Program Overview

This program leads to a profession which requires an occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001 This requires that all applicants seeking to become licensed must undergo a criminal background check prior to licensure. Students in this program should check with the College of Education and P-16 Integration on the requirements for a criminal background check prior to student teaching.

The Bachelor in Interdisciplinary Studies major in the School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences prepares students with the content knowledge to become eligible for certification as a 4-8 Science teacher. 

Admission requirements for this program beyond university admission requirements 

• Admission to the Teacher Education Program at the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability is required for completion of teacher certification requirements with the undergraduate degree. All admission requirements are in accordance to Texas Administrative Code rules §227.10 and the HEA Title II accountability requirements. All applicants must meet the current certification requirements in effect at the time of application, regardless of the catalog year of degree plan.

Progression requirements for this program

• Teacher Education Program progression requirements include GPA, course grades, certification courses, benchmarks/key assessments and testing.

• Admission to the Teacher Education Program and Clinical Teaching is required for participation in Apprentice Teaching and Apprentice Teaching Seminar (UTCH 4601, UTCH 4101). Students unable to be admitted to UTCH 4601 and UTCH 4101 will be required to substitute hours, as recommended by advisor.

Specific graduation requirements for this program beyond university bachelor’s degree requirements

• Minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major is required for graduation. BIOL 1406, BIOL 1407, CHEM 1311, CHEM 1111, UTCH 4101, UTCH 4601 with a grade of ‘C’ or better grade.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR FALL 2024 ADMITS AND FORWARD

1. Core Curriculum
   The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below. The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once. The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.
   
   Required courses:
   020 Mathematics – 3 hours
   
   Choose one:
   MATH 1314 College Algebra
   MATH 1414 College Algebra
   MATH 2412 Precalculus
   MATH 2413 Calculus I
   
   030 Life and Physical Sciences – 6 hours
   Choose one pair (Pair must have the same course prefix)
   PHYS 1401 General Physics I
   PHYS 1402 General Physics II
   OR
   PSCI 1421 Physical Science I
   PSCI 1422 Physical Science II
   
   090 Integrative and Experiential Learning – 6 hours
   Choose labs corresponding to Life and Physical Science section, and complete:
   CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I Lab
   ASTR 1401 Introduction to Astronomy I
   BIOL 1406 General Biology I
   One credit hour from ASTR 1401 applies, and one credit hour from BIOL 1406 applies.
   
   
   
2. Major requirements – 54 hours
   
   Required: Biology Foundation
   1. BIOL 1406 General Biology I
      Three credit hours from BIOL 1406 applies.
   2. BIOL 1407 General Biology II
   3. BIOL 3301 Ecology and Evolution
   4. BIOL 4315 Inquiry-Based Science and Laboratory Techniques
   5. BIOL 4392 Research Methods in the Science and Mathematics Classroom (UTeach)
   
   Required: Science Foundation
   1. ENVR 1401 Introduction to Environmental Science I
   2. CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
   3. GEOG 2313 Principles of Geography Physics Elementary
   4. GEOL 1403 Physical Geology
   5. GEOL 3401 Geomorphology
   6. GEOL 3405 Oceanography
   7. MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods
      OR
      MATH 1343 Introduction to Biostatistics
   8. PHIL 3317 Perspectives on Science and Mathematics
   9. ASTR 1401 Introduction to Astronomy I
      Three credit hours from ASTR 1401 applies.
   
   Required: Biological Sciences Electives – 7 credits
   Choose from:
   1. BIOL 3404 Conservation Biology
   2. BIOL 3313 Genetics
   3. BIOL 3315 Cell and Molecular Biology
   4. GEOL 4403 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
   5. GEOL 4302 Environmental Geology
   6. ASTR 3301 Stellar and Galactic Astronomy
   7. EEMS 3360 Soil Science and Conservation
   8. EEMS 4360 Food Science
      
      
3. Free Electives – 3 hours
   Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
   
   
4. Teacher Certification - 21 hours
   Area of Certification: Science (4-8)
   1. UTCH 1101 Inquiry Approaches to Teaching
   2. UTCH 1102 Inquiry-Based Lesson Design
   3. UTCH 3301 Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science
   4. UTCH 3302 Classroom Interactions
   5. UTCH 3303 Project-Based Instruction
   6. UTCH 4101 Apprentice Teaching Seminar
   7. UTCH 4601 Apprentice Teaching
   8. READ 4305 Disciplinary Literacy in the Classroom

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION – 120 HOURS

MINIMUM ADVANCED LEVEL HOURS (3000 and 4000 courses) – 42 HOURS