Liberal Studies Major: Biology Concentration B.A.

Overview

Within the context of the Fresno Pacific Idea, the liberal studies major at Fresno Pacific University exists to prepare people with a foundation of knowledge needed to become community builders, peacemakers and advocates for change in roles requiring broad liberal arts scholarship. The major seeks to build:

• The ability and desire to understand, evaluate and communicate ideas.
• The ability and desire to discover ideas through disciplinary processes.
• The ability and desire to engage in intensive study and service.
• A sense of interrelatedness among knowledge, experience, responsibility and values.
• A respect for diversity.

The liberal studies major is an interdisciplinary major that provides the content background for multiple subject candidates wishing to enter teacher education programs for teaching at the elementary level in the state of California. Additionally, the liberal studies major provides a rounded course of study in the liberal arts appropriate for preparation in numerous vocations.

Students must prepare a senior project in their last semester prior to graduation that is reviewed by undergraduate faculty and professional educators. In addition, students planning to enter the FPU teacher education program must maintain a GPA of 2.75 or better during their baccalaureate program. Grades of D+ or below are not accepted in general education, major courses or concentration courses.

The state of California requires that all students admitted to multiple subject credential programs pass the CBEST to prove basic skills and the CSET to prove subject matter competency.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will use background knowledge and value structures to interact critically, appreciatively, and interpretively with oral, written, symbolic, and artistic language, expressing themselves clearly, persuasively, and creatively.
2. Students will apply various modes of inquiry and disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge to the pursuit of comprehension of linguistic, artistic, technological, mathematical, scientific, historical, political, philosophical, theological, sociological, psychological, literary, and physical modes of inquiry and world views.
3. Students will engage in intensive and orderly study within their concentration through use of significant literature of a field, application of sound methodological procedures, and possession of in-depth knowledge of the contributions of their concentration to the community.
4. Students will develop a personal philosophy of life that gives meaning and wholeness to learning and promotes a life of service, peacemaking, and responsibility.
5. Through community engagement students will actively promote an understanding of and respect for ethnic and cultural diversity, demonstrating flexibility and effectiveness in relating to and communication with a variety of people in a variety of situations.

Locations Offered

Main Campus Fresno

Emphasis Required Courses (16 units)

• BIOL 111 - General Biology: Cells and Physiology Credits 4
• BIOL 121 - General Biology: Diversity and Ecology Credits 4
• Eight additional upper-division units in biology

For a Minor Add

Four additional units of upper-division biology