Recommended Course Schedule

Description of Recommended Course Schedule

Year 1

The Graduate Advisor (Dr. Lisa Elfring) helps students during their first year. Thereafter, advising is shared by Dr. Elfring, your Thesis Supervisor and your Supervisory Committee. You must maintain an overall B (3.0) average to remain in good standing; failure to do so could result in dismissal from the program.During the summer of the first year:

Take three required core courses and one elective.
Choose your research advisor.

During the subsequent Fall and/or Spring semesters, you will:
organize your Thesis Supervisory Committee so that this group can help you choose and prepare for the research project.
in Spring take Independent Study 1 (BIOC 799, 1u) with Dr. Lisa Elfring as follow-up on Secondary Biology Lab Curricula. The objective is to discuss your experiences implementing the materials and/or teaching approaches. The discussions take place via e-mail so you will not need to come to campus.

Year 2

During one 8-week summer session: take 4 units of Research (BIOC 900).
During the subsequent Fall or Spring semester: take an elective.

Year 3

During one 8-week summer session:

complete your research project while taking 2 units of research (BIOC 900).
take BIOC 643a Biology Lesson Unit Development
begin organizing and writing thesis introduction, methods and results.

During the subsequent Spring semester:

take Independent Study 2 (BIOC 699, 1u) with Dr. Lisa Elfring. The objective is to field test your lesson and discuss your experiences. Discussions are held via e-mail.

Year 4

During Summer Session I:

Take 1 unit of Workshop Development & Presentation (BIOC 691a). Your objective is to hold workshops to share something you have learned with other teachers. Your workshop may focus on the lesson you have developed or pre-existing exemplary curricula, or a pedagogical method. The workshops must provide attending teachers with a reasonable background and experience on the topic (8 hrs or more). Workshops may be taught by more than 1 person, as long as there is focus on a particular theme. However, each person must provide at least 8 hours of workshop experience. Please note that the workshops may be taught during the summer or during the regular school year (Fall or Spring), after lessons have been classroom tested and revised. Register for BIOC 691a in the same semester you present your workshop.
Take 2 units of Thesis (BIOC 910). During this time, you will finish writing your thesis.

During Summer Session II, you will:

Take an elective.
Defend your thesis.

During the subsequent Fall semester, you will:

Take 1 unit of Thesis (BIOC 910).
Officially graduate*

*While your thesis is written and defended during the summer, your degree will be awarded in the Fall semester due to Graduate College deadlines. You must register for at least 1 unit during the semester in which you graduate.

Note: If you prefer, you may take longer to complete degree requirements. There is limited flexibility in the recommended schedule. Consult Lisa Elfring. Note the Graduate College's rule that all master's degrees must be completed within 6 years.

Gen

The University of Arizona
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
General Biology Program for Secondary Teachers
warder@email.arizona.edu