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Biology Minor

School of Arts and Sciences

Overview

With a biology minor you’ll gain an understanding of life in the natural world. You’ll also study humans—and their relationship to other organisms—as a part of a living order, gaining an understanding of the unifying concepts, diversity and the importance of organisms.

Program Highlights

  • Provides you with an overview of key principles in biology and the supporting physical sciences
  • Optional courses discuss ecology, anatomy, genetics, statistics and calculus

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Catalog

Department Chair: Andrew Sensenig, Ph.D.

Overview

The biology minor will increase the student's understanding of the world of living organisms. Human beings are studied as a part of the living order, including their relationship to the rest of life. This program will be helpful for those majoring in contemporary ministries, education, psychology, missions, allied health fields, agriculture and kinesiology. This minor may satisfy the state credential requirement for the supplementary authorization in biology.

Locations Offered

Main Campus Fresno

Required Courses (20 Units)

  • BIOL 111 - General Biology: Cells and Physiology Credits 3
  • BIOL 111L - General Biology: Cells and Physiology Lab Credits 1
  • BIOL 121 - General Biology: Diversity and Ecology Credits 3
  • BIOL 121L - General Biology: Diversity and Ecology Lab Credits 1
  • Select 12 additional units of upper-division biology.

Possibilities Await
With an FPU Education

Whether you're a high school student, transfer student or parent, you'll find all the resources you need including application steps, tuition & financial aid, transfer and orientation information.

First Steps to Admission

  • Submit an application for admission (online or printable mail-in)
    * Admission applications are free, no discount codes required.
  • Send official copies of your transcripts to FPU.
  • Complete the FAFSA. It can be completed starting October 1st. (FAFSA Code: 001253)
Recommended High School Courses for Admission
Things to Keep in Mind
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Non-traditional Admission

Steps for Re-application
Steps for Re-admission
Steps for Non-matriculated Admission
Auditing a class
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Four-Year Graduation Guarantee

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Earning a degree in four years allows you to get a head start on achieving your goals of entering the work force or starting graduate school. FPU guarantees graduation within four years in the traditional undergraduate areas of study. We commit to providing the courses, advising, instruction and preparation. If you fulfill your responsibilities and are unable to graduate in four years, you will receive the needed courses the following semester at no cost in tuition or fees.

Incoming requirements
Student responsibilities
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Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

2025-2026

2024-2025

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Room & Board Rates

Freshman / Sophomore Housing

Junior / Senior Housing

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Financial Aid

Freshman Scholarships

Based on a student’s academic GPA. Academic GPA’s are calculated by FPU on a weighted, 4.0 scaled and based on core academic classes in grades 10-12. Renewable if a minimum GPA is maintained.

NameGPAAmount
Paragon Full Tuition
President's4.00 GPA and above$18,000
Dean's3.75-3.99 GPA$15,000
Heritage3.50-3.75 GPA$14,000
Faculty3.25-3.49 GPA$12,000
Founder'sBelow a 3.0 GPA$8,000

Transfer Scholarships 

To be considered for a Transfer Academic Scholarship, you must have 12 or more transferable, post-high school units. GPA’s are based on transferable units and calculated by FPU.

NameGPAAmount
Transfer Scholar3.50 GPA and above$14,000
Transfer Achievement3.0-3.49 GPA$10,000
Transfer Academic2.40-2.99 GPA$7,500
Transfer PartnershipBelow a 2.4 GPA$6,000

Performance-based Scholarships

NameAmount
Athletic$500 to Full Tuition
Music$400 to $10,000
Theatre Arts$500 to $4,000
Art/Design$500 to $4,000

Other FPU Grants and Scholarships

NameAmount
FPU Possibilities ScholarshipFull Tuition
Church Match$500 to $1,500
International Scholarshipup to $6,000
Mennonite Brethren Award$4,000
Out of State Student Scholarship$4,000
Other Awards$100 to $10,000

Federal and State Grants

NameAmount
Cal Grant A$9,358
Cal Grant B$1,648
Pell Grants$750 to $7,395
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant$1,000

Federal Loans and Work-Study

NameAmount
Federal Direct$3,500 to $7,500
PLUS LoanUp to remaining cost
Work-studyContingent on employment

Private Scholarships

Alumni, parents, friends, businesses and foundations have generously provided a special set of scholarships available to students attending Fresno Pacific.

View Private Scholarships

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Alexandra Green

Mathematics

The grants, the academic awards, the transfer scholarship – all of it makes it so much more affordable to attend FPU. I know that school isn’t cheap for anyone, but FPU helped me realize that I could actually come to this school because they were going to help me so much financially.

Net Price Calculator

Now that you’ve seen the financial aid opportunities available to FPU students, we can estimate what your true cost may be to attend Fresno Pacific. Please keep in mind that this is just a computer generated, general estimate and may not capture all aid available, please work with your FPU Student Financial Services advisor to discover your true net price.

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Career Opportunities

This minor is open to anyone with an interest in biology, but is ideal if you’re interested in contemporary ministries and missions, environmental studies, psychology, health fields, agriculture or kinesiology. It may also satisfy the California credential requirement for the supplementary authorization in biology.

Career Development Happens Here

The staff in our Career Development and Experiential Learning Center are here to help you prepare to enter the working world. Whether your a freshman or an FPU alum, there are a number of resources and trainings offered to help you find the internship and job you’re looking for.

  • Resume writing classes
  • Career assessments, exploration & planning
  • Job search and networking opportunities
  • and much more

Visit the Career Development Center