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Biology Education

Teach Science to Eager Minds

Want to inspire a curiosity for the sciences? Show young mind the wonders of the world from your classroom. With a biology education degree, you'll teach middle school and high school students everything from the smallest life processes to global ecology. Impact the future with a career influencing the next generation of scientists.

Explore Biology Education

As you grow into your teaching education, you will work with your professors to further develop your passion for biology instruction.

What's the Difference? 

  • Gain experience working with students in the Mitchell School District. 
  • Learn from DWU’s amazing professors; our low student-to-teacher ratio provides valuable one-on-one time with your mentors.
  • Complete more than 300 hours of classroom experience.
  • Design your unique one-semester student teaching capstone.
  • 100% of DWU education graduates are working as teachers or attending graduate school.  

Biology Education Courses

You will take a wide array of courses providing you with both the fundamentals of classroom teaching and the specific knowledge needed within your chosen specialty. Biology Education students takes classes like:

EDU 318 Educational Psychology

3 Hours
This course will examine theories of learning and how they may be applied to the classroom. It will include the study of cognitive development, motivation and learning, how knowledge is constructed, constructivism, individual differences in learning, and learning environments. Prerequisites: EDU 201. Non-education majors must have consent of the instructor.

BIO 333 Microbiology

3 Hours
This course will cover the biology and ecology of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, and certain animal parasites. Lectures and laboratory exercises will cover microbiological techniques, morphology, anatomy, growth, reproduction, physiology, and genetics. Three lectures, one laboratory. Prerequisites: BIO 120/120L AND BIO 122/122L AND CHM 164/166L or higher. Prerequisite or corequisite: BIO 333L

EDU 220 Technology for Teachers

1 Hours
This course provides a foundation for integrating technology into the classroom. A primary goal is the development of a mindset intent on exploring, identifying, engaging and applying current, emerging and future technologies in the teaching/learning process. Students enrolled in the course will consider the appropriate relationship of technology to standards and ethical issues. They will design and present technology-enhanced lessons and become skilled, confident users of digital and electronic resources.

BIO 302 Ecology

3 Hours
Students will study the principles governing the relationships of plants, animals and their environment. This course includes field trips. Prerequisites: BIO 122/122L, BIO301. Prerequisite or corequisite: BIO302L.

BIO 318 Botany

3 Hours
This course is a comparative study of the structure and reproduction of fungi and lower plants, with emphasis on seed plants. Students will study the principles of plant classification, identification and nomenclature, including the systematic relationships of vascular plants with an emphasis on flowering plants. Laboratories will include field trips, identification of collections and techniques used in gathering evidence for classification. Prerequisites: BIO 122/122L.Prerequisite or corequisite: BIO 318L

BIO 305 Biology Teaching Methods

2 Hours
This course introduces students to the texts, manuals, materials, apparatus and methods of teaching biology. It cannot be taken as a directed study. Prerequisites: 15 hours of biological science, including BIO 120, BIO 122, BIO 316, CHM 164, EDU 201 and EDU 456.

Get to Know Your Professors

Become a teacher and learn from our fabulous teachers! Our low student-to-teacher ratio offers valuable one-on-one interaction with professors.  

Ashley Digmann, Ed.D.

Education Department Chair

Bethany Melroe Lehrman, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry | Dean of the Donna Starr Christen College of Healthcare, Fitness and Sciences

Brian Patrick, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

Paula Mazzer, Ph.D.

Professor of Biochemistry

Tim Mullican, D.A.

Professor of Biology | Chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences

The Experience

Student Teaching

Don't worry about being on your own. Experience a full semester of student teaching before you graduate! You’ll complete at least 200 hours in the classroom in our program, so you'll start your career after college with confidence. Engage in classroom activities with local students and learn with your peers under faculty supervision.

Biology teachers guides students through the process of scientific discovery while teaching students the fundamentals of scientific methods. Your undergraduate degree fulfills the requirements of the National Science Teachers Association’s standards for science teacher preparation. 

After completing your coursework in the biology education major, you will be able to teach your students the following: 
  • How to use scientific evidence and the scientific method 
  • How measurements can quantify observations 
  • How biological populations can change genetically through time 
  • The relationships of living and nonliving systems 

Related Majors & Minors

Biochemistry

Explore the living things around you, while you investigate the complexity of life processes in animals and plants.

    Biology

    Gain practical, hands-on experiences with lab activities, research and an internship in your field.

      Chemistry

      If problem solving is your thing, you'll fit right in at DWU.

        General Science

        Study the wonders of biological and physical sciences.

          Mathematics Education

          Prepare young minds for math! As a mathematics teacher, you'll create enthusiasm for numbers and equations, guiding your students to solve problems.

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