Education Minor (Secondary) with Biology Major

Note

Course requirements for the Education Minor are subject to change in order to meet Maryland State Department of Education certification regulations and accreditation requirements.

Description

Students interested in teaching Biology at the secondary level (grades 7-12) in Maryland public schools major in Biology and complete a core set of secondary education requirements. In addition to the major course requirements, specific science courses are required of education minors.  Students are encouraged to meet with department advisors as soon as possible to incorporate these required courses in their program planning for the major. Upon completion of McDaniel’s approved program in the Biology subject area, and the Bachelor’s degree with the minor in education, candidates will be eligible for initial teaching certification at the secondary level in Maryland.

McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Education minor has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

Students may earn Maryland certification in Biology at the secondary level by completing McDaniel College degree requirements and the following:

Biology Major

•  Completion of basic Biology major including the following Biology courses required for certification.

Education Minor (Core) - 18 Credits

• EDU 1141 - Teaching and Learning in a Diverse Society *

•  

• EDU 2100 - Internship in an Ethnically Diverse Setting *

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• EDU 2240 - Planning and Evaluating Instruction AND
• EDU 2140 - Practicum in Planning and Evaluating Instruction

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• EDU 2250 - Introduction to Special Education AND
• EDU 2150 - Practicum in Special Education

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• PSY 2209 - Developmental Psychology * OR
• SWK 2214 - HBSE: Infancy to Adolescence

Education Minor (Methodology) - 4 Credits

• EDU 3350 - Methodology in Science AND
• EDU 3150 - Practicum in Science Methods

Education Minor (Literacy) - 8 Credits

• EDU 4417 - Literacy in the Content Areas I AND
• EDU 4117 - Practicum in Literacy I

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• EDU 4418 - Literacy in the Content II AND
• EDU 4118 - Practicum-Content Literacy II

Education Minor (Student Teaching & Portfolio) - 14 Credits

• EDU 4435 - Secondary Student Teaching MS/HS
• EDU 4490 - edTPA Portfolio

Professional Experience

Each student is required to complete a practicum equivalent to a full school year as required by the Maryland State Department of Education. Students must take their final methods course the semester prior to the semester they intend to complete a student teaching internship. During the student teaching semester, secondary education students complete 12 credit hours of student teaching at the middle and high school levels. In addition, students must take the edTPA course concurrently with the internship. All coursework should be planned so that one semester of the senior year may be kept entirely free for student teaching.

Other Program Information

1. Secure an Education Department advisor.
2. Present passing PRAXIS Core scores in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, a minimum SAT score (verbal and mathematics) of 1180 (1100 prior to January 2019), or a minimum ACT score of 24. If the student does not have a passing Praxis Score or a minimum ACT or SAT score, the student will meet with their advisor to discuss an alternate pathway in lieu of the basic skills requirement via the Praxis, SAT or ACT score. Students will not be allowed to take any 3000 level courses with an EDU prefix until they take the Praxis Core or have the minimum scores for SAT or ACT or sign an agreement regarding maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA as an alternate pathway.
3. Meet the following program requirements:
   1. Expect to spend at least 2 to 2.5 hours, twice a week in a school-based internship during semesters in which you are completing education courses with practicums, except EDU 1141. Candidates in the education major/minor must complete an approved education Jan Term internship (EDU-2100) in an ethnically diverse classroom setting usually during their third year.
   2. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all EDU prefix courses and all other certification requirement courses.
      1. Note: students who earn a C- or lower in any course required for certification must repeat the course in order to continue in the major. Students who earn a C- or lower in any course required for certification must meet with their major advisor.
   3. All students are required to have a criminal background record check through fingerprinting and disclosures prior to any school-based internship.
   4. A formal application, interview, and minimum GPA of 2.75 in the major and overall are required for admission to the student teaching semester. If a student does not meet the minimum basic skills requirement noted above, the student will need to have an overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the major. All placements must be approved by the McDaniel College Education Department.
   5. Passing scores on the Praxis II, completion of the edTPA assessment, attendance at all student teaching seminars, and passing the student teaching semester are the culminating activities required for eligibility for Maryland teacher certification.

Licensure Requirements

• Maryland PRAXIS I/PRAXIS CORE, SAT, or ACT scores or an alternate pathway which requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA at graduation.
• Maryland required PRAXIS II scores in appropriate content area and completion of the edTPA assessment.

Professional Licensure

Requirements for professional licensure in education vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.

For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement.

Students who complete this program and are seeking licensure in the state of Maryland must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland approved program. The requirements may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Passing scores on content specific exams (i.e. Praxis II)
2. Pedagogy assessment (edTPA)
3. Reading content tests
4. Teaching experience
5. Payment of application or processing fees

More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/pages/dee/certification/index.aspx

BA/MS Pathway

The College offers an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathway for academically qualified McDaniel students. For more information visit BA/MS Pathways .