N.C. A&T

Biology Education

School/College: College of Arts & Sciences
Degree(s) Offered: Master of Arts in Teaching
Coordinator: Dr. Perpetua Muganda Email: pmmugand@ncat.edu Phone: 336-285-2190
Department Chair: Dr. Mary A. Smith Email: smithma @ncat.edu Phone: 336-285-2160

Situated within the School of Education’s conceptual framework of "Professional Educator: A Catalyst for Learning," the M.A.T in Biology Education program is designed for college graduates who have decided to enter the teaching profession, many of whom will already be lateral entry teachers, teachers changing fields and perspective candidates who are taking coursework before entering the classroom. It is another way of addressing the critical teacher shortage, since post baccalaureate students accepted into this program will have the academic credentials and maturity necessary to complete both introductory and advanced work in teacher education in a graduate level program. The Masters of Art in Teaching will enable prospective teachers, who bring content knowledge to the graduate degree, the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become excellent teachers.

Candidates may choose to complete only the first phase of the M.A.T Program, called Phase I: Licensure. Successful completion of this phase will result in a recommendation for the initial "A" license. Phase II: Advance Studies will include courses that complete the requirements for the advanced master's degree and will qualify candidates for the advance "M" licensure.

Additional Admission Requirements

Criteria for admission to Phase I of the program:

A Bachelor's Degree in Biology or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
Completion of any required pre-requisite courses
A passing score on Praxis I

Criteria for admission to Phase II of the program:

A GPA of 3.0 or better in Phase I coursework
Praxis II scores and Class A licensure
Satisfactory recommendations from three persons knowledgeable of the applicant's interaction with adolescents
DPI letter of employment or letter from school system, if applicable
GRE or MAT scores
Essay of Purpose

Program Outcomes

SLO 1 Content Knowledge: Candidates in the MAT Biology Secondary Education Program will illustrate their ability to align learning theories, biological content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and the Common Core and North Carolina Essential Standards as indicated by passing scores on the Praxis II Secondary Biology Exam.
SLO 2 Communication: During CUIN 660 Clinical Practice in 21st Century Classroom course, candidates will communicate effectively orally and in writing with students from diverse backgrounds (grades 9-12) according to standards commonly practiced in the profession.
SLO 3 Critical Thinking: In BIOL 635 and CUIN 660, candidates will effectively develop and implement the Content Area Instructional Unit Work Sample (CAIUWS).

Degree Requirements

The Master of Art in Teaching Biology Education requires the following total semester hours of coursework: Phase I: Licensure Option- requires 24 semester hours, including 6 hours of teaching/internship. Phase II: Advance Studies- 15 semester hours, including 3 hours of advanced biology courses.

Subject Core Course(s) (Phase I: Licensure Option) 24 semester hours, including 6 hours of teaching/internship Credit Hours)

CUIN 619(Learning Theories 3 credit hours)
CUIN 729(Diversity Issues in K-12 Schools 3 credit hours)
CUIN 715(Assessing and Evaluating the 21st Century Learner 3 credit hours)
CUIN 624 (Teaching Reading in the Secondary School 3 credit hours)
CUIN 640(Methods of Teaching for 21st Century Classrooms 3 credit hours)
CUIN 660(Clinical Practice in Teaching Education 6 credit hours)
BIOL 722(Advanced Concepts in Biology I 3 credit hours)
BIOL 723(Advances Concepts in Biology II 3 credit hours)

Course Subject Area(s) (Phase II: Advance Studies) 15 semester hours of advanced undergradauate and graduate courses (listed below), including 3 hours of advanced biology courses Credit Hours)

BIOL 615(Principles of Virology) 3 credit hours)
BIOL 630(Molecular Genetics) 3 credit hours)
BIOL 631 (Endocrine Physiology) 3( credit hours)
BIOL 640(Introduction to Bioinformatics and Genomic Research) 3 credit hours)
BIOL 642(Special Problems in Biology) 3 credit hours)
BIOL 650(Frontiers in Molecular Biology) 4 credit hours)
BIOL 665(Evolution) (3 credit hours)

Electives (3 hours required):

Three (3) hours of advanced biology courses are required for Phase II: Advance Studies. Choose from the list below.

BIOL 700(Environmental Biology) 3 credit hours; BIOL 703 (Experimental Methods in Biology) 4 credit hours; BIOL 336 (Cell and Molecular Biology) 3 credit hours; BIOL 710 (Introduction to Research in the Biological Sciences) 3 credit hours; BIOL 712 (Master's Project) 6 credit hours; BIOL 720 (Environmental Influences on Human Disease) 3 credit hours; BIOL 749 (Recent Advances in Cell Biology) 3 credit hours; BIOL 750 (Microscopy Technique) 3 credit hours; BIOL 755 (Systems Biology) 3 credit hours; BIOL 759 (Experimental Developmental Biology) 3 credit hours; BIOL 762 (Molecular Pathogenesis of Cancer) 4 credit hours; BIOL 785 (Writing for the Biological Scientist) 3 credit hours; BIOL 788 (Comprehensive Examination) 0 credit hours; BIOL 862 (Biology Thesis I) 6 credit hours; BIOL 863 (Biology Thesis II) 6 credit hours.

Seminar Courses

BIOL 701(Biological Seminar) 1 credit hours)
BIOL 702 (Biological Seminar) 1 credit hours)

Licensure requirements, if appropriate: Required

Application for Degree

The applicant must have completed the required number of courses with a 3.0 minimum grade point average, and have at least one academic year of residence at NC A&T SU. The applicant must have attended a majority of departmental seminars and journal club meetings, and satisfactorily completed and defended the thesis or project research.

Advising

The Science Education Coordinator for the Department of Biology serves as the faculty advisor for all M.A.T students.

Licensure

Enrichment activities for graduate programs in Biology

Graduate Pre-matriculation Program: The Department of Biology Graduate Pre-matriculation Program is designed to ease the transition of our incoming graduate students from their undergraduate programs or from the workforce into our Master of Science in Biology program. The pre-matriculation program is held one week prior to the beginning of the academic year. Program activities focus on the School of Graduate Studies requirements and expectations, the Department of Biology requirements and expectations, introduction to library resources (database searches and use of Endnotes), pointers on reading scientific journal articles, preparing effective research presentations, developing graduate level test taking skills, serving as an effective Teaching Assistant, improving time management skills, as well as introduction to various research tools, and health disparities. Each faculty member who is available to serve as a graduate advisor also presents an overview of his/her research and the requirements and expectations of graduate students completing thesis or project research under his/her supervision

Department of Biology Graduate Retreat: The retreat is held at an off-campus location each year, and usually includes at least one overnight stay. The retreat is usually facilitated by a scientist who has a wealth of experience that he/she can share with our students to help them develop the proper attitude and commitment to successfully complete the Master of Science Program and to continue on to earn a doctoral degree.

Journal Club: Graduate students are expected to participate in the Departmental Journal Club. The Journal Club is designed to provide a forum for graduate students to read, discuss, and critique select journal articles.

Directory of Faculty

David W. Aldridge, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, B.S., University of Texas, Arlington; Ph.D., Syracuse University
Goldie S. Byrd, Nathan F. Sims Endowed Professor and Dean of College of Arts & Sciences, B.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., Meharry Medical College
Roy J. Coomans, Associate Professor and Associate Chairperson, B.S., Eckerd College; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Doretha B. Foushee, Associate Professor, B.S., Shaw University; M.S., North Carolina Central University; Ph.D., University of Maryland at College Park
Gregory D. Goins, Associate Professor, B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Andrew G. Goliszek, Associate Professor, B.S., University of West Florida; M.S., Ph.D., Utah State University
Jessica (Jian) Han, Assistant Professor, B.S., M.S., Nankai University; M.S.,University of Hawaii at Manoa; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Scott H. Harrison, Assistant Professor, B.S., Ph.D., Michigan State University
Randall Hayes, Assistant Professor, B.S., University of Kentucky, Lexington; Ph.D., University of Rochester
Perry V. Mack, Adjunct Professor, B.S., South Carolina State College; M.S., North Carolina Central University; Ed.D., Rutgers University
Patrick Martin, Assistant Professor, B.S., Virginia Union University; Ph.D., University of Virginia
Perpetua Muganda, Professor, B.S., Lock Haven State College; M.S., Howard University; Ph.D., Indiana University School of Medicine
Robert H. Newman, Assistant Professor, B.A., McDaniel College; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Elimelda M. Ongeri, Assistant Professor, B.S., Egerton University; M.S., Ph.D., Purdue University
Checo Rorie, Assistant Professor, B.S., Clark Atlanta University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Catherine D. White, Associate Professor, B.S., Johnson C. Smith University; Ph.D., Wayne State University
Mary A. Smith, Associate Professor and Chairperson, B.S., M.S., Morgan State University; Ph.D. Cornell University
Joseph J. Whittaker, Associate Professor, A.B., Talladega College; Ph.D., Meharry Medical College

Academic
Athletic
Arts

The College of Engineering ranks No. 1 for the number of degrees awarded to African Americans
U.S. News and World Report ranks the COE in the top third of the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
N.C. A&T is the home of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (ERC)
SAES brought in more than $20 million in research grant funding
The School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (SAES) is the largest among the nation’s HBCUs
F.D. Bluford Library is one of the region's premier research libraries
The Master of Science in Information (MSIT) Online Program is ranked No. 7 by U.S. News & World Report

A&T had ninety-eight student athletes earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point average or higher for the 2011-2012 academic year
Freshmen Janay Ferrell placed seventh at the Robert Shumke HBCU Classic
Track and Field sprinter Jarrell Elliott qualified for the Olympic trials
Aggie baseball player Xavier Macklin was drafted in the 12th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft
Aggies will host the 2013 Junior National Olympics
N.C. A&T long jumper Shakia Forbes became the first Aggie female to earn All-American honors in a field event
North Carolina A&T has had 16 players drafted to the major leagues

The College of Arts and Sciences awards one-third of the university’s degrees each year
University Choir has performed for President Obama at the White House
The Music Program has been fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1991
A&T Jazz Ensemble to release its first professional CD - Jazz Preeminence
Theatre program to perform at the regionally acclaimed "Center Stage Theatre" in Baltimore, Maryland
A&T Lyceum Series brings provocative, culturally diverse programming to the campus and community
Travis W. Alexander has been named National Conductor for the 105 Voices Of History National Concert Choir