Prospectus

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Biology: Biology and Education

The specialisation Biology and Education (EDU) prepares students for a career as biology (biologie) teacher qualified to teach in Dutch secondary education. Students who complete the specialisation Biology and Education are admissible to a PhD programme.

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Johan Memelink

Email: j.memelink@biology.leidenuniv.nl

Year 1: Biology programme (60EC)

Year 2: Education programme (60EC)

For a description of the full programme read the more information button.

For the timetable and registration in usis and codes for the Biology year, see under ‘files’ (bestanden).

Year 1: Biology

The Biology component consists of the following:

  • Research Project Biology of 36 EC

  • Advanced theory (courses and lectures) of 24 EC

Theoretical components should be minimally at level 400. The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and the research project must have prior approval by the Board of Examiners through approval of the individual study plan of a student and approval of the research agreement.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory elements:

Advanced Statistics 4
Genomic Architecture 6
Research Project Biology 36

One of the following courses is compulsory:

Orientation on From Cells to Organisms 2
Orientation on Evolutionary Biology 2
Orientation on Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology 2
Orientation on Biodiversity and Sustainability 2

At least 12 EC of the courses (or courses from the list of biology electives or other electives) are compulsory:

Advanced Cell Biology 4
Advanced Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology 3
Animal Cognition 6
Development and Evolution 6
Ecosystem Services 6
Human Impacts on Biodiversity 6
Innate Immune systems 6
Mechanisms of Disease 6
Paleobiology 3
Systematics and Biodiversity 6

Year 2: Education

The coordinator of the Education component of the programme is:
Prof.dr.ir. F.J.J.M. Janssen, email: fjanssen@iclon.leidenuniv.nl

The Education specialisation is offered as a joint programme of the faculty and the Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON) and consists of the following components:

  • Educational Theory: level 400, 5 EC

  • Learning and Instruction 1: level 300, 3 EC

  • Innovations in Education: level 400, 3 EC

  • Teaching Methodology 1: level 400, 5 EC

  • Teaching Methodology 2: level 500, 5 EC

  • Subject specific Research Project: level 600, 7 EC

  • Teaching Practice 1, 17 EC

  • Teaching Practice 2, 15 EC

For students who passed the minor Education (30 EC) during the BSc programme, the programme consists of the following:

  • Learning and Instruction 2: level 400, 3 EC

  • Teaching Methodology 2: level 500, 5 EC

  • Design Research: level 600, 7 EC

  • Teaching Practice 2, 15 EC

The remaining 30 EC can be used for both the education specialisation and the research component of the MSc programme.

For further description and information about the programme see the following link: Website ICLON

Biology Electives

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Advanced Academic Skills Elite Course 6
Biogeochemistry of System Earth 3
Bird species in animal experimentation 2
Book exam 6
Fish species in animal experimentation 2
Metabolomics 6
Pharmaceuticals from Plants 5
Plant Families of the Tropics 5
Top Lectures in Biology 3
Tropical Biodiversity and Field Methods south East Asia (next course in 2021-2022) 6

Other Electives

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Electives Faculty of Science or LUMC (please check with the coordinator of the course whether you can join the course):

Advances in Data Mining 6
Computational Molecular Biology 6
Image Analysis with Applications in Microscopy 6
Model organisms in cancer drug discovery and development 4
Multiscale Mathematical Biology (BM) 6
Science and the public: contemporary and historical perspectives 6
Science Methodology (SCM) 4
Other approved electives 1-6

More info

Description

The MSc specialisation Education prepares students for a career in teaching in their subject matter specialisation. This programme leads up to the so-called “eerstegraads-lesbevoegdheid”, qualifying the student to teach in Dutch upper secondary education. Students with an MSc specialisation in Education are also admissible to a PhD programme in their MSc research specialisation.

Programme

The specialisation Education (EDU) consists of 60 EC in Biology and 60 EC in Education. The Biology component of the programme will be followed during the first year of study, the Education component will be followed during the second year. When the student has passed the minor Education (30 EC) during the BSc programme, the compulsory education component is reduced with 30 EC. The remaining 30 EC can be used for both the education specialisation and the research component of the MSc programme.

Biology (60 EC)
The Biology research component of the Education (EDU) specialisation consists of a biology research project of 36 EC, and 24 EC of advanced theory (courses and lectures).
The research project has to take place in one of the research groups of the IBL, CML or Naturalis, other Institutes of the Faculty of Sciences or LUMC. A “Fish specific animal experimentation course (2 EC) or a “Bird specific animal experimentation course (2 EC) is obligatory in case of a research project in which experiments with fish or birds are involved.
Theoretical components should be minimally at level 400. The individual study programme consisting of choices of courses and the research project must have prior approval by the Board of Examiners through approval of the individual study plan of a student and approval of the research agreement.

Education (60 EC)
The Education specialisation is offered as a joint programme of the faculty and the Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON) and consists of the following components:

  • Educational Theory: level 400, 5 EC

  • Learning and Instruction 1: level 300, 3 EC

  • Innovations in Education: level 400, 3 EC

  • Teaching Methodology 1: level 400, 5 EC

  • Teaching Methodology 2: level 500, 5 EC

  • Subject specific Research Project: level 600, 7 EC

  • Teaching Practice 1, 17 EC

  • Teaching Practice 2, 15 EC

For students who passed the minor Education (30 EC) during the BSc programme, the programme consists of the following:

  • Learning and Instruction 2: level 400, 3 EC

  • Teaching Methodology 2: level 500, 5 EC

  • Design Research: level 600, 7 EC

  • Teaching Practice 2, 15 EC

The remaining 30 EC can be used for both the education specialisation and the research component of the MSc programme.

For further description and information about the programme see the following link: Website ICLON

Approval of program

All master students have to submit a master study program, consisting of choices of courses and one or two research projects, to the studyadvisor. Through the submission of this study program, the Board of Examiners determines whether the individual study program can be approved.

Career Orientation

During study program MSc Biology we want to provide you with the best possible preparation for the job market. In addition to knowledge, it is important that you develop skills, gain practical experience, orientate on positions & careers, and reflect on your own profile and development. In addition to substantive knowledge, it is also important to be aware of the so-called transferable skills that you develop outside and during your education. These are, for example, your cognitive skills such as critical thinking and communication. Altogether, this contributes to your development as a professional and offers good preparation for the labour market.

At various times during your studies, questions about this subject may arise, such as: How can you use the knowledge and skills you gain within and outside your study program in the labor market? Which direction do you choose within your study and why? What are you already able to do, and what skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses you choose into something you would like to do later?

You may have already discussed this with the study advisor, mentor, tutor, the Science Career Service, fellow students or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. All kinds of activities are organized where you get the chance to orientate yourself on the job market and gives opportunities to reflect on your own development, possibilities and (study) career profile as well. Central to this are the questions: "What are my capabilities?", "What do I want?" and "How do I achieve my goals?".

In the prospectus, learning objectives have been formulated for each subject, the purpose of which is to inform you which components are covered in the development of your (study) career profile and preparation for the labour market. Various activities are also organized that help you in making all kinds of career choices and to develop skills. An overview of activities is shown below.

Activities

  • (Study) career meetings

  • Alumni lectures

  • Company visits and company dinners

  • Lunch & Learn lectures by companies

  • IBL Symposia

  • Introductory meeting with the study advisor

  • Information meeting student counsellor

  • (International) Leiden Leadership Programme

  • Mentorship and tutoring

  • Workshops en Career Colleges (Science Career Service)

  • Science Career Event

  • Regular information sessions with the study advisor

  • Research Project Market

  • Research skills as part of the master research project

Science Career Service

Science Career Service, one of the utilities of the Science faculty, offers information and advice on study (re)orientation, career planning and personal professional profile as well as preparation for the job market, such as job applications. Facilities provided to students include online information, walk-in consultations, workshops and individual counselling sessions. In addition, Science Career Service offers expertise and support to programmes that want to strengthen the connection between their curriculum and the job market. This can vary from providing specific guest lectures/workshops to advising on integrating career orientation programmes into the curriculum.

LU Career Zone

The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career planning. You will find advice, information, video recordings of webinars and tools such as professional tests to get an idea of your personal profile. You can also explore positions and sectors, you will find tips about CV, job application, LinkedIn and there is a vacancy platform that you can make use of.

Mentornetwerk

Leiden University likes to prepare students and young alumni well for the job market. For this we use the knowledge and experience of Leiden alumni. To bring students and young alumni with questions about their careers into contact with experienced alumni, Leiden University has established the Mentor Network. Students and young alumni can register for free.

Contact

Do you have questions about your (study) career choices and has the above information not been able to help you further? Your study adviser (msc-studyadviser@lic.leidenuniv.nl) is always available to discuss your plans and concerns BioMScStudieadviseur@biology.leidenuniv.nl.