2016-2017

Secondary Education - Biology Yuma, Bachelor of Science in Education

Yuma Education

Extended Campuses

NAU-Yuma's Education Department offers courses in teacher preparation in partnership with Arizona Western College. This transfer program is designed specifically for AWC and NAU-Yuma students and is only available at the NAU-Yuma branch campus.

Along with learning what to teach and how to teach, you have opportunities to experience increasingly complex assignments in classrooms with master teachers. We consider fieldwork and practicum experiences to be integral parts of your professional teaching preparation.

Our teacher education programs lead to professional preparation and state teaching certification in Secondary Education. To be accepted into the Secondary Education Program, you must meet criteria established by our Teacher Education Committee.

This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2020

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 40 units of Education major requirements
  • At least 59 units of Biology and support courses major requirements, 17 of which may be applied to Liberal Studies Requirement
  • Up to 9 units of liberal studies requirements can have the same prefix as the major.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Note: The required mathematics for this major is MAT 220 from AWC.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA 2.5
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching Required
Additional Fees/Program Fees Required
Progression Plan Link Not Available
Student Learning Outcomes

1. Learner Development. The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.

2. Learning Differences. The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse

3. Learning Environments. The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

4. Content Knowledge. The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.

5. Application of Content. The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.

6. Assessment. The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.

7. Planning for Instruction. The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.

8. Instructional Strategies. The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.

9. Professional Learning and Ethical Practice. The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.

10. Leadership and Collaboration. The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • If you are completing a teacher-certification program, you must apply for admission to our Teacher Education Program. We accept applications at set times each year; contact the NAU-Yuma Enrollment Services at 928-317-6400 to obtain an application packet which indicates the exact application timelines.

    You must be admitted to the Secondary Education Program in order to take education coursework other than the following courses: EDU 301W, EDU 317, EDU 325, or EDU 437.

    Please be aware that NAU-Yuma's Education Department's Secondary Education Program is controlled by special admission and retention standards. Our faculty members may, under certain circumstances, recommend that a student be referred to remedial instruction or to be removed from the Secondary Education Program. Also be aware that you must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 in all of your NAU coursework in order to graduate.

    All NAU-YUMA Secondary Education students, prior to being admitted to Teacher Candidate status, must pass one NES Middle Grades or Secondary Assessment in Science. Students will also need to pass the NES Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Secondary as a State certification requirement. The test should be taken at or near the completion of the program. In addition, the academic progress of all students will be monitored regularly and assessment results will be used to determine any remediation or supplementary instruction that may be required.

  • To pursue an undergraduate program in Second Education, you must meet the following admission requirements:

    • 45 units of transfer-credit coursework (Education, Liberal Studies, Math, and Science)
    • *EDU 110 with a minimum grade of "C"
    • *MAT 220 with a minimum grade of "C"
    • two lab science courses with a minimum grade of "C" in each course
    • the English foundation requirement (*ENG 101 and *ENG 102) with a minimum GPA of 3.0. (If your English GPA is below 3.0, you may take an approved writing course to achieve the 3.0 GPA.)
    • Recommendation Form (included in the application packet) completed by someone who has directly observed your work with children or adolescents within the ages of pre-school through high school. Such work experience can be either voluntary or paid, but must have occurred in a structured setting for a minimum of fifteen hours. Examples of acceptable experience may include work as a camp counselor, swimming instructor, Sunday school teacher, volunteer in a classroom, or other similar settings.
    • Attendance at a program orientation and attendance at the Secondary Education Seminar.
    • A copy of your State-approved Identity-Verified Print (IVP) fingerprint clearance card. You may pick up an application packet in the AC Building reception area.
    • Be admitted to NAU.
    • One of the following GPA requirements

      • a cumulative 2.5 GPA in Liberal Studies courses
      • a cumulative 2.5 GPA in all courses
      * Denotes AWC course number

Major Requirements
Teacher Preparation

  • In our teacher education program, you are required to complete a student teaching experience. Student teaching includes participation in a student teaching seminar. In addition, a minimum number of units of practicum is required, which involves supervised field experience with a practicing teacher. Additional field experience may be required.

    Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:

    • Admission to the teacher education program
    • NAU GPA must be at least 2.5, with a GPA of 2.5 in all teacher preparation courses, with no grade lower than a "C".
    • Complete all plan requirements prior to student teaching.
    • All education courses and departmental requirements, with the exception of *EDU 110 must be completed within the six years prior to student teaching.
    • Pass one NES Middle Grades or Secondary Assessment. 
    • All Teacher Candidates must demonstrate social and emotional maturity consistent with professional standards of classroom instruction as well as adequate physical health for teaching.

  • State Teaching Certifications

    After you complete your teacher education program, you must apply to the Arizona Department of Education for certification in grades 7-12. NAU issues Institutional Recommendations for Teacher Candidates indicating that you have successfully completed the program. You must pass the Professional Knowledge and Subject Knowledge Tests of NES for Arizona certification.

    Be aware that you must meet U.S. and Arizona Constitution requirements to satisfy Arizona certification requirements. This may be done through course(s) or tests. Please consult faculty or advisors.

    Program and Course requirements are subject to change. Please keep informed through regular review of your education plan with faculty and advisors.

  • PROGRAM FEE INFORMATION

  • NAU assesses a fee, in addition to tuition, of $40 for practicum (EDU 308) and $85 for each student teaching course (EDU 495C). The fee structure may change at any time; advance notice is given when possible. 

General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.