Biological Sciences

Embrace the scientific method and explore the wonders of living organisms. This program is a versatile foundation for careers in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, education, and more.

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Program Duration: 2 Year Program
Degree Type: Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Total Credit Hours: 61

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About This Program

Biology is the foundation of life and offers a versatile base for various careers. This program combines biology with liberal arts courses, preparing students for degrees in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and education. It caters to those interested in STEM fields beyond allied health, serving as prerequisites for Science and Technology pathways. The curriculum emphasizes the scientific method for problem-solving, covering hypothesis formulation, data collection, and effective result presentation. Students learn essential biological and chemical processes in living organisms, exploring organizational hierarchies from the chemical level to the biosphere. This program is open to all interested students.

Quick Information

General Contact Call 215-751-8010

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Transfer Opportunities

A private university known for its diverse academic programs and global perspective, located in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Public university in central Pennsylvania offering diverse programs.

A private liberal arts college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs.

A historically Black public university known for rigorous academic programs, dedicated faculty, and supportive student learning resources.

A private Christian university known for its faith-based education.

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Program Entry Requirements

This program is open to all interested students. Students are required to satisfy placement at the time of admission. Students who are identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as part of their degree program.

General Education Requirements

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements

Students in the Biological Sciences program are required to enroll in BIOL 100: Introduction to Life Sciences within the first 18 credits. To qualify for the Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Biological Sciences, a student must complete a minimum of 61 credits as prescribed and attain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (“C” average).

Semester 1

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
Course Number and Name BIOL 106 - General Biology I	Credits 4 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Scientific Reasoning
Course Number and Name ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Writing/Research/Info Lit 1
Course Number and Name FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Quantitative Reasoning
Course Number and Name SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology^* or SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors)^* or ANTH 101 - Introduction to Anthropology or ECON 181 - Principles of Economics (Macroeconomics) or POLS 111 - American Government or POLS 111H - American Government (Honors)	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes Students who wish to transfer to the Associate of Science in Biology degree program should take SOC 101. Students should consult an advisor and the requirements of their chosen transfer institution before choosing their directed electives.	Course Type Cultural Analysis & Interpretation
Course Number and Name BIOL 100 - Introduction to Life Sciences	Credits 4 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type

Notes:

This program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a bachelor's degree program after earning their associate's degree
Follow this course schedule each semester and you’ll earn your associate's degree in two years
Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register.

Semester 2

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
Course Number and Name BIOL 107 - General Biology II	Credits 4 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Major Course
Course Number and Name CHEM 110 - Introductory Chemistry	Credits 4 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
Course Number and Name CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Technological Competency
Course Number and Name ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Writing/Research/Info Lit 2
Course Number and Name FREN 101 - Elementary French or HUM 101 - Cultural Traditions: Ancient to the 13th Century or HUM 101H - Cultural Traditions: Ancient to the 13th Century (Honors) or SPAN 101 - Elementary Spanish	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type

Notes:

Don’t forget to meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Start planning for transfer:
- Did you know our dual admissions partnerships include scholarship opportunities?
- Learn more about our transfer agreements and use our interactive search tool for your program’s transfer options
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Now is a good time to start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship— You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

Semester 3

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
Course Number and Name BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology	Credits 4 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Major Course
Course Number and Name MATH 161 - Precalculus I	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
Course Number and Name Directed Elective (Choose two): ART 103 - History of Art: Ancient to Renaissance or ART 103H - History of Art: Ancient to Renaissance (Honors) or ECON 182 - 182 Principles of Economics (Microeconomics) or HIST 101 - United States History: Colonial America through the Revolutionary Era or HIST 102 - United States History: The 19th Century or HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) or HIST 121 - World History: The Distant Past or HIST 122 - World History: The Recent Past or ENGL 190 - Introduction to Literature or MUS 103 - Introduction to Music or PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy^* or PHIL 101H - Introduction to Philosophy (Honors)* or PHIL 211 - Ethical Problems or PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or PSYC 101H - 101H Introduction to Psychology (Honors) or PSYC 201 - Child Psychology or SOC 231 - Social Problems	Credits 6 credits	Advisory Notes Students who wish to transfer to the Associate of Science in Biology degree program should take PSYC 101 and PHIL 101. Students should consult an advisor and the requirements of their chosen transfer institution before choosing their directed electives.	Course Type Directed Elective

Notes:

Meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship—You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

Semester 4

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
Course Number and Name BIOL 104 - Forensic Biology or BIOL 123 - Principles of Biology I or BIOL 211 - Genetics or BIOL 225 - Ecology and Field Biology or BIOL 241 - Principles of Microbiology or STS 101 - Introduction to Science, Technology and Society or BIOL 155 - Introduction to Biotechnology I or BIOL 255 - Advanced Biotechnology	Credits 4 credits	Advisory Notes If students desire to transfer to Associate of Science in Biology degree program, BIOL 123 is recommended at this time.	Course Type Concentration Elective
Course Number and Name CHEM 118 - Introduction to Biochemistry	Credits 4 credits	Advisory Notes If students desire to transfer to Associate of Science in Biology degree program, CHEM 121 is recommended at this time.	Course Type
Course Number and Name MATH 162 - Precalculus II	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
Course Number and Name ENGL 115 - Public Speaking	Credits 3 credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type Oral Communication/Creative Expression

Notes:

Congratulations, this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
Finalize your transfer plans:
- Meet with a counselor at your selected dual admissions transfer college
- Meet with one of our College’s counselors or an advisor to review transfer requirements
Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities

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Launch Your Career in Biological Sciences

Soil and Plant Scientists - est. salary $73,368
Biostatistician - est. salary $99,021
Bioinformatics Scientist - est. salary $91,566

Learn More

**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Career Outlook

$89,248

Median Salary of an Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

21,213

Number of Jobs in the Region

+12.8%

10-year Job Outlook in the Region for Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Featured Career

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.

Starting Pay: $46,727

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Typical Tasks

Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as molecular biology, marine biology, and botany.
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
Prepare materials for laboratory activities and course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

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