The Biology I - Cell Biology & Genetics course emphasizes science content, providing teachers with a rigorous understanding of the basic biological concepts that underlie human biology. The pedagogical approaches used provide opportunities for science inquiry, model ways of presenting concepts to students, and in general, link the scientific content to the classroom experience. The science content is aligned with the middle and high school Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework. The goal is to provide effective tools for teaching all students, including English language learners and students with special needs.

The University of Massachusetts-Boston will grant 3 semester hours of graduate credit for satisfactory completion of this course.  Teachers wishing to receive a stipend for the course MUST take the course for graduate credit through UMass-Boston. Teachers from all districts are required to pay for this course with a check in the amount of $305 (made out to UMass-Boston) on the first day of class, or elect to be billed by the university directly.

Boston Public School teachers will receive a stipend of $305 for satisfactory completion of this course for graduate credit. This equals the cost of tuition ($305). This stipend amount will be issued by BPS and placed directly into your paycheck as a line item once you have received a final passing grade in the course.  University of Massachusetts-Boston M.Ed. students are eligible to earn stipends of $305 for this course (which covers the cost of tuition).  Non-Boston teachers are eligible to earn stipends of $600.  This stipend amount will be issued by the GNNSP grant sponsoring non-Boston teachers.  NOTE:  All students MUST take the course for graduate credit (teachers will receive up to 60 PDP’s as well, pro-rated based upon attendance).

In order to receive graduate credit for this course, participants may not miss in excess of 8 instructional hours over the duration of the course.  Any hours missed up until this point must be cleared with the instructional team, and alternative arrangements must be made to make up the work if necessary.

A $50 non-refundable course registration fee is required to secure your position within the class. Please make the check out to "Boston Science Partnership/UMass Boston" with the name of the course and your e-mail address in the memo line.