B.S. Secondary Biology Education
Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Programs
Key Information
Campus location
Fort Lauderdale, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 33,510
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Excel as an Educator. Specialize in Biological Sciences
Want to infuse biology into your teaching repertoire? Nova Southeastern University’s Bachelor of Science in Secondary Biology Education focuses on developing teacher-leaders by providing them with a comprehensive set of courses specifically designed for biology instruction and a specialty component that includes a variety of science courses that comprise the content of the Florida Department of Education-approved Secondary Biology Education major. The courses are based on the Florida Standards and the current statewide assessment in biology (grades 6–12). Course content is research-based and infuses best practices in education and strategies for teaching biology.
Upon successful completion of the program, you’ll be prepared to sit for Florida state certification exams, which will allow you to teach biological and environmental courses at the middle school or high school level. Additionally, you will develop the skills to promote equity, cultural awareness, and social responsibility in diverse educational settings.
Why Should You Major in Secondary Biology Education at NSU?
- Earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in only 4 years.
- Be prepared to sit for Florida state certification exams in biology.
- Earn a $19,000 annual tuition scholarship.
- Get a free international travel experience.
- Get job offers in one of Florida's largest school districts.
- Study such topics as human heredity, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
First-year seminar
- UNIV 1000: First-Year Seminar
General Education Requirements
Written Composition
- 6 credits at or above COMP 1500
- Open Written Composition
Mathematics
- 6 credits at or above MATH 1040
- MATH 1040: Algebra for College Students
- MATH 2020: Applied Statistics
Arts and Humanities
- 6 credits in HIST, ARTS, PHIL, HUMN, LITR, THEA, FILM, MUSC, DANC, WRIT, foreign language
- HIST 1050
- Open Arts and Humanities
Social and Behavioral Sciences
- 6 credits in PSYC, SOCL, ANTH, ECN, COMM, GEOG, GEST, INST, POLS
- PSYC 1020
- Open Social and Behavioral Science
Science
- 6 credits of Science
- PHYS 1020
- BIOL 1040
Open electives
Complete 4 elective courses.
Major
- Concepts in Physical Science
- Fundamentals of Peer Education
- Environmental Studies
- Basics in Human Heredity
- Cross-Cultural Studies
- Practices of Instruction
- Educational Assessment
- Applied Microbiology
- Biology I/Lab
- Foundations of Education
- Survey of TESOL for Teachers
- Survey of Exceptional Student Education
- Biology II/ Lab
- Second Language Learning
- Secondary Classroom Management in Multic
- Methods of Teaching Secondary Science
- Human Anatomy and Physiology/Lab
- Methods of Teaching Secondary Reading
- Foundations of Curriculum Development
- General Ecology/ Lab
- Fundamentals of Chemistry
- Applied Statistics
- Florida Teacher Cert. Exam. - Subject Area Examination
- Florida Teacher Cert. Exam. - Professional Educator Test
- Teaching Inquiry Science in Secondary Schools
- Diversity and Ethics
- Secondary Biology Education Internship
Experiential Learning/Internships
During your undergraduate studies, you’ll have a number of mentorship opportunities and both simulated and real-world classroom experiences which will prepare you for the classrooms of tomorrow.
The field experiences provide you with an opportunity to perform the duties of a classroom teacher within the classroom setting. The purpose of these experiences is to allow teacher candidates to demonstrate their understanding of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and subject area competencies. A minimum of 10 field experience hours are required through education coursework and are to be completed throughout the Secondary Biology Education program.
The clinical practice (internship) is the culminating real-world classroom experience; a 12 week, full-time school placement providing for hands-on experience in lesson planning, instructional delivery, student assessment, and parent/teacher interactions. Teacher candidates (interns) are matched with a school and certified teacher that will compliment your NSU supervisory and faculty team. The internship is designed to expand responsibilities each week as you become an integral member of the school community and teaching team. Your assigned mentor teacher will guide you along weekly as you assume full responsibility for the classroom, and upon successful completion of the internship, you will emerge as a highly qualified educator.
Career Opportunities
Get the Fischler Academy Advantage
This degree is a product of NSU’s Fischler Academy program, which is an experiential, project-driven, mastery-based program combining cutting-edge teaching pedagogies in a highly personalized learning environment. The academy combines bachelor’s and master’s degree programs designed for traditional first-time-in-college students who wish to become educational leaders. Fischler Academy combines the very best in student-centered teaching strategies with competency-based educational experiences. Our mission is to educate great teachers who will inspire generations of students.
Average Starting Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for middle and high school teachers in 2019 was $59,660 and $61,660, respectively.
Shark Destinations
You’ll find NSU education alumni at school districts all around the country, including Broward County Public Schools and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (the sixth-largest in the nation), Palm Beach County Public Schools, Pinellas County Public Schools, the Archdiocese of Miami, and Exceed Preparatory Academy. Our alumni serve as teachers for K-12 students or support the future of other educators in administrative roles.