Subject: Biology and Environmental Protection

Bachelor's Programme Secondary
School Teacher Training (General Education) Subject: Biology and Environmental Protection

	KPH - Edith Stein ^. Universität Mozarteum ^. PH Tirol ^. PH Vorarlberg ^. LFU Innsbruck
Programme Coordination	LFU Innsbruck Faculty of Biology Faculty of Teacher Education
Duration / ECTS-Credits	8 semesters / 240 ECTS-Credits (combination of two subjects or one subject and one specialisation)
Academic Degree	Bachelor of Education (BEd)
Qualification Level	Bachelor (First Cycle) ISCED-11: Level 6, EQF/NQF: Level 6
ISCED-F	0114 Teacher Training with Subject Specialisation
Mode of Study	Full-Time
Study Code	454
Curriculum	Information on the Curriculum (2015W)*
Admission Requirements	Secondary school completion certificate or equivalent
Supplemental Examination	Supplemental examination in biology and environmental sciences is required before admission to the study programme if this subject was not completed satisfactorily with at least 10 credit hours at a higher-level secondary school ("Oberstufe").
Application	» Information about the admission procedure

*Information on the Curriculum (2015W)

The complete version of the curriculum reflects the currently valid version of the curriculum. It is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding. The legally binding version of the curriculum, including any amendments, may be found in the University of Innsbruck Bulletins.

In order to determine which version of the curriculum is applicable in your case, see the Catalogue of Studies,
available at: http://orawww.uibk.ac.at/public/lfuonline_meinestudien.studienblatt
Section: Current Curriculum version.

University of Innsbruck Bulletins » (Click to open all University of Innsbruck Bulletins)

English version of the Curriculum (from October 1^st 2017)
University of Innsbruck Bulletin October 18^th2017, Issue 3, No. 20 (amendment of the curriculum)
University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 30^th 2017, Issue 47, No. 655(modification of the curriculum)
University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 15^th2017, Issue 25, No. 274 (regulation on the admission procedure)
English version of the Curriculum (from October 1^st 2016)
University of Innsbruck Bulletin July 20^th 2016, Issue 50, No. 506 (amendment of the curriculum)
University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 29^th 2016, Issue 47, No. 491 (amendment of the curriculum)
English version of the Curriculum
University of Innsbruck Bulletin August 19^th 2015, Issue 81, No. 573 (amendment of the curriculum)
University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 17^th 2015, Issue 64, No. 492

Information about examination regulations, assessment and grading

Examination regulations

The examination regulation is an integral part of the curriculum, detailed information can be found under the paragraph examination regulations.

Description of the applied grading system (including the grade distribution table) »

The grade distribution table is a statistical representation of the distribution of all successfully completed examinations in a given programme of study or subject (based on all registered students for the programme or subject). The grade distribution table is updated in regular intervals.

Austrian grading scheme	Definition	%-age
1	EXCELLENT: Outstanding performance	23.9	= 100%
2	GOOD: Generally good, but with some errors	22.8
3	SATISFACTORY: Generally sound work with a number of substantial errors	27.0
4	SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum cirteria	26.3
5	INSUFFICIENT: Substantial improvement necessary; requirement of further work

Source: WS 2017/2018

Overall classification of the qualification

Not applicable
Explanation: An overall classification (mit Auszeichnung bestanden/pass with distinction, bestanden/pass, nicht bestanden/fail) – is awarded only for examinations that conclude a programme of study and consist of more than one subject (an examination of this type is not specified in the curriculum of this programme of study).

Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP)

(1) Within the scope of the Studies and Orientation Period, which takes place in the first semester, the following course examination must be passed:

School as an Educational Institution and Role of the Teacher, VO 2, 2 ECTS-Credits

(2) Successful passing of the Studies Induction and Orientation Period entitles to passing all further courses and examinations and to writing the Bachelor’s Thesis.

(3) Before successful completion of the Studies Induction and Orientation Period courses amounting to 22 ECTS-Credits may be passed. The registration requirements listed in the curriculum must be adhered to.

General Information

Recommended Course Sequence

The exemplary course sequence given below is recommended for full-time students beginning their study programme in the winter semester. The table shows one possible course sequence for the bachelor's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.

The standard duration of the study programme is 6 semesters or 180 ECTS-Credits, whereby according to the Universities Act of 2002, a workload of 1,500 (real) hours per academic year must be fulfilled, corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits (one ECTS-Credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 hours).

Recommendations for the First Semester »

1.5 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VO Applied Mathematics and Statistics
2.0 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VO Inorganic and Organic Chemistry for Biologists
1.5 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VO Geology, Origin of Life, Geological Eras
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO Cell Biology and Cell Physiology
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO Biochemistry
5.0 ECTS-Credits, 3 h: VO Systematics and Evolution

Basics of Educational Science
2.0 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO School as an Educational Institution and Role of the Teacher
2.0 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: PS School as an Educational Institution and Role of the Teacher

Recommended Courses for the first semester of the other Subject.

Recommendations for the Second Semester »

2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2h: VO Anatomy and Body Plans of Animals
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: UE Anatomy and Body Plans of Animals
2.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: EU Learning Outside the Classroom

Basics of Educational Science
3.5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: PR Dealing with the Challenges as a Teacher at School - Teaching Practice I

Course Sequence (incl. Basics of Educational Science)

Qualification Profile and Skills

The Secondary School Teacher Training Programme (General Education) qualifies its graduates as teachers in the selected subjects of general education / specializations for all secondary schools (Neue Mittelschule, Polytechnische Schule, Academic Secondary Schools, Intermediate and Higher Technical and Vocational Schools). This study programme also meets the requirements for teaching in intermediate and higher schools in the South Tyrol. It consists of a Bachelor’s Programme and a subsequent Master’s Programme. It covers training in general education science, a pedagogical-practical training and a subject-specific and subject-didactic education in the two selected teaching subjects.

In the Bachelor’s Programme Secondary School Teacher Training in the subject of Biology and Environmental Protection knowledge in the following examination subjects is imparted: botany, zoology and general biology, fundamentals of systematics, fundamentals of native plant and animal taxonomy, knowledge about the cell as basic building stone of life and starting point for development and evolution, basic knowledge of genetics as precondition for understanding molecular and evolutional biology and fundamentals of physiology on the level of cell, organ and organism. The contents imparted in the examination subjects Ecology and Earth Sciences serve the acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of ecology and earth sciences as a basis for a well-grounded environmental education. in the subject of Human Biology aspects of nutrition, psychosomatics, sexual and health education as well as use of resources and environmental pollution are focused on.

The programme has a special emphasis on imparting didactic skills for teaching biology-relevant contents:

for designing motivating, interest-boosting and pupil-centred classes;
for dealing with teaching and learning materials for modern biology classes (microscopy, experiments, knowledge of modern research methods).
for planning and holding classes in the outdoors.
for arousing the pupils’ interest in nature.
for supporting action-based, differentiated and independent working.
for enabling research-orientated learning in class.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor’s Programme Secondary School Teacher Training in the teaching subject of Biology and Environmental Protection can pass on the acquired knowledge to secondary school pupils in a competent and subject-specific way and thus arouse their interest in various aspects of biology. They have a well-grounded knowledge in all key areas of biology (in particular consideration of the curricula of secondary schools), can apply this knowledge in the respective contexts and link biological disciplines with the basics of natural sciences in an interdisciplinary way. They master biological working techniques in the laboratory and in the field and understand the basic principles of scientific research (planning, execution, report, presentation). They understand the principles of sustainability and can convey a sense of responsibility for nature and environment and impart corresponding opportunities for action.

Graduates can prepare biological contents in consideration of the individual needs of the pupils and help them to understand learning content and to apply this knowledge in the same context as well as new contexts. They are able to incorporate current research findings in biology into their lessons, to link biological contents to the pupils’ world of experience and impressively illustrate them with interesting experiments and practical tasks in the classroom and during field excursions. They have a fundamental knowledge of the didactic theories and models for teaching biology and can effectively use this knowledge for their teaching. They are able to critically questions and evaluate their own actions.

Future Prospects: Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor’s Programme Secondary School Teacher Training (General Education) are admitted to the corresponding Master’s Programme and can provisionally start their teaching service in the chosen general education subject in secondary schools to complete the Induction and Orientation Phase.

With the qualifications acquired during the Bachelor’s Programme further job opportunities, such as social and youth work or adult education, open up.