Biology Associate of Science
Program Description
This program is designed for students transferring to a four-year university to complete their Bachelor's degree in Biology. It allows students to complete the first two years of the BS degree at the community college. Students explore physics, chemistry and biology. Biology is the study of life and living beings, including their types, growth, structure, evolution, and where and how they live. Modern biology is very broad and it has many smaller areas, including the study of animals, plants, cells, genes, and other life science topics. This program introduces students to Biology and it includes courses that are common to all four-year institutions in Colorado. Careers often require a BS degree or higher. Career paths for Biology degree holders include pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary, physical therapy, dentistry, and many scientific arenas. The Associate of Science (AS) degree in Biology prepares students to complete the second half of a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology at a four-year university.
Learn more about this program.
My Academic Plan: Full-Time
Courses are displayed in a full-time sequence showing the fastest path to your degree. Follow the pathway below to complete your AS degree in 4 semesters (2 years).
There are multiple ways to pursue a degree in Biology. It is very important to work with your Academic Advisor to develop the best academic plan based on where you are starting, and where you are hoping to transfer.
For students who want to complete a degree in Biology and are academically prepared to take General College Chemistry I w/Lab (CHE 1111) and College Algebra (MAT 1340), the AS in Biology may be the most direct path to a Bachelor’s degree in this field. The requirements for Biology degrees at transfer institutions are highly variable. Therefore, a general AS degree may be a better fit. It is strongly recommended that you meet with your Academic Advisor to create the best academic plan for you.
First Semester
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: GT-CO1 | 3 |
| BIO 1111 | Gen Bio I: Molecular & Cellular Biology w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| MAT 1340 or higher GT-MA1 | College Algebra (MAT 1340) or higher GT-MA1 | 4 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Second Semester
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| BIO 1112 | Gen Bio II: Ecology & Organism Bio w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List. Prefer: Intro to Chemistry I w/Lab (CHE 1011) or Calculus I (MAT 2410) or any GT-MA1 or GT-SC1 | 5 |
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Third Semester
| CHE 1111 | General College Chemistry I w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| PHY 1111 or PHY 2111 | Physics: Algebra-Based I w/Lab (PHY 1111) or Physics: Calculus-Based I w/Lab (PHY 2111) | 5 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS) | 3 |
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Fourth Semester
| PHY 1112 or PHY 2112 | Physics: Algebra-Based II w/Lab (PHY 1112) or Physics: Calculus-Based II w/Lab (PHY 2112) | 5 |
| CHE 1112 | General College Chemistry II w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
My Academic Plan: Part-Time
Courses are displayed in a part-time sequence providing flexibility for the working professional. Follow the pathway below to complete your AS degree within 8 semesters (3 years). This pathway may be accelerated by applying transfer credit, credit for prior learning, and/or completing one or more additional courses each semester. For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
Fall Semester 1
Spring Semester 2
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List. Prefer: Intro to Chemistry I w/Lab (CHE 1011) or Calculus I (MAT 2410) or any GT-MA1 or GT-SC1 | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Summer Semester 3
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Fall Semester 4
| BIO 1111 | Gen Bio I: Molecular & Cellular Biology w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| CHE 1111 | General College Chemistry I w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Spring Semester 5
| BIO 1112 | Gen Bio II: Ecology & Organism Bio w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| CHE 1112 | General College Chemistry II w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Summer Semester 6
| GT- AH | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Fall Semester 7
| PHY 1111 or PHY 2111 | Physics: Algebra-Based I w/Lab (PHY 1111) or Physics: Calculus-Based I w/Lab (PHY 2111) | 5 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Spring Semester 8
| PHY 1112 or PHY 2112 | Physics: Algebra-Based II w/Lab (PHY 1112) or Physics: Calculus-Based II w/Lab (PHY 2112) | 5 |
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Total Credit Hours: 60
Prior Learning eligible course
• Learn more about Credit for Prior Learning
• View all eligible courses
Important Program Notes:
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), BIO 1111 and CHE 1111 are the Natural & Physical Sciences (GT-SC1) required courses.
You should be College Algebra (MAT 1340) and General College Chemistry I w/Lab (CHE 1111) ready. If you are not prepared for MAT 1340 or CHE 1111, you should take the needed prerequisite for College Readiness in Algebra prior to starting this pathway and Intro to Chemistry I w/Lab (CHE 1011) in your second semester as your elective.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you may complete ENG 1021 (GT-CO1) and ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) OR ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) and gtPathways-approved CO3 course (GT-CO3).
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), if BIO 1112, CHE 1112, PHY 1111/PHY 2111 and/or PHY 1112/PHY 2112 are not required for the major at a receiving 4-institution, they will be applied to the Bachelor's degree as elective credit toward graduation. Please check with the receiving institution to determine in which way these courses will be applied.
You are strongly encouraged to seek academic advising prior to registration regarding the acceptability of online Science courses if you anticipate transferring to a 4-year institution or completing graduate work in the sciences or health professions. It should be noted that per Colorado Revised Statute, §23-1-125(1)(e), general education courses taken online are guaranteed to satisfy core course (GT Pathways) requirements at all Colorado public institutions of higher education.
You must complete a minimum of 60 credits to complete this degree. If receiving financial aid, you should only take courses and credits as required for this degree. Check with your advisor to monitor your completion progress.