Master’s in Biology: Education Emphasis
Explore Your Passion for STEM Education
The Master of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Education from Grand Canyon University is designed for students with biology backgrounds who are interested in pursuing careers in education. With a convenient online format, this degree program can prepare you to balance biology content with pedagogy and classroom techniques, effectively delivering advanced training in the field of biology education while satisfying the requirements for ongoing professional development.
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Expanding Your Expertise in Biology and Teaching
In this program, you have the potential to build on the biology background you already have, continuing your scientific exploration while being taught techniques to help you in the classroom. Both biology topics and teaching skills are at the heart of our master's degree in biology: education emphasis program.
Courses cover a range of topics designed to nurture a solid foundation of both biological competencies and pedagogy strategies, including:
Ecology
Biological systems (both cellular and molecular)
Physiology
Microbiology
Curriculum design
Adult learning theories
You will have opportunities to delve into topics as far-ranging as antimicrobial control to effective instructional methods for both online and traditional instruction. A combination of digital classroom instruction and hands-on activities provides opportunities for you to experience academic growth as you prepare to pursue a career in postsecondary education.
The Growing Need for Biology Teachers
The College of Natural Sciences at GCU strives to thoroughly prepare future educators to confidently meet the need for STEM education in the U.S. The need for postsecondary teachers is on the rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for all types of postsecondary teachers to increase by about 8% from 2022 to 2032, faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 108,100 jobs in the field.2 This degree program is designed to provide you with the education you’ll need to prepare for a career in the field.
The reason behind the need for postsecondary biology teachers is the growth in STEM-related fields.3 Future scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians will need to take biology at the college level. As STEM fields continue to grow, so too will the need for biology teachers. According to the BLS, biological science teachers are most highly concentrated in junior colleges.4 This means that recent grads and people looking to start a second career will need quality biology teachers to help prepare them for the future.
Starting my online master’s program came very naturally to me. I felt supported. I knew if I needed help, I could get it from professors who were really involved and were always on the discussion forums trying to interact with the students.
Career Opportunities in STEM Education
This non-licensure education emphasis degree is intended to help you prepare to pursue teaching opportunities in biology at the postsecondary level. Academic requirements for postsecondary educators can vary from one institution to the next. Generally, a master’s degree and some related work experience can be sufficient to apply to a teaching post at a community college.1 However, those who aspire to work in universities are advised to apply to a PhD program after earning this master’s degree.1
If you are hoping to potentially advance your career by building on your biology background, teaching might be your next step. Join like-minded scientists who want to make a difference in education.
Earn Your Graduate Degree From an Institutionally Accredited University
At GCU, we prioritize education quality to prepare our graduates for the workplace and are proud to be institutionally accredited, reflecting our commitment to excellence. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Natural Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Biology Education FAQs: Pursuing a Master's Degree
GCU has compiled the following frequently asked questions and answers to help you plan for your graduate-level education and reflect on your career path.
With an MS in Biology: Education emphasis, various careers in education and academia may be options for graduates. This degree can help prepare you to teach biology at community colleges or universities, develop educational materials and contribute to science education initiatives. Additionally, you might explore roles in curriculum development, educational administration or even outreach programs that promote biological sciences in the community.
Teachers need to have a firm framework of competencies in the area they wish to teach, as well as in the field of education, such as instructional methods and student assessment. This degree in biology with an education emphasis specifically combines content knowledge with teaching skills, making this a good choice for aspiring biology teachers at the postsecondary level.
An education emphasis master’s program in biology can be beneficial depending on your career goals. It may open up opportunities for teaching at the postsecondary level, enhance your qualifications for advanced research roles and allow you to apply your knowledge and passion for biological sciences to teaching others in higher education. Through the combination of educational practices and various scientific principles taught, you can acquire a background of knowledge that may be applicable to various work settings. Ultimately, the worth of the degree depends on your personal interests and professional aspirations.
Blend your passion for biology and education with an advanced STEM degree.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How to Become a Postsecondary Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
2 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Teachers, retrieved on July 11, 2024.
3 National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). (2023, Jan. 30). The STEM Workforce. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, March 31). Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020: 25-1042 Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Natural Sciences. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
This course will give a broad overview of the classification of organisms, including prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Students will discuss the importance of the various types of organisms in global and human ecology. This course will also address principles of ecology with regard to populations, communities, and global ecology. Ecological research will be analyzed, and conservation and restoration efforts will be evaluated through the use of case studies.
Course Description
This course will cover an overview of properties of cellular organization using molecular, genetic, and cell biological approaches. This course will provide a comprehensive study of the composition, structure, energetics, regulation, and growth of eukaryotic cells. Students will also become competent in DNA structure and function, protein synthesis and gene regulation and will also learn the molecular tools for studying genes, gene cloning, and gene activity. From this fundamental perspective, students will be reviewing important scientific literature on the subject of cell biology and will examine the information through discussions, presentations, literature based essays and presentations. Prerequisite: Students should have completed an undergraduate course in cellular/molecular biology.
Course Description
This course covers adult learning theory and instructional practices that are research-based and proven effective in higher education. Technology, online learning, and effective instructional methods for online and traditional instruction are emphasized. Participants research learning models, personalized learning and andragogy and apply their knowledge to improve student engagement and achievement in higher education.
Course Description
This course presents a selection of complex physiological mechanisms which will be explored and analyzed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human physiology. Topics will be introduced through a system-based approach with the inclusion of application scenarios to enhance the understanding. Prerequisite: BIO-510.
Course Description
This course continues the study of complex physiological mechanisms which will be explored and analyzed to provide students with a deeper understanding of human physiology. Topics will be introduced through a systems-based approach with the inclusion of application scenarios to enhance the understanding. Prerequisite: BIO-515.
Course Description
This course applies learning theories to classroom instructional methods and strategies. Effective communication, creating learning goals, developing student outcomes and assessments, and giving effective feedback are emphasized. Participants are asked to develop activities, assessments, and lesson plans that would be appropriate for a course taught at a community college or university. Prerequisite: EDU-534.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the principles and applications of microbiology and a study of the general characteristics of microorganisms, their activities, and their relationship to humans. Students will be introduced to developing an understanding of microbial cell structure and function, microbial growth, bacterial genetics, characteristics of viruses, interaction of microbes and humans with reference to immune responses, related pathologies, and antimicrobial control medications. Prerequisite: BIO-505, BIO-510.
Course Description
The objective of this course is to survey basic biochemical principles, including the composition, structure, and function of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Important biochemical principles, including structure-function correlation, kinetics and equilibrium, thermodynamics, membrane structure and function, and metabolic energy pathways, will illustrate the key concepts of biology and chemistry.
- GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
- Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.