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 and Mathematics

Department

Biology

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Science, Engineering, Math

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Evaluate biological systems across molecular, cellular, organismal, population, and ecological scales, integrating evolutionary principles as the unifying framework.

  2. Design and conduct independent semester-long biological investigations in laboratory and field settings, formulating hypotheses, collecting data, performing statistical analyses, and communicating findings through written reports, oral presentations, and visual data representation.

  3. Evaluate biological information for scientific validity, distinguishing evidence-based claims from pseudoscience and misinformation.

  4. Apply subdisciplinary techniques and instrumentation including microscopy, molecular methods, physiological measurement, and ecological sampling to analyze organisms across biological scales from molecular to ecosystem.

  5. Examine biological issues through interdisciplinary lenses, including ethical, environmental, and social equity perspectives relevant to local, regional, and global communities.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

Term 1

15 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:

Term 2

16-17 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:

Term 3

15 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:

Term 4

14-16 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:

Term 5

6 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas: