Students at the Quad

Program Overview

Quick Facts

  • Delivery: On Campus
  • Credits: 120 

Passionate about sharing your love of science to younger generations? Our Life Science Teaching program prepares you to teach grades 5-12. Graduates specialize in life science but are qualified to teach middle school science, as well. The department also offers a Middle School Teaching program for middle school science generalists.

What You Will Learn

 As you move through the program to prepare for a fulfilling career as an educator, you will:

  • Develop an in-depth understanding of the life sciences through coursework in subjects like anatomy, botany, chemistry, ecology, microbiology, and others
  • Complete a professional education sequence that explores the historical, social, and philosophical foundations of education
  • Be prepared to meet the unique teaching needs of middle and high school students from diverse backgrounds through specific coursework in science teaching and multicultural education
  • Complete clinical teaching experiences in area schools to gain practical experience as a teacher

Success Spotlight
As a teaching major in life science, Jackson Miner is passionate about educating a new generation of scientists. He also explores ways to add topics of diversity and social justice to the curriculum. Read Jackson's story.

Science Education Practicum

Participate in clinical practice experiences throughout your program, including visiting local schools to observe and practice teaching in real classrooms, leading to your own student teaching experience.

Immersive Learning

Students from various academic departments, including teaching majors in life science, participate in a range of interdisciplinary immersive learning programs. You might work to develop a children’s book with Dr. McConnell’s Conservation Tales Conservation Tales project or Dr. Robinson-Hill’s Training Future Science Ambassador program that provides students a stipend for summer research experiences. Students can also select from numerous other projects offered throughout the university.

View Current Immersive Learning Opportunities

Individualized Attention

Class sizes are small enough to ensure you get the individual attention you need from professors with extensive experience teaching science in the K-12 setting.

Opportunities To Get Involved

If you’re interested in lab or field research, the program offers electives for research with biology faculty. You might also choose a study abroad trip to conduct field investigations in places like Belize, South Africa, Costa Rica, or the Atlantic coast. Departmental organizations within biology and the pre-health professions give you a chance to dive deeper into your favorite biology topics, and we welcome your involvement in science education as a science fair judge or volunteer in an environmental education program.

Our Collaboration with Teachers College

As a student in our secondary education program, you’ll benefit from experiences and expertise of your home department, taking courses in content and content pedagogy—the methods and practices for teaching specific content—and learning from experts in the field of your chosen teaching major. In Teachers College, you’ll explore other important aspects of teaching and interact with teaching majors in other disciplines. Learn more about the Teachers College.

Participate in Teacher Scholars Program

This allows students to participate in a campus-wide one-semester long program that engages undergraduate student researchers in 5 hours/week of research or a creative endeavor with their mentor. Learn more.

 

As our student, you will take a combination of content courses in biology, chemistry, and other sciences along with courses in teaching from the Teachers College.

Credits

Total to Graduate: 120

Courses

Teaching Major in Life Science (41 Credits)

  • BIO 111 - Principles of Biology 1
  • BIO 112 - Principles of Biology 2
  • BIO 214 - Genetics
  • BIO 216 - Ecology
  • BIO 440 - Evolution
  • CHEM 111 - General Chemistry 1
  • CHEM 112 - General Chemistry 2
  • CHEM 230 - Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences AND CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1
  • MATH 181 - Elementary Probability and Statistics
  • Two of the following:
    • BIO 210 - Introduction to Botany
    • BIO 215 - Cell Biology
    • PHYS 205 - Fundamentals of Human Physiology
  • One of the following:
    • BIO 314 – Methods in Genetics
    • BIO 315 – Methods in Cell Biology
    • BIO 316 – Methods in Ecology

Professional Education Sequence (42 Credits)

  • SCI 150 – Introduction to Teaching Science in Secondary Schools
  • EDMU 205 - Introduction to Multicultural Education
  • EDPS 251 - Human Growth and Development for Secondary Education
  • EDSE 320 - Reading for Diverse Learners in Secondary Content Classes
  • SCI 395 – Methods of Secondary Science Teaching, Curriculum, and Research
  • EDJH 385 – Principles of Teaching in the Middle School
  • EDPS 390 – Learning and Assessment in Secondary Education
  • SCI 396 - Using Science Methods and Materials
  • EDSE 380 - Principles of Teaching in the Secondary School
  • EDFO 420 - Social, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Education
  • EDSE 460 - Student Teaching: Secondary School
  • EDSE 465 - Elective Student Teaching: Secondary, Junior High/Middle, or All-Grade

For a complete list of all the classes you will take as part of this program and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.

View Catalog

Hear what our Life Science Teaching students have to say about this program!

Ashley Owens

"When I came to ball state, I was originally a biology student with a concentration in genetics. I switched to the Life science education major two days before the first day of school in my freshman year. I switched because I realized I wanted to follow my childhood dream of being a teacher. What I like about the program is getting the opportunity to take extra science classes that you are interested in. I also loved learning about teaching students science through inquiry."

Courtney Harris

" I chose to pursue a degree in Life Science education at Ball State because I believe that every person can benefit from all that biology has to offer. Biology occupies the world around us, and this degree program allows me to spread knowledge and understanding of how all living things work while increasing my own. In doing so I hope to help create informed citizens of future generations and influence innovation, critical thinking, and decision making. These three universal skills I've established during my time at BSU will follow my students far beyond the classroom. " 

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Take the Next Step

Do you want to learn more about our program or have questions about the application process or financial aid? We’re here to help! One of the best ways to understand why Ball State is right for you is to schedule a visit through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions to see it for yourself. Or if you’d like to speak directly to someone in our department, please feel free to call or email us.

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