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  • Core Program
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    • Biology Major
    • Education Major
    • English Language and Literature Major
    • History Major
    • Interdisciplinary Major
    • Religion Major
  • Certification in Secondary Education
  • Associate in Arts Degree
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The Biology Major is a four-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree. Students may choose from three degree programs: a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), and a B.S. with secondary education certification degree. The B.S. program is recommended for those who plan to continue their education in graduate school or medical school. The B.A. degree is a general liberal arts program that prepares graduates for a variety of career fields. The B.S. with secondary education degree is a degree offered in partnership with Holy Family University and prepares students for Pennsylvania State certification to teach biology and science courses to grades 7-12.

Applicants for the B.S. and B.A. programs should have compiled a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and a minimum of 2.5 in science courses. As part of the four-year degree requirements, students complete a three-credit senior project (Biology 495) under the supervision of a faculty member at Bryn Athyn College or another institution. Proposals for this project must be submitted by the students in the spring of their junior year. Internships at other institutions must be applied for, and arranged, by the student. (For a complete overview of the senior project, download the information pdf here.)

Applications (available in the college office) should be addressed to the Biology Program Director, Dr. Sherri Cooper, by May 1 of sophomore year.

Course Requirements:  Bachelor of Science Degree

• A.A. in  Math/Scienceor equivalent.
• Four upper level religion courses (College religion residency requirement).
• Introductory biology (Bio 120-121), Genetics (Bio 230), Cell Structure and Function (Bio 232), and Ecology (Bio 235).
• General Chemistry (110-111) and Organic Chemistry (210-211).
• Statistics (Math 130) and Calculus (150/151).
• Physics 210/211.
• Biological Laboratory Techniques (Bio 373 and 375, for a total of 4 credits).
• Seminar (490, 491, 492) required in the senior year. Total of three credits only count toward the degree.
• Six additional 200/300 level biology courses.
• Senior project (Bio 495).
  (Overview of the Biology Major Senior Project [PDF].)

Course Requirements: Bachelor of Arts Degree

• The requirements for the BA Biology Major are the same as the BS requirements with the following differences:
• Elements of calculus (Math 140) may be taken in place of (Math 150 and Math 151).
• Physics is not required.
• Second term of Organic Chemistry (Chem 211) is not required.
• Two terms (4 credits) of biological laboratory techniques are required.
• Senior project is not required.
• Six additional 200/300 level biology courses can include Earth Science 111 and Biology 110.
• Two additional science or mathematics courses (Math 151 or higher, Computer Science 180 or higher, Physics 210/211, Chem 211, or any 200 level or higher biology).

Course Requirements: Bachelor of Science Degree with Pennsylvania Secondary Education Certification

The requirements for the B.S. degree with secondary education (grades 7-12) teaching certification are the same as for the straight B.S. degree except for the following:

• Additional biology core course requirements include human physiology (Bio 220), vertebrate anatomy (Bio 210), and molecular genetics (Bio 310).
• Only one additional 200-300 level biology course beyond core requirements.
• Math 151 is not required, but may be taken in place of statistics (Math 130).
• Senior project is replaced by a semester at Holy Family University for supervised field experience and secondary education seminar (EDUS 402 and EDUS 404).
• Speech 105, English Lit 200 level, and Psychology 101 are required.
• Education courses at Bryn Athyn College and at Holy Family University are required, including Foundations of Education (Ed 301/501), Structure and Growth of the Mind (Ed/Rel 304), Education as a Development Process (Ed 340), Introduction to Special Education (Ed 311), General Methods and management (Ed 401), seminars in field experience and differentiated learning (Ed 225 and 325), reading in content area (Ed 245), General Secondary Education methods and Techniques (EDUS 331) and Secondary Education/Curriculum Content Area (EDUS 332).

All course work for the B.S. with secondary education certification is covered under Bryn Athyn College tuition except for the one semester at Holy Family University for supervised field experience and secondary education seminar (EDUS 402 and EDUS 404). Enrollment and tuition at Holy Family University are required for one semester. Financial aid can be applied for.