Bachelor of Science in Biology with Teacher Certification
Did you know?
Science teachers are in demand.
In the state of Texas, science has been identified as a teaching shortage area. As a result, many schools now offer stipends and bonuses in order to recruit more teachers specializing in science fields. Texas teachers also may be eligible for student loan forgiveness through programs such as Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness, TEACH for Texas Loan Repayment Assistance, Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation.
Texas educators must complete a bachelor’s degree and certification exam in the area they would like to teach.
Our bachelor of science degree in biology with teacher certification leads to the completion of a Texas Secondary Teaching Certificate. Prospective educators majoring in biology may choose from three certification tracks, including grades 4-8 science, grades 7-12 composite science and grades 7-12 life science.
Degree details
- Degree plans (programs of study)
- Course rotation
Admission requirements
Undergraduate Admission
When you apply to TWU, we will evaluate your academic achievement and preparation, as well as your standardized test scores. Admission to TWU is valid for four terms, unless you have attended another higher education institution.
Check out the links below for specific admissions information:
- How to apply
- Freshman Student Admissions
- Transfer Student Admissions
- International Student Admissions
- Other Types of Undergraduate Admissions
Questions about the admissions process? Contact the Office of Admissions Processing.
Office of Admissions
Texas Woman’s University
P.O. Box 425649
Denton, TX 76204-5649
oap@twu.edu
940-898-3076 or 1-866-809-6130 ext. 3076
Admission to the Educator Preparation Program
Teacher Certification
Application Deadlines
There are three application periods per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students must have their applications in by the deadline the semester before they intend to take ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only). (see schedule below).
Spring Application Deadlines* (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Summer)
- May 1 - Deadline to apply for Summer admission
- May 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Summer Application Deadlines (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Fall)
- July 1 - Deadline to apply for Fall admission
- July 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Fall Application Deadlines* (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Spring)
- December 1 - Deadline to apply for Spring admission
- December 21 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Guidelines
Please adhere to the following guidelines:
- We recommend preparing your application well in advance of the deadline. That way you will be able to identify and resolve any potential issues before the deadline date.
- If you intend to register early for ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only) for the Summer or Fall semesters and have met all admission requirements, it is recommended that you apply to the EPP by December 1.
- If you apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program while enrolled in EDUC 2003 or are taking coursework to increase your GPA to a 2.75, the Office of Educator Preparation Services will process your application. If the GPA requirement, along with all other admission requirements are met at the end of the semester, an admission decision will be made at that time.
- No late applications will be accepted. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or a day that TWU is closed, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on the next day that TWU is open after the deadline day.
Requirements
In addition to the general undergraduate admissions requirements, to obtain acceptance into the undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (and prior to taking ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113, EDUC 4243, READ 4223 (EC-3 only), and Clinical Student Teaching) students must have:
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (includes all courses, whether posted to TWU transcript or used on a degree plan. Excludes developmental and repeated courses);
- Demonstrated basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative;
- A minimum of 12 to 15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought;
- Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or higher;
- Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program in Tk20;
- Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee;
- Completed a Commitment Contract acknowledging awareness and understanding of the Professional Dispositions Policy and Educators’ Code of Ethics;
- Successfully completed a pre-admission departmental interview with an interview panel; and
- Acknowledged and accepted admission to the Educator Preparation Program.
Please note:
- All accepted students must maintain the admission requirements to remain in the TWU Education Preparation Program.
- Admission requirements are determined by Texas Education Agency policies and are subject to change without notice.
- Students seeking Bilingual certification must meet minimum proficiency in Spanish.
- Students seeking Deaf/Hard of Hearing certification must meet minimum proficiency in sign.
All admission decisions are based on the successful completion of the above requirements. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation may affect certification. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Texas Education Agency. Any previous or current issues of academic dishonesty, disruptive behavior, or professional dispositions infractions at TWU, another university, or another Educator Preparation Program may result in denial of admission. Any decision may be appealed by contacting the Office of Educator Preparation Services at 940-898-2829.
Contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS) at copeadvising@twu.edu or 940-898-2829 with any questions.
Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Requirements
- Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(1)]
- Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(2)]
- The potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(1)]
- The right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation from TEA. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(3)]
Need more information?
Please contact our undergraduate program advisor, Jessica Aughe, at jaughe@twu.edu.
The BS in Biology with Teacher Certification prepares educator candidates for the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) exam (State Board for Educator Certification through the Texas Education Agency). If you are a resident of another state, contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services to determine whether our program fulfills requirements to take the certification exam in your home state.
Page last updated 12:30 PM, June 26, 2024