Natural Sciences Department

A.S. Degree • Suggested Curriculum

Biology, the study of living organisms, is an extremely large and diverse field. Career opportunities exist in many areas such as research, government agencies (conservation department, environmental protection, etc.), industry, sales, and teaching at all educational levels. In addition, the biology curriculum provides the pre-professional foundation for many of the health career areas. Baccalaureate biological science programs are diverse. Some programs emphasize cell and molecular biology, whereas others emphasize organismal, ecological, and evolutionary biology. Research universities offer specific programs of study, optional tracks, or specializations within biology. Students should decide the direction or specialization within biology as early as possible, preferably by the beginning of sophomore year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the Associate in Science degree prior to transfer.

 

I. GENERAL EDUCATION CORE (39-41)

Area A: Communication (9 credits)

ENG 101 [C1 900] Composition I - with a grade of C or better (3)
ENG 102 [C1 901R] Composition II - with a grade of C or better (3)
COMM 101 [C2 900] Principles of Communication (3)

Area B: Humanities and Fine Arts (9 credits)

Select three courses from the list for Area B on pages 50-52, with at
least one course from humanities and one course from fine arts.

Area C: Mathematics (3-5 credits)

Select one math course from:
MATH 115 [M1 902] General Education Statistics (3)
MATH 153 [M1 902] Probability and Statistics (4)
MATH 171 [M1 900-1] Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (5

Area D: Physical and Life Sciences (9 credits)

BIOL 112 [BIO 910] Organismal Biology (4)
CHEM 110 [BIO 906] General Chemistry I (5)

Area E: Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credits

Select three courses in at least two different disciplines from the list
for Area E on pages 50-52.

 

II. AREA OF CONCENTRATION/MAJOR FIELD (17-19)

Select a minimum of 21-22 credits from the foundation courses listed
below.
BIOL 111 [BIO 910] Cellular and Molecular Biology (4) required
CHEM 130 [BIO 907] General Chemistry II (5) required
Select 2 courses in physics, or 2 courses in chemistry, or 1 course each
in each from:
CHEM 203 [BIO 908] Organic Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 204 [BIO 909] Organic Chemistry II (5)
PHYSI 210 [BIO 903] University Physics I (4)
PHYSI 220 [BIO 904] University Physics II (4)

III. ELECTIVES (2-6)

Select one course from CHEM 203, 204 or PHYSI 210, 220 if not
already selected from Area II above, or any additional BIOL course.
Courses such as microbiology and human anatomy and physiology
sometimes will transfer for credit in allied health majors, but most
often do not transfer as biology major credit.