Master of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Education
Overview
Connect Your Passion for Biology and Teaching
Grand Canyon University’s Master of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Education degree program provides the opportunity for students with a background in biology to pursue a career in education. This graduate biology education program prepares students to teach biology in undergraduate courses at a two-year or four-year institution in both campus and online modalities.
Students will engage in a curriculum that balances biology content with pedagogy and classroom techniques. By pursuing this career pathway, students will adopt best teaching practices, analyze current research, learn to communicate complex topics and ideas and explore graduate-level biology concepts within the context of real-world examples.
This biology education program’s values-based curriculum further uniquely integrates faith from the perspective of GCU’s Christian worldview. Students will consider topics of ethical challenges and moral conflict in relation to biology, science, medicine and technological innovation, along with how established values in the field impact servant leadership.
Degree Outcomes
Develop Tomorrow’s Leaders in Biology
Students will possess the career readiness to meet the high demand for classroom leaders who have the skills and knowledge to teach students in the field of biology. Upon obtaining advanced training in the field of biology, graduates will satisfy requirements for ongoing professional development and be able to fulfill graduate course recommendations necessary for pursuing opportunities in teaching at the post-secondary level.
What You Will Learn
Develop Knowledge in Mechanisms of Disease and Therapeutics
The pedagogical aspect of the program focuses on collaboration on curriculum design with stakeholders, meeting academic standards for objectives, evaluating adult learning theories and incorporating technology. The professional and scientific communication domain ensures students gain competencies in demonstrating scientific inquiry skills with strong written and verbal communication skills. Throughout the program, students will focus on biological concepts including:
- Phylogenetics and ecology
- Biological systems at the cellular and molecular level
- Physiological functions of the human body
- A comprehensive understanding of the microbial world
Career Outcomes
Lead Classrooms as a Biology Teacher
Graduates of the MS in Biology with an Emphasis in Education program may pursue a career as a biological science teacher and postsecondary educator. Graduates will also have the foundation to continue their education to deepen their knowledge in biology or education.
Course List
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
This course will give a broad overview of the classification of organisms, including prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Students will discuss the importance of the various types of organisms in global and human ecology. This course will also address principles of ecology with regard to populations, communities, and global ecology. Ecological research will be analyzed, and conservation and restoration efforts will be evaluated through the use of case studies.
Course Description
This course will cover an overview of properties of cellular organization using molecular, genetic, and cell biological approaches. This course will provide a comprehensive study of the composition, structure, energetics, regulation, and growth of eukaryotic cells. Students will also become competent in DNA structure and function, protein synthesis and gene regulation and will also learn the molecular tools for studying genes, gene cloning, and gene activity. From this fundamental perspective, students will be reviewing important scientific literature on the subject of cell biology and will examine the information through discussions, presentations, literature based essays and presentations. Prerequisite: Students should have completed an undergraduate course in cellular/molecular biology.
Course Description
This foundational course covers adult learning theory and pedagogical practices that are research-based and proven effective in higher education. Technology, distance learning, and effective pedagogy for online and traditional instruction are emphasized. Candidates research learning paradigms, personalized learning, and andragogy and are asked to apply their knowledge through situational case studies.
Course Description
This course presents a selection of complex physiological mechanisms which will be explored and analyzed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human physiology. Topics will be introduced through a system-based approach with the inclusion of application scenarios to enhance the understanding. Prerequisite: BIO-510.
Course Description
This course continues the study of complex physiological mechanisms which will be explored and analyzed to provide students with a deeper understanding of human physiology. Topics will be introduced through a systems-based approach with the inclusion of application scenarios to enhance the understanding. Prerequisite: BIO-515.
Course Description
This course covers curricular alignment, instructional design, and effective communication and collaboration amongst university stakeholders. Creating learning goals, developing student outcomes and assessments, and giving effective feedback are emphasized. Candidates are asked to collaboratively develop activities, assessments, lesson plans, and syllabi that would be appropriate for a course taught at a community college or university. Prerequisite: EDU-534.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the principles and applications of microbiology and a study of the general characteristics of microorganisms, their activities, and their relationship to humans. Students will be introduced to developing an understanding of microbial cell structure and function, microbial growth, bacterial genetics, characteristics of viruses, interaction of microbes and humans with reference to immune responses, related pathologies, and antimicrobial control medications. Prerequisite: BIO-505, BIO-510.
Course Description
The objective of this course is to survey basic biochemical principles, including the composition, structure, and function of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Important biochemical principles, including structure-function correlation, kinetics and equilibrium, thermodynamics, membrane structure and function, and metabolic energy pathways, will illustrate the key concepts of biology and chemistry.
Program Locations
Online
Evening
* Please note that this list may contain programs that are not presently offered as program availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability of the program.
* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program's published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution's catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who started the program in the same year and then graduated within the published program length.
Online and Evening program disclosures (18 months)* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.