Biology (BA) and Secondary Education (BA)
NOTE: Biology (BA) MUST be a double-major with Secondary Education. Benedictine College does not offer a "stand-alone" Biology (BA) major. If a student wants to drop the Secondary Education major, s/he must change their other major from Biology (BA) to Biology (BS) or Molecular and Cell Biology (BS) (or another major of their choice).
Program Mission
The mission of the Biology Program is to prepare majors to appreciate and understand biological diversity across levels of organization and apply biological principles and the scientific method to think critically and solve problems in an evidence-based manner. Majors will engage in collaborative and creative experimental- and literature-driven research, which involves measuring data, generating questions, using statistical tools, and drawing evidence-based inferences. Graduates will effectively communicate their work in both written and oral form. They will be prepared to enter graduate and professional schools, to teach at the secondary-school level, or to enter the work force.
Program Outcomes
- Majors will demonstrate above-average comprehension (relative to their peers at other institutions) of cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, organismal biology, population biology, evolution, and ecology.
- Majors will be able to use good scientific practices to ask research questions and collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data.
- Majors will demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication of scientific information.
- Biology Education students will demonstrate knowledge of biology and the ability to teach it.
- Majors will be able to present biological information to diverse audiences in relevant ways, taking into account differences in background and experience.
Students must also complete a Major in Secondary Education in order to pursue a BA Biology. This double-major permits the student to be certified to teach.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL-1121 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL-1122 | General Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL-3310 | Biology III- Mechanisms of Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL-3305 | Biological Statistics | 4 |
| BIOL-3355 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL-3370 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL-4457 | Methods of Teaching Secondary Science | 2 |
| BIOL-4482 | Animal Physiology | 4 |
| or BIOL-4484 | Human Physiology & Disease | |
| One 4-hour "BIOL" prefixed laboratory courses numbered above BIOL-3311 | 4 | |
| BIOL-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | NULL |
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| Required supporting courses that should be taken before all advanced biology courses numbered above 3310 are as follows: | ||
| CHEM-1200 | General Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-1201 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CHEM-1210 | General Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-1211 | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| CHEM-2200 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-2201 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MATH-1220 | Introductory Statistics | 4 |
| PHYS-1100 | Concepts in Physics | 4 |
Students must complete all the requirements for a double major in Secondary Education (B.A.).
Secondary Education Major Requirements
A grade of 'D' will not be accepted in Education courses, major content courses, or the General Education courses that are specifically required for the Secondary Education major.
Changes in Kansas State Department Licensure requirements will preclude requirements established by Benedictine’s School of Education.
Students will complete the College’s general education requirements in addition to the following courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 6 | |
World Civilization (must take and satisfies a Historical Foundation) | ||
General Psychology | ||
| Teacher Education Program | ||
| Professional Education Core | 20 | |
| Introduction to Education | ||
| Science of Learning & Teaching | ||
| Intro to K-12 Special Education | ||
| School As Community | ||
| Philosophy of Education (satisfies one Philosophical Inquiry ged ed requirement) | ||
| Meeting the Needs of All Learners | ||
| Classroom Management | ||
| Student Teaching Seminar | ||
| Methods Core | 7 | |
| Literacy in the Secondary Classroom | ||
| General Secondary Methods & Media | ||
_ 4457, Content Area Methods (offered in major department) | ||
| Research and Field Experience Core | 14 | |
| Intro Educational Research & Field Exper | ||
| School As Community Rsch & Field Exper | ||
| Literacy in Secondary Classroom Fld Exp | ||
| General Seconday Mthd & Media Practicum | ||
| Select one of the following Options: | 10 | |
| Option 1 | ||
| Supervised Student Teach Secondar School and Supervised Student Teaching Elem School | ||
| Option 2 | ||
| Supervised Student Teach Secondar School | ||
or EDUC-4492 | Supervised Student Teaching Elem School | |
| Total Hours | 57 | |
Suggested Sequence of Courses for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and Secondary Education
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| BIOL-1121 | General Biology I | 4 |
| ENGL-1010 | English Composition | 3 |
| EDUC-2200 | Introduction to Education | 2 |
| EDUC-2201 | Intro Educational Research & Field Exper | 1 |
| EDUC-2222 | Intro to K-12 Special Education | 3 |
| CHEM-1200 | General Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-1201 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOL-1122 | General Biology II | 4 |
| CHEM-1210 | General Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-1211 | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| THEO-1100 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
| HIST-1100 or HIST-1101 |
World Civilization to 1500 or World Civilization Since 1500 |
3 |
| EDUC-2220 | Science of Learning & Teaching | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BIOL-3310 | Biology III- Mechanisms of Evolution | 3 |
| PSYC-1000 | General Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC-3312 | School As Community | 3 |
| EDUC-3313 | School As Community Rsch & Field Exper | 1 |
| PHIL-2100 | Principles of Nature | 3 |
| CHEM-2200 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-2201 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDUC-3332 | Literacy in the Secondary Classroom | 2 |
| EDUC-3333 | Literacy in Secondary Classroom Fld Exp | 1 |
| MATH-1220 | Introductory Statistics | 4 |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| Aesthetic Foundation | 3 | |
| Historical Inquiry Foundation | 3 | |
| EXSC-1115 | Wellness for Life | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BIOL-3355 | Ecology | 4 |
| PHYS-1100 | Concepts in Physics | 4 |
| EDUC-3357 | General Secondary Methods & Media | 3 |
| EDUC-3358 | General Seconday Mthd & Media Practicum | 1 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOL-4482 or BIOL-4484 |
Animal Physiology or Human Physiology & Disease |
4 |
| EDUC-4451 | Philosophy of Education | 3 |
| BIOL-3305 | Biological Statistics | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BIOL-3370 | Genetics | 4 |
| Advanced Biology | 4 | |
| BIOL-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | NULL |
| EDUC-4462 | Classroom Management | 2 |
| EDUC-4455 | Meeting the Needs of All Learners | 2 |
| BIOL-4457 | Methods of Teaching Secondary Science | 2 |
| EXSC Fitness Course | 1 | |
| Aesthetic Foundation | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDUC-4470 | Student Teaching Seminar | 2 |
| EDUC-4496 | Supervised Student Teach Secondar School | 10 |
| EDUC-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | NULL |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 131 | |