A Combined Degree program enables undergraduate students to enroll in graduate courses in their senior year, which can be counted towards the completion of both their Bachelor's and Master's degree requirements. The ability to take these "swing courses" allows students to earn both their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a shortened period of time, typically within five years. Undergraduate students interested in this option can find more information regarding program requirements on the University's Combined Programs website.
The Combined Degree with Dual Certification program is a 5-year program that leads to teacher certification in Biological Science (grades P-12), teacher certification in Teacher of Students with Disabilities, a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree. Interested students must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program as an undergraduate.
Students must successfully complete the undergraduate portion of the program in order to be admitted to the Graduate School and complete the one-year master’s portion of the program. Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required undergraduate professional sequence of courses, overall course outline, and other important Program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
Certain pre-qualified students may be accepted into the major; others will need to complete the following:
3.00 overall GPA required
Please note: The Biology and Molecular Biology majors have retention policies. By the end of their second semester in the major (i.e. spring), students must maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA and have completed the following courses: BIOL 112 and/or BIOL 113, CHEM 106 and/or CHEM 120, and MATH 111. These criteria do not apply to students entering in the Fall in the https://www.montclair.edu/university-college/stem-pioneers/ STEM Pioneers Program
Successfully complete one semester of a math, biology and chemistry course in the major with a C- or higher
Departmental advising meeting required.
Contact: Dr. Dirk Vanderklein, Science Hall, Room 116, 973-655-5265
120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. Major GPA requirements differ depending on field of study. Consult the Teacher Education Program Handbook for more information.
Program Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 13 | |
| Major Requirements | 70 | |
| Teacher Education Program Requirements | 36 | |
| Free Electives | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
Requirements for the graduate portion of this combined program can be found here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Biology Courses | ||
| BIOL 112 | Principles of Biology: Introduction to the Cell | 4 |
| BIOL 113 | Principles of Biology: Organisms and Diversity | 4 |
| BIOL 213 | Introduction to Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 230 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 380 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 417 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| Required Biology Electives | ||
| Select one course from each of the four areas below. | 14 | |
| Collateral Chemistry Courses | ||
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 230 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 232 | Experimental Organic Chemistry I | 2 |
| Collateral Physics Courses | ||
| Select one of the following sequences: | 8 | |
| University Physics I and University Physics II | ||
| College Physics I and College Physics II | ||
| Collateral Mathematics Courses | ||
| Select two of the following options: | 8 | |
| Data Science and Statistics and Data Science and Biostatistics | ||
| Applied Calculus A | ||
or MATH 122 | Calculus I | |
| Applied Calculus B | ||
or MATH 221 | Calculus II | |
| Collateral Earth Science Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Planet Earth | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| Earth and the Environment | ||
| Earth System History | ||
| Total Credits | 70 | |
Biology Major Electives
Complete the four requirements, including at least one 4-credit course (One course cannot be used in 2 areas)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Cell and Molecular | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Microbiology | ||
| Toxicology | ||
| Population Genetics | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Experimental Molecular Biology | ||
| Cell Physiology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Virology | ||
| Microbial Genetics | ||
| Neurobiology | ||
| Medical Genetics | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Research Community I: Molecular Biology | ||
| Research Community II: Molecular Biology | ||
| Statistical Genomics | ||
| Special Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology | ||
| Molecular Ecology | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Marine Biology | ||
| Environmental Biology and Related Controversial Issues | ||
| Introduction to Animal Behavior | ||
| Introduction to Aquatic Ecology | ||
| Principles of Ecology | ||
| Population Genetics | ||
| Economic Botany | ||
| New Jersey Flora | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Phylogenetic Zoology | ||
| Comparative Animal Physiology | ||
| Biological Oceanography | ||
| Aquatic Ecology | ||
| Research Community I: Ecology | ||
| Research Community II: Ecology | ||
| Molecular Ecology | ||
| Organismal | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Toxicology | ||
| Elementary Plant Physiology | ||
| Medical Entomology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Biology of Animal Parasites | ||
| Gross Mammalian Anatomy | ||
| Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates | ||
| Human Physiology | ||
| Vertebrate Embryology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Fundamentals of Pharmacology | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Comparative Animal Physiology | ||
| Virology | ||
| Neurobiology | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Research Community I: Organism Biology | ||
| Research Community II: Organism Biology | ||
| Special Topics in Organismal Biology | ||
| Research | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Externship in Biological Research (Co-operative Education) | ||
| Biology Independent Research | ||
| Research Community I: Organism Biology | ||
| Research Community II: Organism Biology | ||
| Research Community I: Molecular Biology | ||
| Research Community II: Molecular Biology | ||
| Research Community I: Ecology | ||
| Research Community II: Ecology | ||
| Total Credits | 14 | |
Teacher Education Program Requirements
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| H. Mathematics | ||
| Fulfilled by mathematics collateral courses in the major. | ||
| I. Natural Science Laboratory | ||
| General Chemistry I (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | 3 | |
| 3. Social Science Perspectives | ||
| Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence. | ||
| Psychological Foundations of Education | ||
| L. Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| Public Purposes of Education: Democracy and Schooling (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree(s)
This recommended five-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within five years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
Fifth year courses are taken at the graduate level, after matriculation into the graduate portion of this combined degree program.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 |
| 4 | 6 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SASE 320 | 3 | SASE 322 | 3 |
| SASE 321 | 3 | SPED 469 | 3 |
| SPED 279 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 6 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SPED 483 | 3 | SPED 566 | 3 |
| SPED 488 | 3 | SPED 586 | 3 |
| SPED 690 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 9 | ||
| Total Credits 40 | |||
| Fifth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SASE 526 | 3 | SASE 529 | 6 |
| SASE 527 | 3 | SASE 543 | 3 |
| SPED 584 | 3 | ||
| Teaching Methods Course | 3-4 | ||
| 12-13 | 9 | ||
| Total Credits 21-22 | |||