Biochemistry with a Major in Secondary Chemistry Education (6-12)
This program leads to eligibility for teacher licensure in Virginia and is available only to individuals holding a baccalaureate degree or completing requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. Due to changing University requirements, national accreditation standards, and the Virginia Board of Education licensure regulations, the teacher preparation programs in the College of Sciences are under constant revision. Any changes resulting from these factors supersede the program requirements described in this Catalog. Students are encouraged to obtain current program information from their advisors and the Office of Clinical Experiences website at https://www.odu.edu/oce.
Admission
Students must first declare the biochemistry, secondary chemistry education (6-12) as their major with the chemistry departmental advisor. All students must apply for and be admitted into the approved biochemistry, secondary chemistry education program. Students must meet the required criteria for admission by earning the minimum required grade point averages (GPA).
Virginia Board of Education Prescribed Assessments for Admission to an Approved Teacher Education Program
Old Dominion University students seeking admission to an approved teacher education program must satisfy the Virginia Board of Education required assessment for admission into an approved teacher education program. The requirement can be satisfied by meeting a passing score in the following:
- Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA): Scaled passing score of 235 for the reading subtest and score of 235 for the writing subtest OR a composite score of 470 for the assessment.
For the most current information on the prescribed Virginia Board of Education admission assessment, visit the Virginia Department of Education at https://www.doe.virginia.gov/.
Required grade point averages (GPA)
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required.
- A major/content GPA of 2.75 is required - all chemistry courses must be passed with a grade of C (2.0) or above and all other science content courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher.
- A professional education GPA of 2.75 is required – all professional education courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher.
Although students may enroll in a limited number of education courses, students must be admitted into the approved biochemistry teacher preparation program prior to enrolling in any instructional strategies practicum education course. Students must also meet with an education advisor in the Office of Clinical Experiences.
Continuance
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75, a major/content GPA of 2.75 and a professional education GPA of 2.75. Chemistry courses must be passed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher. The remaining courses required for the major and in the professional education core must be completed with a grade of C- or higher for continuance. A professional education GPA of 2.75 is required for continuance. Students must take and pass the Praxis Subject Assessment, Chemistry content knowledge (formerly Praxis II) prior to or while enrolled in the instructional strategies course. All assessments must be passed prior to the start of the Teacher Candidate Internship Orientation session.
Background Clearance Requirement
Old Dominion University requires a background clearance check of candidates interested in many of the professional education programs. Professional education programs have several field experiences that are required for continuance and graduation from the program. The background clearance must be successfully completed prior to a field experience placement. Candidates will be provided a field experience placement when the background check process is completed with resolution of any issues. The process to complete the ODU clearance background check is located at: https://www.odu.edu/clinical-experiences/placement/background-checks. The ODU clearance process includes: an FBI fingerprint, a child protective service/social service review, and a Virginia State Police sex offender registry review. Candidates interested in the professional education programs are advised to complete this clearance process immediately upon entry into the program since the clearance process takes a minimum of eight weeks to complete.
Virginia Board of Education Prescribed Assessments for Licensure
Praxis Subject Assessment, Chemistry content knowledge (test code: 5246) – passing score of 146 is required.
To review more information on the Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website at https://www.odu.edu/oce.
Requirements
Lower-Division General Education
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| 6 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 0-6 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 8 |
| 3 |
Written Communication: Grade of C or better required in both courses
Oral Communication: COMM 101R
Mathematics: MATH 163
Information Literacy and Research: satisfied in the major by CHEM 160G
The Nature of Science: BIOL 121N & BIOL 122N, BIOL 123N & BIOL 124N
Human Behavior: GEOG 101S
Additional hours may be required to meet the foreign language requirement.
Upper-Division General Education
The professional education core satisfies the Upper-Division General Education requirement.
Requirements for Graduation
Requirements for graduation include completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better, completion of the Senior Assessment, a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA, in the major area, and in the professional education core, with no grade less than a C in the major and C- in the professional education core; successful completion of the Teacher Candidate Internship and a minimum of 129 credit hours, which must include both a minimum of 32 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours in upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University. Note that a C (2.0) must be earned in all chemistry courses used to satisfy departmental requirements.
Licensure requirements also include certificate of completion in First Aid/AED/CPR, Dyslexia Awareness Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, and Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and Cultural Competence Training.
Biochemistry Core
In addition to completing the University's lower-division general education requirements and upper-division general education requirements, a biochemistry, secondary chemistry education major seeking teacher licensure must complete the following courses.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
CHEM 121N | Foundations of Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
CHEM 122N | Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 123N | Foundations of Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
CHEM 124N | Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1-2 |
or CHEM 125 | Foundations of Chemistry II Lab with Introduction to Chemical Research |
CHEM 160G | Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry Research and Careers | 3 |
CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
CHEM 212 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
CHEM 213 | Organic Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
CHEM 214 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
or CHEM 216 | Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
CHEM 321 & CHEM 322 | Analytical Chemistry Lecture and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
CHEM 331 | Physical Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
CHEM 333 | Physical Chemistry Lecture II | 3 |
CHEM 441 | Biochemistry Lecture | 3 |
CHEM 442W | Biochemistry Laboratory | 4 |
CHEM 443 | Intermediate Biochemistry | 3 |
CHEM 485 | Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar | 1 |
MATH 211 | Calculus I | 4 |
MATH 212 | Calculus II | 4 |
BIOL 293 | Cell Biology | 3 |
BIOL 294 | Genetics | 3 |
PHYS 231N | University Physics I | 4 |
PHYS 232N | University Physics II | 4 |
Total Credit Hours | 65-66 |
Biochemistry majors must have a C or better in all courses required for the major, including prerequisite courses, and must complete a minimum of 12 credits in upper level (300/400) chemistry courses at Old Dominion University. Written permission by the chief departmental advisor or chair is required prior to taking upper-level chemistry courses at other institutions.
Biochemistry with a Major in Secondary Chemistry Education (6-12)
Course List
Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| 38-44 |
| |
| 65-66 |
STEM 103 | Foundations of STEM Teaching: An Inquiry-Based Approach | 2 |
STEM 201 | Knowing and Learning in STEM Education | 3 |
STEM 202 | Classroom Interactions in STEM Education | 3 |
STEM 401 | Project Based Instruction in STEM Education | 3 |
STEM 402 | Perspectives on STEM | 3 |
STEM 485 | Apprentice Teaching | 9 |
CHEM 468 | Research Methods in Mathematics and Science | 3 |
Total Credit Hours | 129-136 |
Degree Program Guide
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman |
Fall |
ENGL 110C |
English Composition () |
3 |
MATH 163 |
Precalculus II |
3 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
CHEM 160G |
Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry Research and Careers |
3 |
| Credit Hours | 17 |
Spring |
|
3 |
|
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research |
|
|
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics |
|
MATH 211 |
Calculus I |
4 |
|
4-5 |
|
4 |
STEM 103 |
Foundations of STEM Teaching: An Inquiry-Based Approach |
2 |
| Credit Hours | 17-18 |
Sophomore |
Fall |
|
5 |
MATH 212 |
Calculus II |
4 |
COMM 101R |
Public Speaking |
3 |
STEM 201 |
Knowing and Learning in STEM Education |
3 |
|
3 |
| Credit Hours | 18 |
Spring |
|
5 |
STEM 202 |
Classroom Interactions in STEM Education |
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 |
Junior |
Fall |
|
5 |
PHYS 231N |
University Physics I |
4 |
BIOL 293 |
Cell Biology |
3 |
STEM 401 |
Project Based Instruction in STEM Education |
3 |
|
3 |
| Credit Hours | 18 |
Spring |
CHEM 441 |
Biochemistry Lecture |
3 |
PHYS 232N |
University Physics II |
4 |
CHEM 442W |
Biochemistry Laboratory () |
4 |
|
3 |
STEM 402 |
Perspectives on STEM |
3 |
| Credit Hours | 17 |
Senior |
Fall |
CHEM 331 |
Physical Chemistry Lecture I |
3 |
CHEM 443 |
Intermediate Biochemistry |
3 |
BIOL 294 |
Genetics |
3 |
CHEM 468 |
Research Methods in Mathematics and Science |
3 |
|
3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
CHEM 485 |
Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar |
1 |
CHEM 333 |
Physical Chemistry Lecture II |
3 |
STEM 485 |
Apprentice Teaching |
9 |
| Credit Hours | 13 |
| Total Credit Hours | 129-130 |
Language and Culture I & II may be met in high school and are not included in this 4-year plan. Please see requirement details.
Linked Bachelor's/Master's Degree Programs
The linked BS in biochemistry and the MS in chemistry allows exceptional students to count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both a BS degree in biochemistry and an MS degree in chemistry. Students in the combined program must complete Senior Thesis I and II (CHEM 490 and CHEM 499), be accepted into the chemistry master’s program, and earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Additional requirements apply; please contact the Chief Departmental Advisor.
BA or BS to MBA (Master of Business Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MBA or BS/MBA program is an early entry to the MBA program of study. The early-entry program is designed for well qualified non-business undergraduate ODU students to start their MBA program prior to completing their undergraduate degree. Well qualified non-business undergraduate students may take MBA-level courses as early as three semesters prior to graduation and count up to 12 graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree. Students participating in the early-entry program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Early-entry program students should carefully consider their undergraduate degree program requirements when planning their course of study. Students in the early-entry program work in close consultation with the MBA Program Office and should refer to information in the Strome College of Business section in the graduate catalog to develop an individualized plan of study based on the required coursework.
BA or BS to MPA (Master of Public Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MPA or BS/MPA program provides qualified Old Dominion University undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration while taking credits in the MPA program as an undergraduate student. The program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to immediately continue their education after the bachelor's degree. The program is especially relevant to individuals seeking to work (or currently working) in the public or non-profit sectors, but is suitable for students from any undergraduate major. Graduate courses may be taken during the fall and spring semester of the student's senior undergraduate year. Up to 12 graduate credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree and can meet upper-level General Education requirements. After receiving the undergraduate degree, a student will continue with the MPA program, taking MPA courses until completing the required 39 credit hours. Students in the linked program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree).
Requirements for admission to the graduate program can be found in the School of Public Service section of the Graduate Catalog. For additional information, please contact the School of Public Service in the Strome College of Business.