This program provides students the opportunity to prepare for a career in teaching Biology at the middle school and or high school level. Students in the program learn the content and pedagogical knowledge required to become transformative classroom teachers and to support their future students’ academic achievement. Content courses help students develop knowledge and skills in the field of Science; emphasizing Biology but including Chemistry, Physics, and Earth and Space Science. Education courses help students learn the instructional techniques, assessment methods, and technological knowledge to succeed in today’s dynamic classrooms. Students pursuing certification in Secondary Education must complete the Department of Education certification requirements including engaging in field experiences in school settings, successfully completing the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA), and maintaining professional dispositions.
Requirements for Graduation:
To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Secondary Education Biology must complete a minimum of 127 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for First Year Seminar and all courses taken as part of Foundations. Courses used to complete the General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required to student teach and to obtain Pennsylvania teaching certification.
The General Education Requirements of the college require students to successfully complete First Year Seminar, Foundations, Disciplinary Perspectives, and a Constellation. Students who enter the college with 30 credit hours completed will not take a First Year Seminar course and therefore must take an additional 3 credits for graduation. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation. However, all Education majors are required to take courses found in the Children and Family Constellation as part of their teaching certification requirements. For Secondary Education majors these include PSY221, SPE200 and SPE301 or an approved transfer course meeting these course competencies.
In addition, students majoring in Secondary Education Biology must achieve a 3.0 or higher in each of the following six courses- FCO105, FYS110, MAT171, MAT250, SE210 and SE220. Students seeking certification in Secondary Education Biology will be required to have a minimum of 190 hours of Field Experience prior to the Student Teaching semester and meet specific requirements as noted in the Certification Requirements section in the Department of Education.
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