Certification Requirements

An innovative approach to teacher preparation

This pathway gives you the training and certifications to teach biology to middle school and high school students.

Certification checklist

You can complete a bachelor's degree in biology and get certification to teach in five years. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and 18 graduate hours in science qualifies you to teach dual-credit courses.

It’s critical that you work with our dedicated advisor to ensure that you stay on track to reach your goals.

Biology (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science

Biology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science

Major requirements

Major core:
  1. BIO 121(4), 122(4), 235(3), 236(1), 302(1), 492(0), 550(3).
  2. PHY 123(4) or 203(5) and PHY 124(4) or 204(5).
  3. MTH 137(3) or 138(5), or eligibility for MTH 261 on mathematics placement test.
  4. BIO 312(3) and 313(2) or BIO 320(4) or 361(4) or 544(4); consult options below before selecting course.
  5. CHM 116(4) and 117(1), or CHM 160(4) and 161(1); consult options below before selecting course.
  6. CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 302(5) or 342(3) and 343(2); consult options below before selecting course.
  7. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of BIO 302(1), 492(0) and two additional courses from the following: BIO 300(1), 355(4), 367(3), 370(4), 373(3), 398(1), 399(1-3), 485(1-3), 498(3), 499(1-3), 501(2), 505(3), 508(3), 509(4), 511(4), 512(3), 520(3), 527(1-4), 539(3), 547(3), 561(2), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3), 578(4), 579(3), 584(3), 589(3). Courses may also be used to satisfy option requirements.

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
Complete one of the following options:

Note: With approval of advisor, up to three hours of the following can be substituted for one of the BIO courses listed in any option: BIO 300, 399, 499, or 597.

Pre-Teacher Education option (72-74 hours total for major)

This option is designed for students preparing to enter post-graduate studies to become a high school science teach. This program does not include courses in teacher education that are required by the state of Missouri for certification as a teacher. Certification requirements can be met through postbaccalaureate programs or master’s program at Missouri State University.

  1. BIO 312(3), 313(2), 361(4), 367(3), 368(1), 515(3).
  2. Nine additional hours of upper division Biology courses.
  3. Related chemistry courses: CHM 160(4), 161(1), 170(3), 171(1); CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 302(5).
  4. Related science courses: GLG 110(4); GRY 135(4); SCI 505(3).
  5. Related mathematics requirement. One course from: MTH 137(3), or eligibility for MTH 261(5) on Mathematics Placement test.
Environmental Biology and Evolution option (72-85 hours total for major)
  1. BIO 367(3), 368(1), 515(3).
  2. One course in biodiversity and evolution: BIO 334(3), 339(2), 370(4), 371(3), 380(5), 530(3), 571(4), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3); the following courses taught during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi: BIO 534(2) and 535(1); 555(3), 556(3), 587(3), 588(3).
  3. One course in population biology: BIO 436(4), 505(3), 532(3), 540(4), 560(3), 563(3), 567(4), 578(4), 584(3), 589(3); the following courses taught during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi: BIO 557(2) and 558(2).
  4. Three hours in community/ecosystem biology: BIO 373(3), 485(1-3), 504(3), 508(3), 509(4), 533(3), 539(3), 547(3), 562(4), 564(2), 579(3); the following courses taught during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi: BIO 537(2), 538(2), 565(3), 566(2).
  5. One biology course with a substantial field component. A course used to satisfy this requirement also may be counted toward the biodiversity, population biology, and community/ecosystem biology concentration areas described above. Complete one of the following: BIO 334(3), 339(2), 370(4), 436(4), 509(4), 527(1-4), 562(4), 564(2), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3), any biology course taught at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, any biology course taught at the Bull Shoals Field station or another field station (with the approval of your advisor).
  6. Zero to eight hours of elective BIO courses at the level of 300 or higher to total a minimum of 43 hours in biology.
  7. One of the following mathematics, statistics, or computer programming courses: MTH 261(5), MTH 287(3), CSC 125(4), CSC 130(3), CSC 587(3), BIO 551(2), PSY 527(3).
  8. Related requirements in chemistry: CHM 160(4), 161(1), 170(3), 171(1).
  9. One of the following related science courses: AGN 215(3), ANT 305(3), ANT 375(3); CHM 260(3) or 460(3); GLG 171(3), GRY 351(3).
  10. One of the following related fields of study courses: BIO 561(2), ECO 540(3), GEO 363(4), LAW 537(3), PHI 302(3), PLS 555(3), PSY 379(3).
Microbiology and Biotechnology option (71-87 hours total for major):
  1. BIO 312(3), 313(2), 320(4).
  2. 21 additional hours in BIO courses with a minimum of 18 hours from the following: BIO 355(4), 508(3), 511(4), 512(3); 505(3) or 515(3); 517(4), 518(2), 520(3), 530(3), 540(4). BMS 524(3) may be substituted for one of these courses. CHM 302(5); or CHM 502(3) and 503(2); or CHM 504(3) and 505(1) may be substituted for one of these courses.
  3. Related requirements in chemistry: CHM 160(4), 161(1), 170(3), 171(1); CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 342(3) and 345(2) and CHM 343(3), or CHM 342(3) and 345(2); CHM 352(3) or CHM 554(3) and 556(3).
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology option (68-87 hours total for major):
  1. BIO 320(4) or 361(4), 367(3), 368(1).
  2. Two courses in plant biology from: BIO 334(3), 339(2), 530(3), 544(4).
  3. Three courses in animal biology from: BIO 370(4), 371(3), 380(5), 571(4), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3).
  4. Five hours in management from: BIO 373(3), 485(1-3), 509(4), 532(3), 533(4), 562(4), 589(3).
  5. Two courses in ecology and evolution from: BIO 436(4), 504(3), 515(3), 539(3), 563(3), 567(4), 578(4), 579(3), 584(3).
  6. One course in human dimensions from: AGN 335(3), BIO 547(3), BIO 561(2), CRM 210(3), ECO 540(3), GRY 108(3), GRY 351(2), PHI 302(3), PLS 555(3), LAW 537(3).
  7. One course in earth/environmental science from: AGN 215(3), CHM 260(3), GLG 110(4), GRY 142(4).