Wellesley-MIT
Teacher Education
Additional Information on Subject Matter Knowledge and Subject
Advising
for the Biology Teaching Programs
Subject
Matter Requirements.
Massachusetts
regulations specify the following subject matter knowledge requirements
for biology teachers. To understand
more about what is intended in each area, please study
the Massachusetts
Curriculum Frameworks for Science, which we can give
you a copy of and which can be found on line at www.doe.mass.edu
You can
also examine the test objectives for the Massachusetts
subject
test in this area. (This test is required only for
licensure in Massachusetts.) To see these objectives, go to doe.mass.edu,
and select Educator Licensure Tests.
Areas
of subject matter knowledge for Biology:
Biology
(grades 5-8 or 8-12)
(a)
Biology of organisms, especially that of humans, including
characteristics and classifications
of organisms
(b) Cells and cell theory
(c) Ecology and evolutionary biology
(d) Matter and energy in ecosystems
(e) Genetics, including chromosome structure and
function and inheritance
(f) Molecular biology
(g) Related aspects of chemistry, physics,
earth science, and mathematics, such as
statistics
(h) Engineering and technical applications
of biology
(i) History and philosophy of science
(j) Methods of research in the sciences,
including laboratory techniques and the
use of computers
You
would meet the requirements, first, by completing the set
of courses described below; second, by
doing additional study
in areas where you have not taken courses;
and, third, by demonstrating your knowledge via student teaching
and the MTEL subject test.
(MTEL stands for Massachusetts Tests for
Educator Licensure.) Or if you do not plan to take the
MTEL
subject test because
you do not intend to teach in Massachusetts,
you can alternatively do a portfolio review process.
Planning
required subject matter courses and study.
It
will be easiest to address the required knowledge while doing
a major in biology or biological
chemistry, but a major
in environmental
engineering science at MIT may also be
possible. Please consult with our subject matter advisor,
Prof. Mary Allen
at Wellesley
or Prof. Graham Walker at MIT, about
how you will plan to address all areas of required knowledge.
In conjunction
with these
discussions, please fill out the Teaching
Program Plan form and have it approved.
Required
courses:
Courses
equivalent to a major in biology at Wellesley or MIT, or biological
chemistry at
Wellesley, including
course work
in as many areas as practical of
the
subject matter knowledge listed
above. Strongly recommended: a course
on ecology, such as Biology 201 or
210 at
Wellesley, or
7.30J at MIT.
Additional
study
For
the required areas of subject matter knowledge listed that are
not covered
by your required
or other courses,
additional
study will be needed. This study
provides a wonderful opportunity
for valuable,
stimulating learning. Please
discuss your plan
of study with our biology subject
matter advisors,
with your major advisor, and
with
Ken Hawes or Eric Klopfer.
