Biology Teaching Combined BS/MEd

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Utah

Program Overview

The Biology Teaching Combined BS/MEd at the University of Utah is a five-year pathway designed for students who want to combine strong biological-science knowledge with professional preparation for teaching at the secondary level. Students build foundations in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and education, then progress into an MEd in Educational Psychology with licensure, preparing for Utah State Board of Education endorsements in Biology and Chemistry and an optional ESL endorsement.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific and mathematical foundation through courses such as BIOL 1610 Fund Princ of Biology I, BIOL 1615 Fund Princ of Biology I Lab, and MATH 1210 Calculus I. The education component begins with EDU 1010 Introduction to Education, which includes 20 hours of field experience, introducing students to the profession alongside their science studies.

Year 2: The curriculum advances into BIOL 1620 Fund Princ of Biology II, BIOL 1625 Fund Princ of Biology II Lab, and BIOL 2020 Princ of Cell Biology, developing deeper knowledge of biological systems and laboratory practice. Students also begin educational preparation through ECS 2150 Intro to Multicultural Education, which includes 15 field hours.

Year 3: Students move into upper-level biology and education coursework, including BIOL 2030 Principles of Genetics, BIOL 3410 Ecol & Evol, and EDPS 3721 Adolescent Psychology. Students also complete additional field-based preparation and can select advanced biology laboratory experiences such as BIOL 3215 Cell Biol Lab, BIOL 3125 Mol Evol Lab, or BIOL 4955 Individual Research.

Year 4: The final undergraduate stage strengthens both disciplinary and teaching expertise through courses such as BIOL 3510 Biochemistry I, an advanced biology elective, and EDU 5170 Secondary Science Methods, which requires 10 field hours. Students can also begin approved graduate-level coursework before formally entering the MEd year, with up to 12 graduate credits permitted while still classified as undergraduates.

Year 5: Students complete the MEd and professional licensure preparation through courses including ED PS 6151 Educational Applications of Technology, ED PS 6035 Instructional Assessments: Design, Implementation, and Analysis Online, and EDU 6490 Field Practicum Secondary. The program culminates in EDU 6495 Student Teaching, a full-time 12-week teaching experience, alongside EDU 6491 Professional Development & Teacher Research and EDU 5564/6564 Advanced Secondary Science Methods.

Focus areas: Biology Teaching, secondary science education, biology and chemistry endorsements, educational psychology, classroom practice, multicultural education, adolescent development, science teaching methods, assessment, inclusive education, professional development, and optional English as a Second Language preparation.

Learning outcomes: Students develop advanced biological-science knowledge, laboratory and research skills, science teaching methods, instructional assessment skills, classroom-management and behavior-support knowledge, inclusive teaching practices, educational technology skills, and supervised classroom teaching experience.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The pathway leads toward a Utah State Board of Education teaching license with Biology and Chemistry endorsements, while the University of Utah's Teacher Education program holds full CAEP accreditation for its initial licensure programs in Elementary, Secondary and Special Education.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Utah is ranked #533 in the QS World University Rankings 2027; the university is also an Association of American Universities (AAU) member and an R1 research institution.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Utah’s Biology Teaching Combined BS/MEd combines hands-on biological science with practical teacher preparation, giving students opportunities to develop both laboratory research skills and classroom teaching experience. Students can participate in the Science Research Initiative (SRI) from their first year, while the Biology Teaching curriculum includes laboratory-based biology courses and education courses with required field hours, helping students connect scientific knowledge with real classroom practice.

Students can build practical skills through these program-specific opportunities:

Science research: The Science Research Initiative (SRI) allows College of Science students, including Biology Teaching majors, to participate in discovery-based research from their first semester without prior research experience. Students typically commit 5–10 hours per week to their research stream and develop research skills while working with faculty and other science students.
Biology laboratories: The Biology Teaching curriculum includes laboratory-based study across areas of biology, with the School of Biological Sciences offering well-equipped laboratories for modern biological research and courses involving laboratory and field experiences.
Research facilities: The Life Sciences Building provides laboratories for the School of Biological Sciences, including dedicated undergraduate research floors designed to support the Science Research Initiative. The building also includes VR-equipped classrooms for immersive scientific education.
Teaching field experience: Teacher-preparation coursework incorporates supervised field hours. The related science-teaching curriculum specifies field experiences in courses such as Introduction to Education, Intro to Multicultural Education, Secondary Science Methods, and Building Family Partnerships, giving students direct exposure to educational settings.
Biology research opportunities: Students can pursue undergraduate research through faculty laboratories and the College of Science's broader research opportunities, with departments maintaining information on active research projects and faculty connections.
Scientific communication: The Biology Teaching degree specifically emphasizes pedagogy and science communication, preparing students to translate biological concepts into effective instruction for school learners.
Field and laboratory learning: The School of Biological Sciences offers courses involving field, laboratory, lecture, and library experience, with research spanning molecular biology, genetics, physiology, ecology, evolution, and other areas of biological science.
Science campus resources: Students have access to the College of Science campus, which includes research laboratories, study spaces, lecture halls, and classrooms, with the School of Biological Sciences based across facilities including the James Talmage Building, South Biology, Skaggs Building, and Life Sciences Building.
Research and outreach: The Teach STEM pathway encourages Biology Teaching students to participate in scientific research, volunteering, and outreach, including opportunities through the Bennion Center and the Natural History Museum of Utah.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biology Teaching Combined BS/MEd prepares students for secondary-school teaching by combining rigorous biology study with teacher preparation and a pathway to a Utah teaching license. The five-year route culminates in both the BS and MEd and is designed to prepare graduates to teach biology and chemistry in middle and high schools.

Career roles: Secondary Biology Teacher, Secondary Science Teacher, Biology/Chemistry Educator, Science Curriculum or Instruction Professional:

Career services: The University of Utah’s teacher-preparation pathway includes advising through the School of Biological Sciences and Urban Institute for Teacher Education (UITE), helping students stay on track with education requirements, licensure and MEd admission. UITE also provides program and licensure support for secondary educators.
Employment statistics: The University of Utah publishes teacher-licensure accountability measures that specifically assess completer hiring ability, employer satisfaction, candidate competency, and completer effectiveness. The university’s current 2026 accountability materials provide the relevant licensure-program data; a program-specific employment percentage or salary figure was not stated on the official Biology Teaching BS/MEd page.
Salary information: The University of Utah’s Teach STEM page reports that the middle 50% of mid-career teacher salaries nationally ranges from $60,000 to $100,000. This is a national teaching figure, not a University of Utah Biology Teaching graduate-specific salary statistic.
School-system connections: UITE's teacher-licensure accountability framework includes employer and stakeholder involvement, including measures of employer satisfaction with program completers. The program also incorporates extensive school-based field experiences and a full-time student-teaching placement.
Accreditation value: The University of Utah’s teacher education programs hold full accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for initial licensure programs, including secondary education. CAEP is nationally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), providing an externally reviewed quality framework for educator preparation.
Graduation and licensure outcome: Completion of the pathway fulfills requirements for the BS in Biology Teaching, Biology and Chemistry endorsements, the MEd, and the State of Utah teaching-licensure pathway, subject to completion of all required program and licensure requirements. Students complete a full-time 12-week student-teaching experience as part of the program.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the combined BS/MEd, graduates can pursue additional graduate-level study in education, educational leadership, biology, or related fields. The University of Utah offers advanced education programs, while its School of Biological Sciences provides pathways toward master’s and PhD study for students wishing to deepen their scientific or research expertise.