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.
Careers
Find your path.
Biological Technician – est. salary $52,863
Biologist – est. salary $77,932*
Environmental Science and Protection Technician – est. salary $51,436
Microbiologist – est. salary $70,075
**EMSI Data, 2019; Philadelphia County, PA; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Transfer Opportunities
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Courses and Completion Sequence
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 |
| CIS 103 - Applied Computer Technology | 3 credits | Technology Competency | |
| ENGL 101 - English Composition I | 3 credits | ENGL 101 | |
| MATH 162 - Precalculus II | 3 credits | Within the major, this course must be taken within the first 20 credits | Mathematics |
| SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology | 3 credits | Social Science Elective Fulfills all of the Major Academic Approaches (American/Global Diversity, Interpretive Studies, and Writing Intensive) |
- 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 | ENGL 102 Information Literacy | |
| FREN 101 - Elementary French or HUM 101 - Cultural Traditions or SPAN 101 - Elementary Spanish |
3 credits | Humanities Elective | |
| PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology | 3 credits | Directed Elective |
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
4 credits | Must earn a grade of “C” or better Prerequisite for BIOL 241: BIOL 106, BIOL 107, BIOL 109, or BIOL 123 with a grade of "C" or better |
Concentration Elective |
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 222 - Organic Chemistry II | 5 credits | Major Course | |
| ENGL 115 - Public Speaking | 3 credits | Directed Elective | |
| BIOL 211 - Genetics or BIOL 241 - Principles of Microbiology or BIOL 281 - Biochemistry I or BIOL 225 - Ecology and Field Biology |
4 credits | Must earn a grade of “C” or better | 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:
- 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
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.
Featured Career
Biologist
Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy and functions.
$77,932
148
in the region
+19.6%
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 $44,144. Normal pay for Biologists is $77,932 per year, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $93,276.
“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
Program Information
Biology
Degree Type:
Associate in Science (A.S.)Credits Needed to Graduate:
65