Licensure: This program meets the educational requirements designed to lead to an occupationally required professional license or certificate in the state of Utah. Students pursuing occupations requiring a license or certificate in a state other than Utah should contact the appropriate BYU academic advisement center as well as the licensing agency in the state where they intend to work to seek information and guidance regarding licensure and certification requirements.

This major is designed to prepare students to teach in public schools. In order to graduate with this major, students are required to complete Utah State Office of Education licensing requirements. To view these requirements go to https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/licensing or contact the Education Advisement Center, 350 MCKB, 801-422-3426.

For students accepted into the major after December 16, 2019, grades below C in any required coursework in a teaching major or teaching minor will not be accepted. Teacher candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher once admitted into the program and to qualify for student teaching. For additional details on admission and retention requirements for teaching majors and teaching minors, see Educator Preparation Program Requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Students wishing to enter the Biological Science Education (BSE) program must declare the premajor, complete Bio 130, Bio 220, Chem 105, and Bio 276, and meet and maintain minimum GPA requirements of 2.85 in the major and 3.0 cumulative, prior to making application via educator.byu.edu. Students obtaining a teaching minor must also student teach at least one period in the minor, when available.

Requirement 1 — Complete 7 Courses 

Biology core. NOTE: Bio 420, 421 must be taken at BYU.

course - Biology 4.0

course - Biological Diversity: Animals 4.0

course - Biological Diversity: Plants 4.0

course - Ecology 3.0

course - Evolutionary Biology 4.0

course - Molecular Biology 3.0

course - Genetics 3.0

Requirement 2 — Complete 4 Courses 

course - Gen College Chem 1+Lab Integr 4.0

course - Introduction to Geology 3.0

course - General Physics 1 3.0

course - Principles of Statistics 3.0

Requirement 3 — Complete 1 of 4 Courses

course - Comparative Physiol & Anatomy 4.0

course - Human Anatomy (with lab) 4.0

course - Cell Biology 3.0

course - General Microbiology 3.0

Requirement 4 — Complete 1 of 7 Courses

course - Field Biology 3.0

course - Field Botany 3.0

course - Entomology 3.0

course - Ichthyology 3.0

course - Herpetology 4.0

course - Mammalogy 3.0

course - Ornithology 3.0

Requirement 5 — Complete 1 Course

course - History&Philosophy of Biology 3.0

Requirement 6 — Complete 2 Requirements 

Professional Education Component:

Requirement 6.1 — Complete 10 Courses 

course - Exploration of Tch in Biol Sci 3.0

course - Tchg Mthds & Instrctn in Biol 3.0

course - Practicum in Biology Teaching 1.0

course - Classroom Mgt & Lab Safety 1.0

course - Educ Stdnts w/Disablts in ScEd 2.0

course - Integrating K-12 Ed Tec 1 1.0

course - Integrating K-12 Ed Tec 2 1.0

course - Tching K-12 Online/Blended Lrn 1.0

course - Adolescent Development 2.0

course - Multi Cult Ed for Sc Ed 3.0

Note 1: Application on educator.byu.edu, including FBI fingerprint and background clearance, must be completed prior to enrollment in Bio 276.

Note 2: Bio 377, 378, and 379 should be taken concurrently in the semester prior to taking Bio 476.

Note 3: Most states require the Biology Praxis Exam for employment in High School and the Middle Level Science Praxis Exam for teaching in grades 6-8.

Requirement 6.2 — Complete 12 hours

course - Biology Student Teaching - You may take up to 12.0 credit hours 12.0

course - Secondary Teaching Internship - You may take up to 12.0 credit hours 12.0

Recommended Courses are not required to complete the program

Although not required, these courses are recommended.

course - Field Botany 3.0

course - Plant Classif. & Identif. 4.0

course - Entomology 3.0

course - Ichthyology 3.0

course - Herpetology 4.0

course - Mammalogy 3.0

course - Marine Biology 3.0

course - Genetics of Human Disease 3.0

course - Life of the Past 3.0

course - Historical Geology 4.0

course - Calculus 1 4.0

course - Descriptive Astronomy 3.0

course - Energy, Climate, Environment 3.0

course - Soil Science 3.0

course - Soil Science Lab 1.0

course - Ornithology 3.0