Undergraduate Bulletin > Department of Biology > Major-B.A. with Licensure

Biology Major with Comprehensive Science High School Teaching Licensure (BIOL)

The Comprehensive Science High School Licensure (BIOL) program provides a strong background in biology as well as licensure for high school biology teaching. In addition, successful completion of this program qualifies candidates to teach other high school science subjects as well.

The Department offers a full range of courses leading to the B.A. degree. The degree may lead to further study in graduate school, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, medical technology, biotechnology, and environmental biology. See also the descriptions of pre-professional programs concerning their requirements. Both study and laboratory facilities are available to advanced undergraduates.

Students seeking admission to the UNCG Teacher Education Program with a major in Biology must meet the following minimum requirements of the Department of Biology: 

1. Completion of a minimum of 9 s.h. in biology courses, with at least 6 of those hours from courses taken at UNCG
2. A grade point average of at least 2.50 for biology courses completed at UNCG

Students already admitted to the UNCG Teacher Education Program with a major in Biology who are seeking admission to Student Teaching must meet the following requirements of the Department of Biology:

1. Completion of a minimum of 18 s.h. of biology courses, with at least 15 of those hours from courses taken at UNCG
2. A grade point average of at least 2.50 for biology courses completed at UNCG

Program Requirements

I General Education Core Requirements (GEC)

See complete GEC requirements and approved course listings for all categories.

Core Category	S.H.
Students may select courses for:
Literature (GLT)	6
Fine Arts (GFA)	3
Philosophical, Religious, Ethical Principles (GPR)	3
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture (GHP)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB)	6
Department specifies courses for:
Mathematics (GMT) required: MAT 151 or 191	3
Natural Sciences (GNS) required: BIO 111 and CHE 111	7
Reasoning and Discourse (GRD) ENG 101 or FMS 115 or RCO 101, and one additional GRD course	6

 

II General Education Marker Requirements

See details and courses. It is possible to meet all GE Marker Requirements while completing the GE Core requirements or courses required by the major/concentration.

 

III College of Arts and Sciences Additional Requirements (CAR)

See requirements and approved courses.

Category	S.H.
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture either a GHP/GPM or GMO course	3
Natural Sciences (GNS/GLS) required: BIO 112/112L	4
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB) one additional GSB course	3
Foreign Language (GFL) intermediate-level proficiency in one language, demonstrated by placement test, or completion of course work through course number 204	0–12
Writing Intensive Courses (WI) a total of four WI courses

 

IV Major Requirements

Biology majors must complete BIO 111 and 112, and a minimum of 30 semester hours of Biology courses above the 100 level. A maximum of four hours at the 200 level may be counted toward the major. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.0 in Biology courses completed at UNCG. 

Biology Core Courses

In meeting this requirement for hours above the 100 level, all B.A. in Biology majors must complete the following core courses; completion of at least four of these requirements is strongly recommended prior to enrollment in courses numbered 400 and higher.

1. Ecology: BIO 301
2. Cell Biology: BIO 355
3. Genetics: BIO 392
4. Diversity: one of the following: BIO 322, 341, 354, or 370
5. At least two of the following core laboratory courses: BIO 302, 356, or 393

V Related Area Requirements

Biology majors are required to take the following related area courses or their approved equivalents:

1. CHE 111, 112, 114, 115
2. MAT 151 or 191

The department highly recommends the following courses in addition to the required courses listed above:

1. CHE 351, 352, 354
2. MAT 191, 292
3. STA 271, or 571 and 571L
4. PHY 211, 212

VI Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure

The Teaching Licensure program in Biology includes a diverse science curriculum in order to align with licensure requirements of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

1. GEO 103 and one or more of the following: GEO 111, 205, 311, 314
2. PHY 211 and 212 or 291 and 292

The following courses must be taken in a specified sequence, terminating in student teaching in the spring semester of the senior year. See the online Secondary Education Handbook for more information.

1. TED 535 Literacy in the Content Area
2. ERM 401, 402, and 403
3. TED 401, SES 401, and TED 403
4. TED 545 Diverse Learners
5. TED 559 Teaching Practices and Curriculum in Science
6. TED 465 Student Teaching and Seminar: Secondary School (12 s.h.)

LIS 120 is strongly recommended.