Biology

Gain the education and training you need to build a solid foundation for pursuing a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences. In the Associate of Science (A.S.) Biology program, students get a hands-on, highly interactive education in current scientific technology, major physical and chemical concepts and more. In addition, students who are planning to go on to a pre-med program such as pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary or pre-dental can fulfill many prerequisite courses through the College's Biology program. This selective program is designed to parallel the first two years of study toward a biology degree at many colleges and universities, providing a seamless transition.

The Academic Passport, a policy of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), guarantees admission to any of the 14 PASSHE universities to a student with an earned AA or AS degree from a Pennsylvania public community college. A university can stipulate that the associate's degree contain at least 30 credits of liberal arts courses. The Academic Passport does not guarantee admission to specific majors.

New Industry Partnership: Biotechnology Training that Leads to Internships and Careers

Take Your Associate Degree in Biology to a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree

Thanks to a new agreement between Community College of Philadelphia and Thomas Jefferson University, you can go directly from an associate degree in Biology to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree! There is no need to earn your bachelor’s degree first—saving you money and a year and a half of your time.

Accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy Program

Career Options

Careers

Find your path.

Biological Technician – est. salary $50,832
Microbiologist – est. salary $84,674*
Environmental Science and Protection Technician – est. salary $48,184
Biologist – est. salary $66,441

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

Rutgers University - Camden
Saint Francis University

Videos & Multimedia

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A biology student working in a CCP lab.
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Courses and Completion Sequence

The following courses and sequence of courses is designed for the optimal success and completion of the Biology degree/certificate. Any alterations should be discussed with your academic advisor.

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
CHEM 121 - College Chemistry I 4 credits Fulfils major prerequisite; Must earn a grade of "C" or better to take CHEM 122.
Within the major, this must be taken during the first 20 credits.		 Major Course
Scientific Reasoning
CIS 103 - Computer Applications & Concepts 3 credits   Technological Competency
ENGL 101 - English Composition I 3 credits   Writing, Research, Info Lit 1
MATH 162 - Precalculus II 3 credits Within the major, this course must be taken within the first 20 credits Quantitative Reasoning
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credits   Cultural Analysis & Interpretation
  • 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
BIOL 123 - Principles of Biology I 4 credits Fulfils major prerequisite.
Must earn a grade of "C" or better to take BIOL 124.
If you do not pass BIOL 123 within two semesters you are not progressing in the major.		 Major Course
CHEM 122 - College Chemistry II 4 credits Must earn a grade of "C" or better or get permission of Chemistry department head to take CHEM 221 Major Course
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper 3 credits   Writing, Research, Info Lit 2
FREN 101 - Elementary French or
HUM 101 - Ancient to the 13th Century or
SPAN 101 - Elementary Spanish		 3 credits   Humanities Elective
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology 3 credits   Directed Elective

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
BIOL 124 - Principles of Biology II 4 credits Must earn a grade of "C" or better Major Course
CHEM 221 - Organic Chemistry I 5 credits Must earn a grade of "C" or better or get permission of Chemistry department head to take CHEM 222 Major Course
MATH 171 - Calculus I 4 credits   Major Course

BIOL 211 - Genetics or
BIOL 225 - Ecology and Field Biology  or
BIOL 241 - Principles of Microbiology or
BIOL 255 - Biotechnology I: Basic Laboratory Techniques in Biotechnology or
BIOL 256 - Fermentation, Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing or
BIOL 281 - Biochemistry I or
BTT 101 - Biomedical Technician Training Practicum

 4 credits Must earn a grade of "C" or better

Prerequisite for BIOL 211: BIOL 106 or BIOL 108 or BIOL 109 or BIOL 123 with a "C" or better or permission of the department head 

Prerequisite for BIOL 241: BIOL 106, BIOL 107, BIOL 109, or BIOL 123 with a grade of "C" or better 

Prerequisite for BIOL 225: BIOL 107 or BIOL 124 with a grade of "C" or better

Prerequisite for BIOL 255: FNMT 118 or higher with a "C" or better, or MATH 161 placement; CHEM 110 or CHEM 121; BIOL 123 or BIOL 241 with a "C" or better

Prerequisite for BIOL 256: BIOL 255 with a grade of "C" or better

BTT 101 requires permission of the Biomedical Technician Training Academic Coordinator and completion of the Orientation to Biomedical Technology 		 Concentration Elective

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
CHEM 222 - Organic Chemistry II 5 credits   Major Course
ENGL 115 - Public Speaking 3 credits   Oral Communication/Creative Expression
BIOL 211 - Genetics or
BIOL 225 - Ecology and Field Biology  or
BIOL 241 - Principles of Microbiology or
BIOL 255 - Biotechnology I: Basic Laboratory Techniques in Biotechnology or
BIOL 256 - Fermentation, Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing or
BIOL 281 - Biochemistry I or
BTT 101 - Biomedical Technician Training Practicum		 4 credits Must earn a grade of "C" or better

Prerequisite for BIOL 211: BIOL 106 or BIOL 108 or BIOL 109 or BIOL 123 with a "C" or better or permission of the department head 

Prerequisite for BIOL 241: BIOL 106, BIOL 107, BIOL 109, or BIOL 123 with a grade of "C" or better 

Prerequisite for BIOL 225: BIOL 107 or BIOL 124 with a grade of "C" or better

Prerequisite for BIOL 255: FNMT 118 or higher with a "C" or better, or MATH 161 placement; CHEM 110 or CHEM 121; BIOL 123 or BIOL 241 with a "C" or better

Prerequisite for BIOL 256: BIOL 255 with a grade of "C" or better

BTT 101 requires permission of the Biomedical Technician Training Academic Coordinator and completion of the Orientation to Biomedical Technology 		 Concentration Elective
PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 credits   Directed Elective
  • 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:
  • 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

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.

View the College Catalog for More Information

Featured Career

Biologist

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy and functions.

Median Salary
$66,008

Number of Jobs
81 
in the region
10 Year Job Outlook
+25.6%
in the region

Typical Tasks

  • Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.
  • Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
  • Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
  • Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
  • Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.

How well does it pay?

New workers generally start around $38,815. Normal pay for Biologists is $66,008 per year, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $89,235.

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Program Information

Biology

Degree Type:

Associate in Science (A.S.)

Credits Needed to Graduate:

65

Online Learning Availability:

40% or Greater

Related Programs:

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This Is a Select Program,
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A graduate of the science program at CCP.

“A very important stepping stone, after very much forgetting how to learn. It was important for me to pick up the pieces and figure out how to do it the right way.”

Tomas Kostik,
Science program graduate