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The primary focus of your education at FGCU is the attainment of a Bachelor
of Arts (BA) degree or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Generally, the
BS degree includes more science courses than the Bachelor of Arts degree,
however this is not a hard and fast rule. At FGCU, BA's are offered in
the College of Arts and Sciences and in the College of Education. The
University Catalog and our
major
tracks website list the degree programs and majors for each College.
To earn a Bachelor's degree you must complete at least 120 credit hours.
Some programs require up to 126 hours. The credit hours are semester-based,
and a three credit hour class means that approximately three hours each
week will be spent in class during the semester (usually sixteen weeks).
Remember that the summer semester is divided into several shorter sessions
(as short as six weeks), which means up to seven hours a week in class
for these courses.
Full time status is defined as taking at least 12 credit hours in a fall
or spring semester. It is highly recommended that for the first semester
at FGCU, first year students take no more than 13-14 credit hours. In
subsequent semesters a student may wish to take up to 18 credit hours.
The rule of thumb for successful completion of the first semester is
that for every hour a student is registered, he/she should spend two
hours in study, preparation, and research per week. For example, if a 13
credit hour course load is taken, 13 hours will be spent in class per
week; another 26 hours should be set aside for "homework." The
combination of class hours and study hours will then make up 39 hours
each week!!!
***** LOWER DIVISION AND UPPER DIVISION COURSES *****
Course numbers are divided into two divisions, lower and upper classifications.
Freshmen and sophomore level courses (1XXX & 2XXX) are generally appropriate for first
year students. Junior and Senior level courses (3XXX & 4XXX)
should only be taken if approved by a First Year Advisor.
Freshmen are advised in the Office of First Year Advising. After the
first year, they are referred to college advisors for advisement through
completion of degree requirements..
By the time a student reaches upper division status, a major area of
study should be declared. In most cases, it is not critical to know what
the major will be in the first semester of college. For the first two
or three semesters, all of the course work taken will apply to your lower
division requirements (see next page). By the time students begin the
last semester of the sophomore year, it is recommended that a major be
selected so that prerequisite courses may be completed.
Career Development Services in the Division of Student Affairs is a valuable
resource available to undeclared students, as well as the Future Steps
Program in Freshman Advising Services. An interdepartmental collaborative
step-by-step process is available which is aimed at helping undeclared
students select a career path and respective degree program.
Bachelor's Degree Credits
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