Biology (B.S.) with Secondary Teaching Certification

Program Overview

The Biology major provides a strong foundation in biology, from the molecular to the ecological level. The major includes a choice of five different concentrations:

  • Biomedical: Preparation for graduate and professional programs in research and health (medical, dental, veterinary, physician’s assistant, optometry, etc.)
  • Cellular: Emphasizes study of biomolecules, cellular processes, molecular genetics and biotechnology
  • Ecological: Focuses on the interactions of organisms and their environment, and the tools to quantify those relationships
  • Organismal: Emphasizes the study of the diversity, structure, function, and behavior of living organisms
  • General: Provides broad exposure to all aspects of biology

The major also includes supporting courses in chemistry and mathematics. Graduates with a biology degree will be well-prepared for further studies and specialization in graduate schools, medical and veterinary schools, and other health career programs. Students following this major are also prepared to seek immediate employment in a variety of settings requiring the skills and knowledge of a biology major.

Biology majors interested in a teaching career should follow the secondary teaching certification curriculum for biology. This highly recognized curriculum is excellent preparation for teaching biology in grades 7 to 12 and for earning Pennsylvania State Certification. Biology, chemistry, and a physics course provide a sound basis for teaching biology, and education courses provide the tools needed for teaching. The program culminates in a 12-week student teaching experience in a selected public school.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Biology program can:

  1. Understand the nature of science, biological molecules, cell structure and function, enzymes, metabolism, and classical and molecular genetics.
  2. Understand the diversity of animal life; comparative aspects of development, physiology, morphology; life history, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary biology of animals.
  3. Understand the diversity of plants; flowering plant anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and ecology; distribution of major plant communities with global climate patterns; biogeochemical cycles.
  4. Understand hereditary mechanisms: linkage, gene interactions and regulation, molecular genetics, mutations, and development.
  5. Understand interactions of organisms at the species, community, and ecosystem levels; evidences for modern evolutionary thought in the context of a Christian world view. 
  6. Appreciate historical, philosophical, and ethical aspects of the natural sciences.
  7. Learn the skills needed to make a professional oral research presentation using Powerpoint or similar software.
  8. Participate in investigative-style laboratory experiences.
  9. Learn to work as teams in conducting laboratory and field research.
  10. Compose lab reports in format appropriate for scientific journals.
  11. Apply and extend of basic laboratory and field skills.
  12. Skill in use of spreadsheet software such as Excel for data analysis and graphing
  13. Demonstrate proficiency in basic laboratory techniques (e.g., microscopy, dissection, slide preparation, pipetting, restriction analysis).
  14. Demonstrate familiarity with essential laboratory and field safety protocols.
  15.  Be familiar with options for employment, voluntary service, and/or graduate education in biology.
  16. Understand the inter-relatedness of living organisms & humanity’s calling to creation stewardship.
  17. Understand various models that relate science and Christian faith.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

BIOL 160Molecular and Cellular Biology

4

BIOL 161Animal Form and Function

3

BIOL 162Plant Biology

3

BIOL 260Genetics and Development

4

BIOL 262Ecology and Adaptation

4

BIOL 495/CHEM 495Capstone: Natural Sciences

3

CHEM 105General Chemistry I

4

CHEM 106General Chemistry II

4

CHEM 204Introduction to Organic Chemistry

4

ESS 201Earth and Space Science

3

EDSP 207Introduction to Special Education

3

EDSP 307Inclusion Practices

3

EDUC 201Education and American Society

3

EDUC 203Educational Psychology

3

EDUC 208Teaching English Language Learners in K-12 Schools

3

EDUC 331Instructional Design and Assessment for Middle and Secondary Grades

3

HDFS 311Adolescent Development

3

SCIE 307Teaching Lab Sciences in Secondary Education

1

TEP 210Sophomore Field Experience

0

TEP 310Junior Field Experience

0

TEP 410Secondary Pre-Student Teaching Experience

0

ENGL 1xx
(ENGL 122-ENGL 176, meeting QuEST literature)

3

 

PHYS 201Introductory Physics I

4

OR

PHYS 202Introductory Physics II

4

OR

PHYS 211General Physics I

4

 

STAT 269Introductory Statistics

3

BIOL 262: Fulfills Writing Enriched course requirement for major.

TEP 210: May meet ELI requirement- work closely with advisor to confirm

Ten credits from the following:

BIOL 313Developmental Biology

3

BIOL 325Medicinal Botany

3

BIOL 332Plant Taxonomy and Systematics

4

BIOL 334Plant Ecology

4

BIOL 335Plant Propagation

3

BIOL 381Microbiology

4

BIOL 382Microbiology for Health Professions

4

BIOL 385Physiology

4

BIOL 386Gross Anatomy

4

BIOL 387Neuroscience

3

BIOL 412Cell Biology

4

BIOL 413Molecular Biology

4

BIOL 418Immunology

4

CHEM 410Biochemistry I

4

Three to four credits from the following:

MATH 108Intuitive Calculus with Applications

3

MATH 111Calculus I

4

Three credits from the following:

PHIL 101Problems in Philosophy

3

PHIL 102History of Philosophy

3

Professional Semester:

EDUC 420Professional Issues in Education

2

TEP 407Student Teaching Seminar

1

TEP 435Student Teaching:Secondary

9

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication 3
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences (MATH 108 or MATH 111) met/major
Laboratory Science (BIOL 160, BIOL 162 or CHEM 105) met/major
Science, Technology & the World waived
Social Science (EDUC 203) met/major
European History or U.S. History 3
Literature (ENGL 122 to ENGL 176) met/major
Philosophy and Religion (PHIL 101 or PHIL 102) met/major
Arts 3
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies waived
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs (THEO 223 required to waive Non-western) 3
Wellness course 1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism (EDUC 201) waived
QuEST requirements 31
Major core requirements 98-99
Total credits 129-130