Secondary Education (Biological Sciences), BAE
Middle and high school teachers help ignite minds, transform lives and strengthen communities. Coursework paired with internships and student teaching will prepare you to obtain teacher certification after graduation to teach learners in grades 6-12.
Quick facts
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Aligned with strong content knowledge of biological sciences, the Bachelor of Arts in Education in secondary education with a concentration in biological sciences focuses on integrating technology into teaching and providing the professional experience you need to develop teaching skills that lead to success in the classroom.
Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation has developed a team-based approach to teacher preparation, enabling you to participate in professional experiences (internships and student teaching) with a team of peers while receiving guidance and support from ASU faculty members and highly qualified certified teachers. Team-based professional experiences are designed to prepare you to work with mutually supportive colleagues to address the academic and social-emotional needs of learners. Clinically embedded courses and professional experiences provide you with multiple opportunities to apply knowledge learned in coursework to practice in the classroom.
You complete a series of internships before a semester-long full-time student teaching experience, with the support of a certified mentor teacher and ASU faculty.
Completion of this program leads to a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a concentration in biological sciences and an institutional recommendation from ASU that's recognized by the Arizona Department of Education for teacher certification in Secondary Education, 6-12, as well as a Structured English Immersion, P-12, endorsement through the Arizona Department of Education. To be eligible for secondary certification in Arizona, you must earn a passing score on the professional knowledge exam offered through the National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| TEL 310 Instructional Design and Planning: Instructional Thought and Action |
| TEL 317 Instructional Thought and Action: Learning Environment and Management |
| TEL 318 Instructional Thought and Action: Assessment for Learning |
| TEL 332 Disciplinary Literacy Methods |
| TEL 340 Families, Communities and Cultures: Cultivating Networks of Culturally Responsive Relationships |
| TEL 366 Professional Experience Internship |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learners
- Create learning experiences that address the content disciplines to engage learners in accessible, relevant, and meaningful content to ensure critical thinking and mastery of the content.
- Create and maintain inclusive, equitable learning environments that support individual and collaborative learning experiences, utilize high leverage practices, and foster critical thinking, active engagement,and well-being for all learners
- Use multiple methods of assessment and sources of data to evaluate various aspects of learners
- Apply strategies for teaming to meet students’ needs
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate strategies to promote habits of mind
- Build and implement a professional growth plan using evidence and reflective practices
- Advocate for students, families, and communities with an understanding of the historical, social, local, or global context
- Self-reflect and assess personal contributions for shaping and supporting the mission of a school/organization's culture
- Apply expectations of the profession
- Analyze key ethical issues present in a prominent social or cultural problem in education, including the ways different ethical perspectives influence decision making related to the issue
- Analyze and acknowledge the local/cultural context, personal histories, and experiences relevant to problem(s) of practice
- Engage in cycles of inquiry in collaborative educational systems to imagine new concepts, catalyze ideas, and form new solutions, guided by principles and research that create positive change for learners
- Evaluate competing perspectives on a problem of practice within an educational context and present a reasoned analysis of the issue informed by major theories and evidence-based practices
- Implement an applied project, synthesize the findings and defend the significance and implications of the study as relevant to local, social and/or global contexts
Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learnersAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Because of climate change, geopolitical instability and economic factors, the United Nations and other institutions predict that migration will increase globally for the foreseeable future. Learners will migrate to new communities. Increasingly, educators will be asked to meet the needs of students who speak languages other than English and who bring a variety of cultures into classrooms and learning environments. Education students participating in study abroad programs can prepare for this reality. By engaging in Global Education programs, students can expand their notion of normal schooling and deepen their understanding of how to foster inclusive and inspiring learning environments.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Program Director | 1.8% | $104,590 | Learn more |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinator | 6.2% | $69,770 | Learn more |
| High School Teacher | -0.2% | $72,040 | Learn more |
| Instructional Specialist | 1.6% | $77,440 | Learn more |
| Middle School Teacher | -0.4% | $64,370 | Learn more |
| Preschool Director | -3.1% | $59,300 | Learn more |
| School Principal | -0.3% | $105,870 | Learn more |
| Tutor | -0.2% | $43,350 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Graduates are highly sought-out teachers in public, charter and private education institutions. The demand for well-prepared secondary teachers is strong, particularly in the areas of math and science. Job opportunities in a fast-growing state such as Arizona are numerous.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Division for Advancing Educator Preparation
|
ED 102
ASUeducation@asu.edu
480-965-9995
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
