Biology, B.S. Secondary Teaching Emphasis

The secondary teaching emphasis will guide you to becoming a teacher in the field of biology.

Career opportunities

This emphasis will prepare you with the knowledge needed to enter a credential program and pursue a career as a biology teacher.

Transferring to Fresno Pacific

Come and experience the FPU community and finish your degree with us! Visit our Transfer page to learn more about transferring or connect with a Transfer Specialist to ensure your transition to FPU is as smooth as possible.

Transfer to FPU

Course listing

In order to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Fresno Pacific University, students must complete at least 120 units. Along with completing all required courses in their selected area of study, general education requirements must be met by all graduates. See the general education summary in the undergraduate academic catalog for more information.

Select programs may not provide enough units for a student to graduate and therefore an emphasis and/or elective courses must be completed alongside the major. Please see below for emphases related to this area of study.

General Education Prerequisites

Required Courses (45 Units)

Emphasis Courses (15 units minimum)

Select 2 additional units of upper-division biology courses. Please see the additional requirements for teacher education candidates listed above for the B.A. in Biology, secondary teaching emphasis.

Three-Year Degree Option

This academic program is available as a three-year bachelor's degree or as a standard four-year bachelor’s degree. View more information about the three-year option.

Sample Curriculum Map

Below is a sample curriculum map for this program. This map serves as an example of how courses are set up to ensure completion of the degree in three years. The course listing is based on a sample year and follows a fall, spring and summer academic year. Some courses are only offered on odd or even years. An advisor will work with you to create a curriculum map that is unique to you.

Year 1

Fall

Code	Title	Units
CP 152	Freshman Seminar	1
BIB 100	Jesus and the Christian Community	3
BIOL 111	General Biology: Cells and Physiology	4
PHYS 160	Space Science	3
	Humanities/Social Science	3
	Written/Oral Communication	3
	Total units	17

Spring

Code	Title	Units
BIOL 121	General Biology: Diversity and Ecology	4
PHYS 150	Earth Science	3
	Written/Oral Communication	3
PSY 120	General Psychology	3
MATH 210	Calculus I	4
	Total units	17

Summer

Code	Title	Units
HIST 120	Ancient Civilizations	4
KIN 120	Concepts of Wellness	3
HIST 150	American Civilization	3
	Total units	10

Year 2

Fall

Code	Title	Units
CHEM 103	General Chemistry I	4
LA 385	Critical Approaches to Teaching	3
BIOL 312	Ecology	4
PHYS 120	General Physics I	4
	PE	1
	Total units	16

Spring

Code	Title	Units
CHEM 104	General Chemistry II	4
HIST 130	Medieval and Early Modern Civilizations	4
BIOL 370	Bioethics	3
PHYS 121	General Physics II	4
BIOL 496	Research	1
	Total units	16

Summer

Code	Title	Units
HIST 140	Modern Civilizations	4
	Humanities/Social Science	3
	Elective	4
	Total units	11

Year 3

Fall

Code	Title	Units
BIOL 450	Genetics	4
CHEM 310	Organic Chemistry I	3
BIOL 321 or BIOL 322	Vertebrate Zoology or Invertebrate Zoology	4
PSY 355	Adolescent Development	3
	Biblical Literature	3
	Total units	17

Spring

Code	Title	Units
BIOL 470	History and Philosophy of Science	3
BIOL 485	Senior Seminar in Biology	2
THEO 430	Contemporary Theology	3
BIOL 332	Human Physiology	4
BIOL 441	Cell and Molecular Biology	4
	Total units	16

Total Units: 120

Program director

Andrew T. Sensenig, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Program Director, Biology B.S.

Faculty

Alan Thompson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biology, Program Director, Pharmaceutical Science, Pre-Health Sciences & Biology B.A.

Michael Kunz, Ph.D.

Program Director, Environmental Science & Environmental Studies

Maria A. Soria, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biology