Adolescent Biology - MA / Advanced Certificate

Admission Requirements

Master’s Degree

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0.
2. A minimum of 21 credits in biology to include a year of introductory biology with laboratory and a semester of organic chemistry (lecture only).
3. General education core in the liberal arts and sciences to include: artistic expression; communication; information retrieval; concepts in history and social sciences; humanities; a language other than English; scientific and mathematical processes; and written analysis and expression.
4. Two professional references. 
5. A personal statement.
6. Submission of official score report on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), except applicants who are certified teachers or school administrators and hold a graduate degree.

Advanced Certificate

1. An undergraduate major of at least 30 credits in biology and a master’s degree in the content area with a GPA of at least 3.3 from an accredited institution. Coursework at either the undergraduate or graduate level must include a course in introductory biology with laboratory and a semester of organic chemistry.
2. General education core in the liberal arts and sciences to include: artistic expression; communication; information retrieval; concepts in history and social sciences; humanities; a language other than English; scientific and mathematical processes; and written analysis and expression.
3. Two professional references.
4. A personal statement.
5. Submission of official score report on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), except applicants who are certified teachers or school administrators and hold a graduate degree.

Progress Standards

A. 12-Credit Progress Standards for Matriculated Students

1. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.

2. Students with more than one course grade below B in the first 12 credits of SEDC or SEDF course work will not be allowed to continue in the program.

3. Students who receive a grade of F in any course, including arts and sciences courses, in the first 12 credits will not be allowed to continue in the program.

4. Students with one grade of IN (Incomplete) within the first 12 credits are restricted from registering for more than one additional course. Those with two or more INs will not be allowed to register for any courses.
   Note: It is recommended that students with two or more INs take an official leave of absence

5. Advanced certificate students only: are required to take the Content Specialty Test (CST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations and submit their scores to the School of Education before completing 12 credits of course work. Students who do not receive a passing score on the CST may be required to enroll in additional subject specific courses.

B. Fieldwork Benchmarks

1. All field experiences and student teaching will take place in New York City public schools.

2. Any student who receives a grade of B-, C+ or C in a supervised field experience or student teaching or practicum course must apply to the chairperson of the department for permission to repeat that course, which may be repeated only once. Any student who receives a grade of F or WU may not reregister and will not be allowed to continue in the program.

3. Student teaching and practicum courses listed as “by permission only” will require that students have passed the EAS and the relevant CST certification exams.

4. Students must have no outstanding IN grades or admissions conditions in order to be given permission for student teaching or practicum course.

Course of Study

Academic Plans

• Master’s Degree: BIOAE-MA
• Advanced Certificate: BIOAE-AC

Total Credits

• BIOAE-MA: 41-44
• BIOAE-AC: 26-27

Exit Requirements

1. An overall GPA of 3.0.
2. Master’s degree students will develop a professional teaching portfolio, which is a cumulative effort, integrating course and fieldwork throughout the program.
3. Complete the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop.