Gordon College will begin offering a Bachelor of Science degree in biology beginning with the fall 2010 semester. The first degrees will be awarded in spring, 2012.
Approval of the program was given by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia during its meeting Wednesday.
This brings to three the number of bachelor degrees offered by the state college.
In fall 2006 Gordon College was designated as a state college and charged with developing a limited set of baccalaureate programs that would serve work force needs in the region, according to Ed Wheeler, vice president of academic affairs.
"With that purpose in mind, we graduated our first class of baccalaureate students prepared to be K-5 teachers in May 2009 and in summer 2010, we will welcome our first class of students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing," Wheeler said. "By offering a degree in biology that also prepares secondary teachers we can help the state meet workforce needs in the sciences as well as critical shortages in the science classroom."
In addition to these three baccalaureate degrees, Gordon College also offers associate degrees in 40 disciplines to more than 4,600 students.