Robert Morris University offers a Secondary Teacher Certification Preparation program for students who already hold a bachelor's degree and would like to pursue a rewarding career in teaching.
This program provides students with the course work required for Pennsylvania state teacher certification in several areas, including biology. The program is also available to students pursuing a degree in biology at RMU.
Our education faculty members are specialists in their areas of expertise, and all have related work experience as practitioners in the field, such as principals, superintendents, and teachers.
Students take a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses to fulfill academic requirements. Completion of the program requires a 16-week semester of supervised student teaching and the successful completion of all required Praxis examinations.
Professors and lecturers teach introductory and advanced biology courses. They may also mentor students with projects and direct research programs.
Teaching younger students requires a general knowledge of science and skill at working with different kinds of learners. High school teachers often specialize in biology and teach other courses of personal interest. Educators in these settings may design exhibits and educational programs, in addition to teaching special classes or leading tours and nature hikes.
There are many careers for biologists who want to combine their scientific training with interests in other fields. Biologists apply scientific principles to develop and enhance products, tools, and technological advances in fields such as agriculture, food science, and medicine.
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2010 national mean bachelor-level, entry-level salaries: (information from the National Association of Colleges and Employers) |
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Elementary |
$30,513 |
Special Education |
$32,898 |
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Pre-Elementary |
$27,336 |
Specific Academic/Vocational |
$34,260 |
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Secondary |
$37,703 |
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2009 RMU Salary Survey: |
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Elementary Education |
Mean: $31,250 |
Range: $24,000 - $38,500 (based on three or fewer responses) |
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Business Education (M.S.) |
Mean: $40,539 |
Range: $30,000 - $55,000 |
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Below is a typical four-year course of study for biology teacher certification, including major requirements and electives. Your own schedule will vary based on your own interests.
| FRESHMAN/Fall Semester | FRESHMAN/Spring Semester |
| Principles of Biology (plus lab) | Principles of Biology II (plus lab) |
| Chemistry I (plus lab) | Chemistry II (plus lab) |
| Reading Literature: Coming of Age | Microbiology (plus lab) |
| Calculus w/ Analytic Geometry | Argument & Research |
| Intercultural Communications | Intro. Decision Support System |
| SOPHOMORE/Fall Semester | SOPHOMORE/Spring Semester |
| Schools and Society | Instructional Design/Assessment |
| Educational Psychology | Cell/Molecular Biology (plus lab) |
| Botany (plus lab) | Professional Communication |
| Ecology Fundamentals (plus lab) | General Physics I (plus lab) |
| Public Speaking & Persuasion | Statistics |
| JUNIOR/Fall Semester | JUNIOR/Spring Semester |
| Teaching Study w/ Special Needs | Teaching in Inclusive Sec. Class. |
| Reading Content/ELL | Technology for Secondary Educators |
| Human Genetics (plus lab) | Comp. Vertebrate Physiology (plus lab) |
| General Physics II (plus lab) | Zoology (plus lab) |
| Comp. Vertebrate Anatomy (plus lab) |
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| SENIOR/Fall Semester | SENIOR/Spring Semester |
| Professional Semester | Survey of Economics |
| Content Specific Pedagogy: Biology | Humanities: Art and Music |
| Student Teaching Seminar | History |
| Student Teaching Internship: Biology | General Psychology |
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Contemporary Amer. Social Problems |
Job opportunities for teachers over the next 10 years should be excellent, due mostly to the large number of teachers expected to retire. There are currently 6.3 million teaching positions in the United States, and employment opportunities are expected to increase. In addition, over one million teachers will retire in the next five years, leaving our nation with a potential shortage of over two million teachers.
Teaching is a highly respected profession which provides a regular daily and weekly work schedule, time off each year, excellent benefits, job security and opportunities to continue your education. The salary range for teachers in the U.S. is $30,000 to $80,000 per year with an average salary of $44,367 per year.
The program has five new science laboratories designated for study in Biology/Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science. The science department also has three designated research areas. These laboratories have state-of-the-art instructional technology, including wireless connectivity and multimedia instruction.
The School of Education and Social Sciences faculty is comprised of caring individuals who accept the responsibility for educating the "whole" student at RMU. Consequently, our faculty members are specialists in their areas of expertise who effectively implement sound instructional practices when teaching and just as importantly, they engage students in a variety of purposeful enrichment activities outside the classroom setting. As all faculty possess related work experience as practitioners in the field, such as principals, superintendents, teachers, researchers, authors, psychologists, counselors, etc., students learn from them first-hand what it takes to succeed.
Scholarships are available based upon academic achievement.
For freshmen, high school grade point average and ACT/SAT scores are used. For transfer students, the cumulative grade point average of all college courses is used. Scholarships range from $1000 per year up to full tuition. (To calculate your scholarship eligibility, click here.)
Higher education is an investment in your future.
At Robert Morris University, we will work closely with you to show you how to finance your education through a combination of need-based financial aid, scholarships, and financing strategies to make your education attainable. RMU has one of the lowest tuition rates of all private institutions in the state, but we know that financing your education can be complicated, and your family might need help in understanding your options.
Talk to us—we can help!
Email us at finaid@rmu.edu
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