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Course Requirements

UNC-BEST was designed to be a fast track to licensure so biology and physics majors can earn their science degree and obtain their teaching license in 8 semesters of undergraduate studies. The required courses, listed below, can be taken in any order. All required UNC-BEST courses also fulfill degree requirements and/or UNC General Education Requirements. For more detailed descriptions of the courses, see the course descriptions page.

BIOL 410: Principles and Methods of Teaching Biology OR
PHYS 410 Teaching and Learning Physics (4)

• Fulfills the upper level biology/physics elective requirement for the biology/physics degree.
• Fulfills the Experiential Education (EE) UNC General Education Requirement.

EDUC 532: Understanding Learners (3)

• Fulfills the Social and Behavioral Sciences (SS) UNC General Education Requirement

EDUC 533: Diversity and Teaching (3)

• Fulfills the U.S. Diversity (US) General Education Requirement.

EDUC 535: Teachers and Schools (3)

• Fulfills the Social and Behavioral Sciences (SS) UNC General Education Requirement

EDUC 570: Student Teaching Internship (12)

• Fulfills the successful teaching experience requirement set by North Carolina Department of Public of Instruction.
• Involves student in full time teaching experience at a local high school.
• Can also be completed post graduation while working as a full time lateral entry teacher in a North Carolina high school.

UNC-BEST Seminars (1)

• Required seminar for exploring current issues in science teaching and building community among UNC-BEST students and faculty.