Academic Catalog

Secondary Biology Education (B.A.) 2023-2024 Catalog Year
College of Education

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Secondary Biology Education is designed to prepare students to teach Biology in Florida in grades 6-12. The program of study includes course work in science as well as education, with extensive field experiences in secondary school settings in the FGCU five-county service area (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee) to enable students to integrate learning theory with teaching practice.

Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements

Degree-seeking students are classified as pre-majors prior to formal transition into a College of Education (COE) major. In order to transition from a COE pre-major to a major, students must complete the following:

  • An overall GPA of 2.5 on all credits attempted.
  • Pass all subsections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) General Knowledge Test. No exemptions can be considered.
  • Satisfy all General Education requirements.
  • Satisfy the College-Level Skills requirements.
  • Satisfy common prerequisite requirements.
  • Successfully complete a background check.

Students must have passed the FTCE Subject Area Exam prior to beginning Block Four (Level I) Internship.

Students must complete all coursework and have passed the FTCE Professional Education Exam prior to beginning Block Five (Level II) Internship.

In addition to the program requirements, students must:

  • Pass the FTCE, including the subject area examination and the Professional Education examination.
  • Complete a minimum of 48 of the 120 credits at the upper division (3000-4999 level).
  • Satisfy the residency requirement: 30 of the last 60 credits must be completed at FGCU.
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
  • Satisfy the College-Level skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
  • Satisfy the Service Learning requirement. See: https://www.fgcu.edu/studentlife/servicelearning/
  • Satisfy Civic Literacy requirement.
  • Complete the summer course enrollment requirement.
  • Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Program Requirements
  1. FGCU General Education Program (https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/)
    To prevent or minimize excess hours, select general education courses that satisfy common prerequisite requirements for your intended major.

  2. Common Prerequisites
    A minimum grade of C is required in each course

    FGCU Course: EDF 2005 Intro to Teach Prof (3)
    Acceptable Substitute: EDFX005

    FGCU Course: EDF 2085 Intro to Diversity for Educ (3)
    Acceptable Substitute: EDFX085

    FGCU Course: EME 2040 Intro to Tech in Educ. (3)
    Acceptable Substitute: EMEX040

    FGCU Course: BSC 1010C Gen’l Biology w/Lab I (4)
    Acceptable Substitute: (BSCX010 and BSCX010L) or BSCX010C

    FGCU Course: BSC 1011 General Biology II (3) and BSC 1011L General Biology II Laboratory (1)
    Acceptable Substitute: (BSCX011 and BSCX011L) or BSCX011C

    FGCU Course: CHM 1045 General Chemistry I (3) and CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab (1)
    Acceptable Substitute: CHMX045C or (CHMX045 and CHMX045L) or PHYX048C or (PHYX048 and PHYX048L) or PHYX053C (PHYX053 and PHYX053L)

    FGCU Course: CHM 1046 General Chemistry II (3) and CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
    Acceptable Substitute: CHMX046C or (CHMX046 and CHMX046L) or PHYX049C or (PHYX049 and PHYX049L) or PHYX054C or (PHYX054 and PHYX054L)

    FGCU Course: MAC 2311 Calculus I (4)
    Acceptable Substitute: MACX311 or MACX241


  3. Required Courses in the Major (53 credits)
    A minimum grade of C in each course and an overall GPA of 2.5 is required

    EDF 3132 Adolescent Growth & Dev (3)
    EDF 3253 Learning Mgmt Inclusive Class (3)
    EDF 4470 Classroom Assessment (3)
    EDG 4937 Sr Seminar-Initial Teach Prep (3)
    EEX 4070 Integrat Except Stud in Gen Ed (3)
    PCB 3023C Cell Biology (4)
    PCB 3043C General Ecology (3)
    PCB 3063C Genetics (4)
    RED 4350 Literacy Content & Processes (3)
    SCE 4330 Science Methods 6-12 Grades (3)
    SCE 4940 Internship: Science Education (9)
    SCE 4941 Integr Field Exper: Science (3)
    TSL 4340 Meth, Curric, & Instruc Effect (3)
    TSL 4520 Sec Lang Acquis Comm& Culture (3)
    ZOO 3713C Vertebrate Form and Function (3)

  4. Restricted Electives in the Major (3 credits)
    Select from the following with approval of the college academic advisor/student success counselor:
    BSC 4933 Current Topics in Biology (1)
    PCB 3703C Human Physiology (4)
    PCB 3673C Evolutionary Biology (3)
    PCB 3723C Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
    ZOO 3733C Human Anatomy (4)
    Or upper division (3000-4999 level) courses in molecular biology, cellular biology, organismal biology, or environmental studies.

  5. University Requirements (3 credits)
    IDS 3920 University Colloquium (3)

  6. Additional Electives - as needed to reach total credits required for the degree
Total Credits Required: 120

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