell Biol Lab 2
BIOL 3235 Develop Lab 2
BIOL 3246 Cell Neuro Lab 2
BIOL 3515 BIOL Chem Lab 2
BIOL 2525 MBIOL DNA Lab 3
BIOL 4955 Individual Research* 2-3

*can only be counted once

Complete 1 Environmental & Orgismal Bio Lab (1-3 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
BIOL 2355 Field Botany 2
BIOL 2425 Human Phys Lab 1
BIOL 3125 Mol Evol Lab* 2
BIOL 3246 Cell Neuro Lab 3
BIOL 3325 Comp Phys Lab 3
BIOL 4955 Individual Research* 2-3

*can only be counted once

Complete 1 Upper Division Biology Elective(3-4 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
BIOL 3XXX-5XXX Rec 3550, 5471, 5495,5665, or 5910 for QI 3-4

Complete 1 Upper Division Biology Elective(3-4 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
BIOL 3XXX-5XXX Rec 3550, 5471, 5495,5665, or 5910 for QI 3-4

Complete 1 Advanced or Applied Chemistry Elective(3-4 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits

CHEM 3XXX-5XXX or GEO 2100 or BIOL 3520

CHEM 3XXX-5XXX or Reactive Earth or Biological Chemistry II

 3-4

Required Education Courses (17-18 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
EDU 1010 Introduction to Education (20 field hours required) 3
ETHNC 2550 or 2570 or 2580 or 2590** African American or American Indian, or Asian Pacific American, or Pacific Islander Experience 3
ECS 2150 Intro to Multicultural Education (15 field hours required) 3
EDPS 3721 Adolescent Psychology 3
EDU 5170 Secondary Science Methods (10 field hours required)  3
ECS 5709 Building Family Partnerships ( 32 field hours required) 3

Optional Electives for Completion of English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement (9 Credits)

Course Number Course Name Credits
EDU 5200 Teacher Language Awareness (16 field hours required) 3
ECS 5645 Assessment of Linguistically Diverse Populations 3
ECS 5647 Instructional Methods for LinguisticallyDiverse Populations (16 field hours required) 3

* Can only be counted once

** ETHNC 2560 Latin American Experience can also be taken but this course only counts for a DV requirement. It is recommended students choose between the other four options to obtain both a DV and HFor BF requirement.

Requirements for a Masters of Education in Educational Psychology with Licensure

Course Number Course Name Credits
ED PS 6151 Educational Applications of Technology 3
ED PS 6035 Instructional Assessments: Design, Implementation, and Analysis Online 3
SP ED 6022 Principles of Instruction & Behavior Support 3
EDU 6201 Teaching Practices, Ethics & Professional Development 3
EDU 6490 Field Practicum Secondary: 9 hours/week in the field 3
EDU 6491 Professional  Development & Teacher Research 3
SP ED 5012 Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Secondary Classrooms (16 field hours required) 3
ED PS 5564/6564 Advanced Secondary Science Methods 3
EDU 6495 Student Teaching: 12 weeks full-time 9

 

Notes on Coursework

  • Many of the education/licensure courses require field hours in the community or in the classroom. Students should plan their semesters carefully and be careful to not overload their semesters with courses that require a lot of field hours. They are as follows:
    • EDU 1010 (undergrad requirement): Intro to Education (20 field hours required)
    • ECS 2150 (undergrad requirement): Intro to Multi-Cultural Education (15 field hours required)
    • ECS 5709 (undergrad requirement): Family Partnerships (32 field hours required)
    • EDU 5170 (undergrad requirement): Science Methods for (10 field hours required)
    • SP ED 5012 (grad requirement): Inclusive Classrooms (16 field hours required)
    • EDU 5200 (optional ESL endorsement requirement): Teacher Language Awareness (16 field hours required)
    • ECS 5647 (optional ESL endorsement requirement):  Instructional Methods for Linguistically Diverse Populations (16 field hours
    • EDU 6490 (grad requirement): Field Practicum (6-9 field hours a week required)
    • EDU 6495 (grad requirement): Student Teaching (Full-time 12-week student teaching experience)
  • Students may take ETHNC 2550 (HF, DV), 2560(DV), 2570 (HF, DV), 2580 (BF, DV), or 2590 (HF, DV) to meet licensure requirements however it is highly recommended that students choose between 2550, 2570, 2580, or 2590 as those classes will satisfy two general education requirements.
  • Students may take FCS 5230 instead of ED PS 3721 (Adolescent Psychology) however it is not recommended since it doesn't meet a general education requirement.
  • Undergraduate students in this combined BS/MEd program are allowed to select up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level courses (5000 level or above) while still classified as an undergraduate student to be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the graduate degree. The recommended courses to be completed prior to starting the M.Ed are as follows:
    • SP ED 5012 is only taught in spring/summer so it should be taken before beginning the M.Ed. program
    • ED PS 6151 could be taken before starting the MEd year (only taught fall semester).
    • SP ED 6022 could be taken before starting the MEd year (taught every semester).
    • Any of the optional ESL endorsement courses can also be taken before starting the MEd year. (EDU 5200, ECS 5645, & ECS 5647)
Last Updated: 8/12/24