About the Program

The biological sciences study living organisms and fundamental life processes that form the basis for careers in healthcare, research, teaching and related fields. Begin studies toward a bachelor’s degree in general or molecular biology, botany, ecology, fisheries, genetics, marine science, soil science, wildlife management or zoology.

For a roadmap that identifies the preferred sequencing of courses and other specific recommendations from faculty, please see the corresponding program map(s):

• Biological Sciences Associate in Science - Transfer (AS-T)

Degree Requirements

Total credits required to earn this degree: 90 with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0. A course cannot be credited toward more than one distribution or skill area.

LCC students must meet distribution requirements for associate degrees and specific certificates. See Diversity and Distribution Lists for more information.

General Education Requirements

• Communications:
  
  

  5 credits - ENGL& 101 English Composition I.

• Quantitative / Symbolic Reasoning Skills:
  
  

  10 credits – MATH& 151* Calculus I AND
  MATH& 152* Calculus II.

• Humanities and Social Sciences:
  
  

  15 credits – Selected from at least three disciplines on the Distribution List. A minimum of 5 credits in Humanities, and a minimum of 5 credits in Social Science, and an additional 5 credits in either Humanities or Social Science.

• Diversity:
  
  

  5 credits – From the Diversity Course List. Courses that meet this requirement may also be used toward other graduation requirements. Diversity courses are listed in the quarterly schedule and identified by ‘DIV’ attached to the course title. 

Program Requirements

Pre-Major Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Number of Credits
BIOL& 221*	Majors Ecology/Evolution: w/Lab	5
BIOL& 222*	Majors Cell/Molecular: w/Lab	5
BIOL& 223*	Majors Organismal Phys: w/Lab	5
CHEM& 161*	General Chemistry w/Lab I	5
CHEM& 162*	General Chemistry w/Lab II	5
CHEM& 163*	General Chemistry w/Lab III	5
CHEM& 261*	Organic Chemistry w/Lab I	5
CHEM& 262*	Organic Chemistry w/Lab II	5
MATH& 146 OR MATH& 153*	Introduction to Statistics OR Calculus III	5

Electives: Sufficient additional college-level credits to meet the 90 credit minimum. These remaining credits must include program advisor approved credits. 

Recommended Electives

MATH 141 and MATH 142 are recommended for students needing the courses prior to MATH& 151. Other recommended electives:

Course Code	Course Title	Number of Credits
BIOL& 260	Microbiology	5
CHEM& 263*	Organic Chemistry w/Lab III	5

Program Outcomes

Students completing this program should acquire the following skills and abilities:

• Biology students will become familiar with the (empirical) scientific method of problem solving.
• Majors-level biology students will perform competitively with their peers at four-year institutions or professional programs.
• Majors-level biology students will demonstrate proficiency with life process mechanisms such as biological chemistry; cellular metabolism; heredity, anatomy and physiology of major animal organ systems; plant structure, as well as transport and reproductive function; diversity and classification of organisms; evolution; and ecology.
• Biology students will express ideas and information in writing in a format that is clear and appropriate to a science-literate audience.
• Biology students will apply various techniques and processes using information, data, and situations, to draw logical, rational and ethical and coherent conclusions.
• Major-level Biology students will achieve competency with numbers and graphical skills to interpret and communicate quantifiable information, and apply mathematical and statistical skills in practical and abstract contexts.

Notes

Revised August 2022 (effective Summer 2023)

* It is recommended that sequence courses be completed at one institution.

Program planning is based on information available at the time of preparation. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with their LCC advisor and for checking specific major requirements of baccalaureate institutions in the year prior to transferring. Consult the LCC catalog for LCC graduation requirements.

Most four-year universities require one year of a single foreign language as a graduation requirement.