The Francis Marion University School of Education prepares caring and competent teachers for the 21st century.

The Biology Secondary Education Option offers students the knowledge base for licensing to teach biology in the state of South Carolina. Students complete a program of study composed of core areas in biology, related sciences and education, and student teaching. The department supports and encourages the conceptual framework in the School of Education.

Students must schedule a conference with the School of Education to discuss the Professional Education Program and must successfully complete the Biology courses listed for licensure in secondary education by the School of Education.

The Biology Secondary Education Option requires completion of the following courses, which include General Education courses, certain core science and mathematics courses, education courses, biology courses, and student teaching.

General Education (36-37 hours)

• Communications – 9 or 10 hours
  • ENGL 101 – Analysis and Argument or ENGL 101E – Analysis and Argument w/ Ext. Studio and ENGL 101L – Extended Studio (3 or 4)
  • ENGL 102 – Rhetoric, Genre, and Research (3)
  • SPCO 101 – Basics of Oral Communication (3)
• Social Sciences – 9 hours
  • POLI 101 – United States Government or POLI 103 – Introduction to Political Science (3)
  • Social Science electives – 6 hours
  • GEOG 105 and SOCI 201 recommended
• Humanities – 12 hours
  • Literature elective (3)
  • History elective (3) *
  • ART 101 – Introduction to Art, MUSI 101 – Introduction to Music, or THEA 101 – Introduction to Theatre (6)
  • Humanities elective (3)
• Mathematics – 6 hours
  • MATH 111 – College Algebra II, MATH 111E – College Algebra II w/ Ext. SAtudio II and MATH 111L – Extended Studio II, or MATH 132 or higher

Biology Course Requirements (49 hours)

• Introductory Biology
  • BIOL 105 – Biological Sciences I and BIOL 115 – Laboratory for Biological Sciences I OR
  • BIOL 107 – Integrated Biological Concepts I and BIOL 106 – Biological Sciences II or BIOL 108 – Integrated Biological Concepts II
• Cell and Molecular Biology – 4 hours
  • BIOL 220 – Introduction to Molecular Biology or BIOL 301 – Cell Biology
• Organismal Biology – 4 hours
  • Select one (1) course from the following:
    • BIOL 201 – Invertebrate Zoology
    • BIOL 202 – Vertebrate Zoology
    • BIOL 206 – Fall Flora
    • BIOL 207 – Spring Flora
    • BIOL 208 – Summer Flora
    • BIOL 209 – Entomology
    • BIOL 303 – The Plant Kingdom
    • BIOL 307 – Plant Structure and Function
    • BIOL 312 – Herpetology
    • BIOL 313 – Mycology
    • BIOL 315 – Ornithology
    • BIOL 320 – Plant Evolution and Diversity
• Ecology – 4 hours
  • Select one (1) course from the following:
    • BIOL 308 – Aquatic Ecology
    • BIOL 317 – Marine Ecology
    • BIOL 318 – Tropical Ecology
    • BIOL 400 – Fisheries Science and Management
    • BIOL 402 – Terrestrial Ecology
    • BIOL 411 – Ecology
    • BIOL 412 – Animal Behavior
• Genetics – 4 hours
  • BIOL 401 – Genetics or BIOL 409 – Evolutionary Biology
• Biological Research Methods – 4 hours
  • BIOL 413 – Biostatistics and Research Methods
  • BIOL 491 – Research for the Secondary Educator
• Biology elective – 4 hours
  • Select from BIOL 200 or higher
• BIOL 499 – Senior Seminar (4 hours)
• Chemistry – 12 hours
  • CHEM 111 – General Chemistry I: General Concepts in Chemistry
  • CHEM 111L – General Chemistry I Laboratory: General Concepts in Chemistry
  • CHEM 112 – General Chemistry II: General Concepts in Chemistry
  • CHEM 112L – General Chemistry II Laboratory: General Concepts in Chemistry
  • CHEM 201 – Organic Chemistry I
• Physics – 4 hours
  • PHYS 215 – General Physics I *

Pre-Professional Education (7 hours)

• EDUC 190 – Foundations of Education (3)
• EDUC 192 – Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction (3)

Professional Education (41 hours) *

*Requires admission to the program.

• EDUC 310 – Practicum: Teaching Reading and Written Language To Exceptional Learners (1)
• EDUC 311 – IEP Development and Transition for Students with Disabilities (3)
• EDUC 313 – Field Experiences in Instructional Planning and Assessment
• EDUC 322 – Foundations/Instruction of Reading
• EDUC 393 – Clinical Experience: Secondary *
  • Take concurrently with EDUC 437
• EDUC 411 – Reading in the Content Areas
• EDUC 420 – Introduction: Exceptional Learner
• EDUC 437 – Teach Science in Secondary School *
  • * Take concurrently with EDUC 393
• Student Teaching Block *
  • EDUC 487 – Classroom Management
  • EDUC 490 – Directed Teaching

*All Student Teaching Block courses must be taken together.