Biology Education (Grades 6-12)

If you have a love for language and literature, specializing in English language arts can lead to rewarding teaching jobs in middle and high schools. This emphasis helps you deepen your understanding of English and explore related areas such as journalism or drama while gaining practical tools to support student learning.

This specialization prepares you for secondary education careers teaching history, mentoring colleagues or taking on leadership within your department. You'll develop skills in research and writing, gain experience with archival practices and learn how to spark student interest in historical thinking.

If you're passionate about helping students strengthen their problem-solving, reasoning and analytical skills, this emphasis in mathematics prepares you to teach at the secondary level or move into roles like department lead or instructional coach.

Interested in teaching subjects like history, geography, economics and government? The social sciences specialization equips you with the content knowledge and instructional strategies to guide students in understanding human behavior and social systems.

Wondering “What can I do with a biology education degree?” This degree prepares you to teach in middle and high schools, pursue roles like instructional coach or science curriculum specialist and even teach biology at the college level. It also sets the foundation for leadership roles in education and advanced graduate studies — expanding your opportunities in careers in biology education.

Wondering how to become a biology teacher in grades 6–12? The typical path to becoming a middle or high school biology teacher begins with a bachelor's degree in biology or a related field, completion of a state-approved educator preparation program, student teaching and passing state certification exams. 

While you don't need a master's degree to teach biology, completing one can set you apart, increase your earning potential and open doors to leadership roles. In TROY's master's in biology education program, there are two options depending on your background. The traditional track is designed for certified teachers who want to deepen their expertise and expand their qualifications. The Alternative-A track is for those who aren't yet certified, including individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field or those seeking certification in a new teaching area. It combines graduate coursework with a teaching internship and leads to initial licensure in Alabama. Both pathways help you advance your career in education.

The timeline to become a biology teacher in grades 6–12 depends on your background and certification status. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in biology or a related field and have teaching certification, you may only need a few semesters to complete advanced coursework through TROY's traditional track. If you're new to teaching, the Alternative-A program combines graduate study with a teaching internship and leads to initial licensure in Alabama. In either case, the answer to “how long does it take to become a biology teacher?” is typically one to two years when completing a biology education master's program at TROY.

While many graduates pursue traditional biology education jobs in middle and high schools, this degree also prepares you for roles outside the classroom. These include instructional coaching, curriculum development, educational nonprofit work and even science communication or academic advising. A biology education master's program can also prepare you to teach at the college level or move into school or district leadership.