Biology A.S. Degree

Program Description

The Associate of Science degree in Biology is intended to provide breadth in the aspects of biology that investigate the living world including cellular physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Majors in Biology prepare for a wide variety of occupations in education, government, medicine, research, and biotechnology. This degree prepares students to transfer to four-year universities to pursue a Bachelor's degree. At the four-year institutions, students may choose to specialize in one particular field of Biology.

To graduate with the A.S degree in Biology, students must complete the following required courses plus the general breadth requirements for the Associate's Degree (minimum total = 60 units).

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program.  Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway.  It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Division

Science

Department

Biology

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Science, Engineering, Math

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Evaluate biodiversity at the evolutionary, molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels and examine this content knowledge under aspects of social inequities in our local and global human communities.

  2. Practice scientific thinking and hands-on contemporary methodologies by creating and performing semester-long independent biological studies in laboratory and outdoor settings.

  3. Utilize biological and scientific information literacy to analyze science from pseudoscience or nonscience and distinguish scientific misinformation and disinformation in the global media sphere.

  4. Present scientific information through various modes of communication, including written and oral presentations.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

1st Semester

15 units

2nd Semester

15-16 units

3rd Semester

15 units

4th Semester

14-16 units

5th Semester

9 units