Biology: Teaching
Leading the future through top-notch teacher prep
The University of Northern Iowa has a nationally-acclaimed teacher preparation program, and our science education program is no different.
As a Biology Teaching major, you’ll learn effective curriculum planning, best teaching methods and you’ll gain hundreds of hours of classroom teaching experience before you graduate – preparing you to be a leader inside and outside of the classroom.
Top
Program
UNI is home to a top teacher preparation program, known around the Midwest for excellence.
Excellent
Teacher Preparation
You’ll take courses through our College of Education, and will complete 725+ hours of classroom teaching experience.
Endorsements
Convenient for students to complete Endorsements in other Science disciplines to be more marketable to school districts.
Find out More about Biology: Teaching
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Contact us directly at:
Department of Biology
University of Northern Iowa
144 McCollum Science Hall
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0421
Phone: (319) 273-2456
Email: biology@uni.edu
Becoming a Teacher
What’s the process?
Begin major content: Start building your foundation in your chosen area of teaching.
- Begin your coursework.
Start building your foundation in your chosen area of teaching.
- Get at least 10 hours of pre-program experience in the field.
Work with PreK-12 students to get a closer look at teaching as a career. Experience prior to enrollment may fulfill this requirement.
- Apply to teacher education.
Maintaining above a 2.5 GPA? Apply to the UNI Teacher Education Program -- and celebrate at the Teacher Education Convocation & Celebration!
- More courses! More field experience!
Teach your first lessons during 35 hours or more in local schools for Internship 1. Next up? Internship 2, another 35 hours or more of immersion in classrooms.
- Student teach.
It all comes together in your final semester of 16 weeks of student teaching in Iowa, nationally or even internationally!
- Graduate, get your license to teach.
Get your diploma and then time for licensure! We’ll assist you through the process with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
Teach Iowa Scholar Program
Biology teachers are in high demand! Because of this, biology teachers may qualify for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program.
This grant provides grants of up to $4,000 per year and up to $20,000 over a five year period for those teaching in a high-demand field. Experienced Financial Aid Officers assist students with applying for the grant.
Undergraduate Research
Nearly half of all UNI Biology students choose to participate in undergraduate research. Working side by side with professors, our students are conducting innovative research that spans everything from studying how people learn and teach best, to endangered species, or tracking disease progression – furthering the field of science. About half of biology faculty journal publications include student coauthors – giving our students an opportunity to publish their work all before graduation.