FGCU adds two degrees for fall semester

Florida Gulf Coast University will become the first in the state to introduce a long-term care administration degree program.

The degree was one of two the university's governing board approved on today and is expected to fill a critical work force need for Southwest Florida nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Universities throughout the state offer courses in long-term care administration, but none offer an entire freestanding degree program to their students, said Provost Bonnie Yegidis.

"The other thing that is significant is that the degree can also be done online," Yegidis said.

The board also approved a bachelor's of science degree in biology, a degree program that will allow students to continue their education at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.

The biology degree program will be submitted to the state legislature later this year for approval, Yegidis said.

"That's because it's a degree that leads to licensing in the state of Florida," Yegidis said.

Both the biology and long-term care degree programs will be introduced on the south Lee County campus during the fall semester.