Confusion about college credits and getting teaching certification in NJ?

Question

I graduated with a bachelor of arts in Biology and a minor in Environmental Science (yes the school is accredited 4 yr etc located in PA). On my transcript, each course is one credit. I know different schools have different systems though. To become a teacher in NJ I have to have a GPA above 2.75 *** (check!) and also 12 credits in advanced level courses for the subject area I wish to teach (biology). I've taken 8 upper level courses, therefore on my transcript that is 8 credits. I know in some schools each course can equal 3 or even 4 credits, but where I went they equal 1 and you have to have 32 to graduate. I have a feeling that for the teaching certification they are using the 3 credits per course scale, but I don't want to just assume that. Therefore I would have 24 advance level credits and I'm all set. Can anyone clear this up for me?

Answer 1

hard to follow your question - but a familiar issue with graduates is the difference between quarter units and semester hours - states use semester hours in their calculations.

Answer 2

I assume you know that you also need education courses, standardized tests, and other requirments to become a teacher.  

In terms of the science courses, get a copy of your official transcript for yourself and look at the back side.  Many colleges print information on the reverse listing the grading scale and how credits work (semester, trimester, ...) at their university.  Hopefully, your transcript has a good explanation on the back to make it clear how yours should be translated.    If it doesn't  - photocopy pages from your college catalog/ bulleting explaining this process and course descriptions to submit with your transcript.  

Good luck.