Best Bachelor's in Biology Teacher Education Programs in 2026

UC Irvine's Biology/Education B.S. is designed for undergraduates who already know they want to teach science, letting them earn a biological sciences degree and a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential together, usually within four years. Delivered through the CalTeach program alongside the School of Education, it authorizes graduates to teach biology and general science in middle or high school classrooms. The clinical heart of the degree comes late, when students spend two quarters student teaching at a local school for at least four hours a day, five days a week, supported by a weekly seminar and a mentor teacher. Rounding out the requirements are a state teacher performance assessment, a U.S. Constitution course or exam, and CPR certification, all of the pieces the state expects. Instruction takes place on campus, keeping coursework and credentialing under one roof. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in California.

Brigham Young University's Bachelor of Science in Biological Science Education is a 73 to 74 credit teaching major for future secondary life science teachers, and it is notably content-rich for a program of its kind. Candidates build a broad foundation across the life sciences, from plant and animal diversity to anatomy, molecular biology, genetics, ecology, and evolution, then round it out with physics, chemistry, and geology so they can teach science widely. That depth is paired with real classroom time, as students complete 12 credits of student teaching through either a dedicated biology placement or a secondary teaching internship. Delivered on campus in Provo, the program leads to a Utah Secondary Teaching license with a Biology endorsement for grades 6-12 and Integrated Science for grades 6-8. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Utah.

UConn's Neag School offers Biology Education within its five-year Integrated Bachelor's/Master's (IB/M) program at the Storrs campus. Students complete two years of general education and content coursework, apply in sophomore spring, then enter the upper-division major in junior year, earning a Bachelor of Science in education before a fifth graduate year for the master's. The undergraduate portion combines biology content, professional education coursework, and clinical experience leading to Connecticut secondary science (biology) certification. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accredits the Neag School of Education. As a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level biology teacher education options in Connecticut.

State University of New York at New Paltz's Adolescence Education: Biology major leads to New York initial certification to teach biology in grades 7 through 12. Students complete a biology content core supported by cognate coursework in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, alongside professional education courses. Student teaching consists of two concurrent placements, one in grades 7 to 9 and one in grades 10 to 12, with a seminar and additional fieldwork. Instruction takes place on campus with required school placements. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in New York.

Biology teachers in training at SUNY Geneseo earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in the Biology liberal-arts major while completing the education coursework that leads to New York State initial certification in Adolescence Education for grades 7 through 12. Because the degree is granted in biology rather than in education, candidates leave with genuine depth in their science alongside their teaching preparation. Every candidate logs 100 hours of field experience before student teaching, then takes on placements at both the middle and high school levels through EDUC 340 and EDUC 350. That two-level student teaching gives future teachers a feel for how instruction shifts between younger and older adolescents. Delivered on campus, the program falls under the Ella Cline Shear School of Education, which holds AAQEP initial accreditation through June 30, 2030. As a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level biology teacher education options in New York.

Providence College's Biology/Secondary Education program lets aspiring science teachers choose the emphasis that fits them, offered as both a B.A. and a B.S. for grades 6-12. Both tracks lead to certification in Biology and General Science, with the B.S. layering in additional biology electives and laboratory work for students who want a heavier science load. The coursework pairs a strong science core in subjects such as chemistry, physics, and genetics with education classes like Educational Psychology and Teaching Science in Secondary Schools, so content and pedagogy develop side by side. That preparation leads into a full-time, 12-week student teaching placement in grades 6-12, supported by faculty supervision and seminars. The department notes that its secondary education program is approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education, a state approval rather than programmatic accreditation. As a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level biology teacher education options in Rhode Island.

The University of Delaware's Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences Education combines a biology content major with professional education coursework to prepare candidates to teach middle or high school science. The senior year culminates in EDUC400 Student Teaching, and the secondary science program pioneered the university's co-teaching model for the student teaching experience. On completing the state-approved program requirements, students receive the university's endorsement for teaching certification. All programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Delivery is on-campus, with licensure and student teaching coordinated through the Delaware Center for Teacher Education. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Delaware.

Grove City College offers a B.S. in Biology & General Science with Secondary Education Certification, preparing candidates for Pennsylvania grades 7-12 certification in biology and general science. Coursework as stated on the program page spans roughly 100 credits in biology, 22 in general science, and 40 in professional education. Candidates complete student teaching in the fall or spring of the senior year, mentored by a faculty advisor and professional partners in the field. The College provides certification services that help students meet state testing and certification requirements and pursue additional certifications. The program is delivered on campus full-time. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Pennsylvania.

Baylor prepares biology teachers through a secondary science education pathway leading to Texas certification in grades 7-12, offered as a B.S. in Biology with a Science Education concentration (Arts and Sciences) in cooperation with the School of Education. Students are formally admitted to teacher preparation at the end of the sophomore year and complete seven semesters of hands-on classroom experience with increasing responsibility, culminating in a yearlong teaching internship during which seniors teach full time in fall and spring. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Texas.

Cedarville offers a Bachelor of Arts in Science Education with a Life Science (biology) specialization, one of five AYA science tracks. Students take the same rigorous biology content as other science majors alongside professional education coursework, spending time in classrooms each of their four years and completing more than 600 hours of classroom experience, capped by student teaching in the final semester locally or overseas. The program prepares graduates to apply for an Ohio Adolescent/Young Adult teaching license for grades 7-12 that is transferable to other states. Delivery is on campus. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Ohio.

This 120 credit Bachelor of Science in Biology Secondary Education combines a full biology major, covering molecular biology, anatomy, microbiology, and ecology with lab work, and roughly 40 credits of education coursework leading to Pennsylvania Instructional I certification to teach biology and general science in grades 7 to 12. The program includes a secondary/K-12 practicum and a student teaching placement. The program page states it is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Delivery is on campus in Scranton. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Pennsylvania.

Augustana College's Biology Education major prepares students to teach science in secondary classrooms, grades 9 through 12. Alongside a biology core, candidates study chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth science, and geology, then complete the secondary education professional sequence and student teaching. The on-campus program leads to an Illinois Professional Educator License in secondary science. It is designed for students who want to combine a strong science background with preparation for high school teaching. As a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level biology teacher education options in Illinois.

Harding University's Biology teacher-licensure track suits science-minded students aiming to teach biology in Arkansas secondary classrooms for grades 7-12. Delivered on campus, the 128-hour degree brings together the Cannon-Clary College of Education and the College of Sciences, blending a 57-hour biology major rich in lab work with 31 hours of education coursework and a 47-hour liberal arts core, with a few added hours possible for math leveling. The path is structured and intentional: candidates must gain admission to the Teacher Preparation Program before the end of sophomore year and pass the required Arkansas licensure and pedagogy exams before they graduate. Everything builds toward the capstone, an eight to twelve credit supervised teaching experience where preparation meets the real classroom. The program is CAEP accredited. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Arkansas.

College of Saint Mary takes a distinctive route to preparing biology teachers, pairing its Bachelor of Science in Biology with a secondary education certification track rather than offering a standalone education major. Coordinated between the Teacher Education Department and the Department of Biology, the design means students earn a full biology degree while layering in education coursework, including a course devoted to the teaching of biology itself. That combination keeps subject knowledge and pedagogy developing side by side. The hybrid format gives students extensive time in real classrooms, culminating in a full student-teaching capstone that ties the two strands together. Completion leads to teacher certification for grades 7 through 12. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Nebraska.

Designed for future secondary science teachers, the University of Mary's Biology Education major is available as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science and draws on both the Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the university's arts and sciences faculty. The science preparation is genuinely hands-on, with laboratory coursework spanning subjects such as genetics, botany, and chemistry, so candidates know the material they will one day teach. Classroom practice starts before student teaching, as students take practicum placements in area schools, observe experienced teachers, and try out lessons with real students. That pairing of lab work and early field experience gives graduates both scientific grounding and teaching confidence. Delivered on campus, the program meets CAEP national standards and leads to secondary biology licensure through the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in North Dakota.

Brigham Young University-Hawaii offers Science Education with a biology emphasis, a Bachelor of Science based in the Faculty of Education and Social Work. Students build a foundation in biology and broader science content, then move into professional coursework and classroom student teaching. The program prepares candidates for Hawaii teaching licensure in grades 7 through 12 through the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. Classes are held on the Laie campus. As a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level biology teacher education options in Hawaii.

Bradley University's High School Education in Biology degree prepares candidates to teach biology in grades nine through twelve, blending science content with the craft of the classroom. Coordinated through the Education Department in the College of Education and Health Sciences, it builds toward the Illinois Professional Educator's License by layering more than five hundred hours of classroom experience across the curriculum. That practice culminates in senior-year student teaching, placed in or immediately around Peoria so candidates learn in the communities they hope to serve. Delivered on campus, the program keeps students close to faculty and to one another throughout. Bradley reports a perfect pass rate on Illinois licensure tests, including the national edTPA portfolio evaluation, a sign that its graduates leave genuinely ready. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Illinois.

Taylor University offers a Biology Science Education major leading to a B.S., or a B.A. if the language requirement is completed, jointly supported by the Biology, Environmental Science and Sustainable Development Department and the Education Department. The on-campus program trains students as both a biologist and a middle or high school teacher and leads to Indiana secondary licensure for grades 5-12. Education majors are placed in local schools as freshmen, accumulating more than 500 hours before a full semester of senior-year student teaching at two different schools and grade levels, domestically or internationally. The Education program is accredited by CAEP. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Indiana.

Minnesota State University Moorhead's Bachelor of Science in Life Science Education prepares biology and general science teachers through the Biosciences Department. Students combine college-level science with secondary teaching methods, complete classroom field experience before a student teaching placement, and carry out a faculty-mentored research project. The program leads to two Minnesota teaching licenses, general science for middle school grades 5 to 8 and life science for high school grades 9 to 12. Courses are offered in a hybrid format that blends face-to-face instruction with some online coursework. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Minnesota.

Students drawn to both the life sciences and the classroom will find a natural home in Evangel University's Bachelor of Science in Biology Education, which threads laboratory science through a clear path to teaching. The major balances the biology a future teacher needs, from molecular and cellular study to organismal and environmental science, with education courses, practicums, and a full student teaching semester that puts theory into practice. Coordinated between the sciences and education faculty, it follows a traditional route recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Candidates round out the degree by passing the state content assessment and clearing a background check. The result is preparation to teach biology in grades 9 through 12, with Missouri certification the intended outcome. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Missouri.

Lee University's Bachelor of Science in Biological Science with 6-12 Teacher Licensure lets aspiring science teachers build genuine subject depth before they ever lead a classroom. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the program opens with an education seminar that sends students into public schools early, so time with real learners starts near the beginning rather than the end. Coursework then layers in the sciences through a chemistry sequence and a distinctive Science and Scripture capstone that ties faith to the discipline. The path closes with a full student teaching term, deliberately spread across at least two classrooms or schools so candidates experience more than one kind of setting. Together these pieces prepare graduates for Tennessee teacher licensure in biology for grades 6 through 12. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Tennessee.

Future biology teachers at the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras pursue the Bachillerato en Artes en Educacion Secundaria, Biologia, a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education that pairs a full grounding in the life sciences with the craft of the classroom. Across its 126 credits, students move from general education into professional education courses and a science concentration that ranges over subjects such as ecology, genetics, and organismal biology, so the content they will teach and the methods for teaching it develop together. A sequence of reflective professional seminars keeps candidates thinking about their own growth, and the program closes with a supervised teaching practicum in a secondary biology classroom during the final semester. Housed in the Facultad de Educacion and taught on campus, it leaves graduates eligible for Puerto Rico Department of Education teacher certification. As a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level biology teacher education options in Puerto Rico.

Designed for aspiring science teachers who do not want to choose between their subject and their vocation, the University of Nevada, Reno's NevadaTeach pathway awards two bachelor's degrees in a single four-year track. Students complete a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education alongside a Bachelor of Science in Biology, grounding their teaching in real command of areas such as ecology, evolution, and molecular and cellular biology. Education coursework and field placements run in parallel, so candidates test their ideas in middle and high school classrooms while they are still deepening their science. That balance of rigorous content and classroom practice prepares graduates to teach biology in grades 7 through 12. The university reports its educator preparation programs are fully accredited by AAQEP, and the degree is delivered on campus in Reno. As a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level biology teacher education options in Nevada.

For students who want to teach science, Biola University pairs a B.S. in Biological Science with a Secondary Instruction Concentration, offered through the School of Science, Technology and Health with teacher-preparation coursework carried alongside the School of Education. The major runs 72 to 76 credits, or 123 to 131 with the core curriculum, and points toward the California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Biology, earned by combining minor coursework with the SB2042 Professional Teacher Preparation Program. That preparation program is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Association of Christian Schools International. One practical wrinkle is that the 12-credit student teaching sequence may be taken as a graduate student and is not required to finish the undergraduate degree. It is a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in California.

Southern Utah University's Biological Sciences Education BS is administered jointly by the Biology Department and the Department of Teacher Education, leading to a Utah Secondary Teaching License with a Biology endorsement for grades 7-12. Students complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of professional education coursework and a student teaching placement, finishing with SCED 4980 Secondary Student Teaching, an 8-credit placement in the final semester. A background check is required before extended practicums in EDUC 2200 or EDUC 2400. The campus location supports field-based coursework across desert, alpine, and lake ecosystems. This program offers a bachelor's degree in biology teacher education in Utah.