Program Overview

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Chemistry/Biology — Secondary, BAE

Introduction

This major is recommended for students interested in becoming secondary school science teachers and must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in secondary education offered through Woodring College of Education. Courses required for a state teaching endorsement must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Biology is the study of living organisms. As scientists, biologists have three prime motivations:

• intellectual curiosity about biological systems,
• the philosophy that creating and disseminating reliable knowledge has intrinsic worth,
• the confidence that research into the history of life on earth and how biological systems work can be used to solve problems faced by our society today. Thus, we intend for our intensive academic program to stimulate our students’ curiosity and appetite for life-long learning about biology.

There is close student-faculty contact and relatively small classes. The students have direct access to modern laboratory equipment and instrumentation, and there are opportunities for research work under the direction of a faculty advisor.

Student Resources

• Department website: Chemistry
• Department advising: Admitted and/or current students visit the Advising section of the Chemistry website.
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

The Chemistry Department has a two-step process for admission to a BAE major.

1. Students should visit the department office and meet with the Departmental Advisor to complete the Official Declaration of Major form.
2. The student should contact their assigned advisor for a meeting. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with their assigned faculty advisor to develop a plan of study for the remainder of their time in the program.

This major must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in secondary education. See the Secondary Education section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

As certification to teach high school now requires more than four years of study, advisement prior to or at the beginning of the third year is absolutely necessary to avoid lengthening the program.

Grade Requirements

Recommendation for teaching endorsement normally requires completion of the major with a grade point of 2.50 or better in the required major courses. Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in the secondary education professional program and in all courses required for the endorsement.

Requirements (110-120 credits)

• BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 205 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 206 - Introduction to Organismal Biology w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 321 - Genetics (4 credits)
• BIOL 325 - Ecology (4 credits)
• BIOL 326 - Methods in Ecology w/lab (3 credits)
• BIOL 327 - Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 328 - Cell Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 432 - Evolutionary Biology (4 credits)
• CHEM 351 - Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 352 - Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 353 - Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 354 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (3 credits)
• Complete one of the following:
  • CHEM 375 - Elements of Biochemistry (4 credits)
  • or
    • CHEM 471 - Biochemistry I (4 credits)
    • CHEM 472 - Biochemistry II (4 credits)
• SCED 370 - STEM and Society (3 credits)
• SCED 481 - Fundamentals of Teaching Science (2 credits)
• SCED 491 - Methods in Secondary Education for Science Teachers (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • BIOL 322 - Methods in Genetics w/lab (4 credits)
  • BIOL 324 - Methods in Molecular Biology w/lab (4 credits)
• Choose one of the following series:
  • CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I (5 credits)
  • CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II (5 credits)
  • CHEM 163 - General Chemistry III (5 credits)
  • CHEM 333 - Analytical Chemistry (5 credits)
  • or
    • CHEM 175 - General Chemistry I, Honors (5 credits)
    • CHEM 176 - General Chemistry II, Honors (5 credits)
    • CHEM 225 - General Chemistry III, Honors (5 credits)
• Choose one of the following series:
  • PHYS 114 - Principles of Physics I (5 credits)
  • PHYS 115 - Principles of Physics II (5 credits)
  • PHYS 116 - Principles of Physics III (5 credits)
  • or
    • PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I (5 credits)
    • PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II (5 credits)
    • PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 credits)
  • MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • MATH 240 - Introduction to Statistics (4 credits)
  • BIOL 340 - Biostatistics (5 credits)
  • Note: BIOL 245 and BIOL 348 may not be counted toward this major.

Additional Requirements

Secondary Education Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Program (59 credits)

• SEC 303 - Teaching Adolescents: Development and Identity (4 credits)
• SEC 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity (5 credits)
• SEC 410 - Dynamics of Teaching (2 credits)
• SEC 411 - Philosophical Foundations of Education (4 credits)
• SEC 425 - Developmental Reading, Writing and Learning in Secondary Schools (4 credits)
• SEC 430 - Secondary School Methods I - Instructional Strategies, Daily Planning, and Standards (4 credits)
• SEC 431 - Secondary School Methods II-Assessment and Long Term Planning (4 credits)
• SEC 432 - Secondary School Methods III - Management, Motivation and Discipline (4 credits)
• SEC 433 - Teaching and Learning Laboratory (1 credit)
• SEC 435 - Secondary Practicum I (2 credits)
• SEC 436 - Secondary Practicum II (1 credit)
• I T 444 - Classroom Use of Instructional Technology (Secondary) (2 credits)
• SEC 495 - Internship - Secondary (18 credits)
• SPED 363 - Secondary Students With Special Needs (4 credits)

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement

Tribal Lands Statement

Western Washington University's main campus is situated on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish Peoples, who have lived in the Salish Sea basin, all throughout the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades watershed from time immemorial. We express our deepest respect and gratitude to our Indigenous neighbors, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.