Life Sciences Teaching Major BS(Life Sciences Licensure Grades 5-12)
The life sciences teaching major provides students with the science content coursework necessary for obtaining the Minnesota Science Teaching License with Life Science Specialty.
This license provides certification to teach life science classes in grades 9-12 and science classes in grades 5-8 including earth science and physical science. Students seeking licensure must complete the Life Sciences Education program which includes the Life Sciences Teaching Major and additional requirements and coursework through the university's School of Urban Education. Contact the School of Urban Education for information about the program requirements.
The Life Sciences Teaching major provides a broad foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and mathematics followed by advanced study in biology.
Each student must complete at least 46 credits in the major including at least 18 upper division credits and at least 23 credits from Metropolitan State University. All prerequisite and required courses must be completed with grades of C- or above.
Transfer coursework equivalency is determined by the Natural Science Department. Each foundation science course must include at least one semester credit of professionally supervised on-ground laboratory experience with standard undergraduate laboratory equipment and materials. Lower-division (100- and 200-level) courses are not accepted as equivalent to upper-division courses and cannot be used to fulfill upper division core requirements in the major.
Acceptance to the Program
To be eligible for acceptance to the Life Sciences Teaching major (Grades 5-12), students must submit a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Program Declaration Form when they have completed all of the requirements from the Guide to Admission in the Urban Teacher Program.
Requirements (46-56 total credits)
Foundation Courses (20 credits)
- BIOL 111 General Biology I
- BIOL 112 General Biology II
- CHEM 111 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 112 General Chemistry II
Core Courses (18-28 credits)
- GEOL 110 Introduction to Earth Sciences** or
- GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology* and
- PHYS 101 Introduction to Astronomy*
- PHYS 110 Introduction to Physics* or
- PHYS 111 General Physics I - Algebra Based and
- PHYS 112 General Physics II - Algebra Based** or
- PHYS 211 Calculus-Based Physics I and
- PHYS 212 Calculus-Based Physics II**
* Recommended courses for student who plan to teach middle school science: GEOL 101, PHYS 101, and PHYS 110.
** Recommended courses for students who plan to teach high school biology: GEOL 110, PHYS 111 and PHYS 112, or PHYS 211 and PHYS 212. Teaching Licensure Grades 5-12
- BIOL 310 Ecology or
- BIOL 312 Evolution or
- BIOL 320 Ecosystem and Global Ecology or
- ESCI 315 Limnology
Teaching Methods (8 credits)
Teaching Licensure Grades 5-12
Students completing the teaching major who wish to earn Minnesota Teaching Licensure for secondary education (grades 5-12) can do so by completing additional course work through the university's School of Urban Education. Please note that the School of Urban Education has the primary responsibility for recommending students for licensure. For more information, visit the Grades 5-12 licensure for Urban Secondary Education page.