D880: Evolutionary Biology

Evolutionary Biology builds both the science and the teaching strategy for evolution — evidence, mechanisms, and how to teach evidence-based reasoning about it in the classroom.

What D880 covers

The course provides a comprehensive exploration of key concepts and mechanisms of evolution. Students learn about the evidence supporting evolution, including fossils and molecular data, the mechanisms driving evolutionary change like natural selection and genetic drift, and factors influencing the diversity of life.

The course addresses biodiversity conservation and equips educators with strategies to effectively teach evolutionary concepts in the classroom, emphasizing evidence-based applications and critical thinking.

The D880 performance assessment

Expect a performance assessment requiring you to explain an evolutionary mechanism with supporting evidence AND a strategy for teaching that concept to secondary students.

Key topics in D880

• Evidence for evolution (fossil and molecular)
• Natural selection and genetic drift
• Biodiversity conservation
• Teaching evolutionary concepts

Writing tips for D880

Follow the task instructions and rubric line by line

WGU performance assessments for D880 are graded against a fixed rubric — every rubric line has to be visibly addressed, usually with a labeled heading that mirrors the rubric language. Skipping a rubric point because it seems minor is the single most common reason a competent submission comes back "Not Yet Competent" for revision.

Connect content mastery to the classroom you'll eventually teach

Even purely content-focused science courses like D880 in a Science Education degree ultimately serve teaching goals. Where the task allows, connecting your content mastery to how you'd actually explain it to secondary students strengthens a response beyond content accuracy alone.

Because WGU is self-paced, don't let "no deadline pressure" become no submission

There's no weekly due date forcing progress, which means procrastination costs more at WGU than at a traditional term-based school — a stalled task can quietly eat weeks of a term. Treat your own target date for each D880 assessment as a real deadline.

Why students seek help with D880

Candidates sometimes explain the science of evolution without the classroom teaching-strategy component the course specifically requires — a complete response addresses both the science and how to teach it.

How GradeEssays helps with D880

Share your topic and rubric, and your writer will build a response addressing both the evolutionary science and a genuine classroom teaching strategy for it.

Prerequisites and program context

D880 has no listed additional prerequisites.

• Bachelor of Science, Science Education (Secondary Biological Science)
• Bachelor of Science, Science Education (Secondary Physics)

Related courses