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Biological Science

If you enjoy science and are curious about how living things work, consider studying biology. 

In this program, you’ll learn about life on Earth and how it forms, functions, evolves and interacts. Courses explore topics like evolution, genetics and the cellular process in microorganisms, plants and animals. You’ll also learn about the scientific method and gain hands-on experiences in the lab. Most of our biology students continue their education by transferring to a four-year college or university at a junior standing.

Whether you want a career in science education, zoology, botany, wildlife, ecology, microbiology or biotechnology—or you plan to apply your biology degree toward a future in medicine, nursing or other allied health profession—this program is an excellent start.

Many people who study biol

Communication Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Create, organize, present, and adapt effective verbal and nonverbal messages to diverse audiences in diverse contexts
2. Explain the active listening process and the skills necessary  to understand verbal and nonverbal information
3. Demonstrate the ability to critically think: summarize, interpret, and evaluate written discourse 
4. Write clear, well-focused and well-organized papers using documentation
5. Select and integrate textual evidence within academic essays
6. Create expository essays using traditional academic forms and standards
7. Appropriately use college-level language skills, i.e., grammar and punctuation

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Recognize a problem and identify the information required to solve it
2. Develop and apply appropriate algebraic models (e.g. numerical, graphical and symbolic) to obtain a solution to the problem
3. Explain the process of reasoning used to arrive at the solution

Humanities Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate, in writing or verbally, awareness that different contexts and/or world views produce different human creations
2. Identify and explain diverse cultural customs, beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles
3. Identify ideologies, practices and contributions that persons of diverse backgrounds bring to our multicultural world
4. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position

Social Sciences Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Describe the methods used for conducting research within the various disciplines of the social sciences
2. Evaluate the credibility of information regarding topics within the social sciences and differentiate between information derived from empirical sources and information derived from opinion, folklore, and/or emotions
3. Identify the impact of social, cultural, historical, political, geographical, and/or religious factors on behavior
4. Express increased engagement and confidence in the ability to apply course material for the purpose of improving self,  relationships,  community, society, and/or the world

Math and Science Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Select, use, or develop an appropriate model including numerical, graphical, or symbolic representations
2. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position or draw conclusions using appropriate terminology and symbolism
3. Demonstrate laboratory skills including making qualitative and quantitative observations about natural systems
4. Ascertain and critically evaluate the interrelationships within complex systems

Health Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Our students will be able to develop an appreciation of  physical activity as a lifelong pursuit and means to better health.
2. Our students will be able to recognize the physical and mental benefits of increased activity.
3. Our students will be able to examine the effects of nutrition, rest and other lifestyle factors that contribute to better health.
4. Our students will be able to demonstrate motor skill performance of various physical activities.
5. Our students will be able to define the various health components of fitness and determine the lifestyle factors for development of physical fitness and training strategies.
6. Our students will be able to identify common health and fitness myths and trends involved with the evolving nature of physical education. 
7. Our students will be able to utilize physical activity as a tool to manage stress.

The Associate in Biology DTA/MRP is an articulated transfer agreement for future biology majors between the community colleges and most four-year institutions in the state of Washington. A candidate for this degree must complete a minimum of 90 quarter credits in academic courses numbered 100 or above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and meet specific distribution requirements.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Prepare for College-level Math

Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below MATH& 151, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → AE 68 → MATH 71 → MATH 72 → MATH& 141 → MATH& 142 → MATH& 151

Prepare for College-level English

English placement is required for this program. If your English placement is below ENGL& 101, you’ll need to take following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 36 → AE 46 and 47 (taken together) → AE 67 → ENGL 99 → ENGL& 101 → ENGL& 102

Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Program Map for

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Total Program Credits: 93


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&222
Majors Cellular/Molecular Biology: w/Lab  
5
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
GUID 102
Strategies for Success  
3
MATH&151
Calculus I  
5
Total Credits
 
18
 

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&223
Majors Organismal Physiology with Lab  
5
ENGL&102
Composition II  
5
MATH&152
Calculus II  
5
Total Credits
 
15
 

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&221
Majors Ecology and Evolution: with Lab  
5
 
Health/PE Group A Electives  
3
 
Health/PE Group B Electives   1
2
 
Humanities Group A/B/C Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
 
Health/PE Group A Electives: Choose 3 credits Health/PE Group A Electives: Choose 3 credits  
HLTH 101
Health and Wellness  
3
HLTH 104
Stress Management  
3
Humanities Group A/B/C Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Group A/B/C Electives: Choose 5 credits  
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
PHIL 110
Intro to Ethics  
5

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CHEM&161
General Chemistry with Lab I  
5
 
Humanities Group A/B/C Electives  
5
 
Social Science Group A Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
 

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CHEM&162
General Chemistry with Lab II  
5
 
Humanities Group A/B/C Electives  
5
 
Social Science Group B Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
 
Humanities Group A/B/C Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Group A/B/C Electives: Choose 5 credits  
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
PHIL 110
Intro to Ethics  
5
Social Science Group B Electives: Choose 5 credits Social Science Group B Electives: Choose 5 credits  
HIST&136
US History 1  
5
POLS 125
Introduction to Global Issues  
5

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CHEM&163
General Chemistry with Lab III  
5
MATH&146
Introduction to Statistics  
5
 
Social Science Group A Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
 
1 Select any two-credit PE course
Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

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