Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences
Life Sciences & TechnologiesInterested in exploring the living world around and within you? Biologists ask, and answer, a wide range of fascinating questions about life across all levels of organization. Through hands-on engagement with the Scientific Method, you will develop the fundamental and applied skills to prepare for further academic study or a career in biology, health sciences, or related fields.
View Transfer Options, Degrees & CertificatesThe Biology Program is committed to provide students with a wide range of courses reflecting the diverse areas of study and related careers in the biological sciences. Our courses cover topics including cellular, molecular and organismal biology, ecology and evolution, health sciences, biotechnology, and environmental studies. These courses allow students to explore their interests in biology, engage with the scientific method through laboratory and field-based activities, and learn of the many potential career paths in the field. Students who complete an area of study in biology may satisfy prerequisites for health-related programs such as nursing, meet graduation requirements at prospective transfer institutions, or complete the Associate in Science degree with a major in biology, health sciences, or environmental studies.
In addition to the core courses for the major or health-related fields, an introduction to other sciences is usually recommended and necessary for more advanced study. The biology faculty therefore suggests that students complete appropriate courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics concurrently with biology core courses. Students should refer to the requirements of prospective 4-year institutions or seek advice from a member of the biology faculty or a counselor before choosing electives.
Program Length
Four semesters.
Transfer Options
We offer two different biology majors course sequences that articulate to most of our transfer institutions. Additionally, nearly all of our courses articulate successfully fulfilling the Life Sciences requirement. Our students transfer to UCI, Cal State Fullerton, UCLA, UCR, UCSB, UCSD, Berkeley, Cal State Long Beach and many other 4 year institutions.
Program Specific Support
Tutors for Life Sciences course are available through the Student Success Center. Many of our courses include the use of lab space and the support of lab technicians for an immersive learning experience.
Your Support Team
Your success is our priority! Whether you are just starting, in the middle of, or completing your time at IVC, we have a team of people in your corner to help keep you on-track to reach your goals at IVC and beyond!
Coming Soon: Completion Teams to get students from start to goal! Look for your team beginning fall 2021!
Transfer Options, Degrees and/or Certificates
Sample Academic Plans
- This is only a sample academic plan. Some UC majors may have additional required or recommended courses for transfer. Please see a counselor to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| MATH 3A* | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 2A & Major | 5 |
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO 80 | Integrated Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems | 5B/5C & Major | 4 |
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| MATH 3B | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 2A & Major | 5 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics 4A** | General Physics | 1B | 4 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 2 | College Writing Critical Thinking | 1B | 4 |
| CHEM 12A | Organic Chemistry | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| BIO 81 | Integrated Biology: From DNA to Organisms | 5B/5C & Major | 4 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 12B | Organic Chemistry | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| Physics 4B** | General Physics | 5A/5C & Major | 4 |
| Physics 4C** and/or Math 10*** | General Physics and/or Statistics | Various | 3-7 |
| Arts or Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences | Arts or Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences GE Course | 3A or 3B or 4 | 3 |
- This sample academic plan assumes that student is eligible for Math 3A in the first semester.
- Some UCs may require or recommend two or three physics courses for transfer as a biology major.
- Some UCs may require or recommend a statistics course for transfer as a biology major.
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 3A* | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | B4 & Major | 5 |
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I | B1/B3 & Major | 5 |
| BIO 80** | Integrated Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems | B2/B3 & Major | 4 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | A2 | 4 |
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II | B1/B3 & Major | 5 |
| BIO 16 | Cellular Biology | Major | 4 |
| Lifelong Learning and Self-Development | Lifelong Learning and Self-Development GE Course | E | 3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | A1 | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | Critical Thinking GE Course | A3 | 3-4 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 2A or 4A*** | Physics Course | B1/B3 & Major | 4 |
| CHEM 12A | Organic Chemistry | B1/B3 | 5 |
| Arts | Arts GE Course | C1 | 3 |
| HIST 20 or HIST 21 | American History Course | D | 3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 2B or 4B*** | Physics Course | B1/B3 & Major | 4 |
| CHEM 12B | Organic Chemistry | B1/B3 | 5 |
| Humanities | Humanities GE Course | C2 | 3 |
| PS 1 | American Government | D | 3 |
- This sample academic plan assumes that student is eligible for Math 3A in the first semester.
- Students can take BIO 80 (or) BIO 2 and BIO 5 to meet the requirements fo an AS-T in Biology.
- Some CSU campuses may require or recommmend different physics courses for transfer as a biology major.
- This is only a sample academic plan. Please see a counselor and check IVC's catalog to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| MATH 2* or MATH 3* | Pre-Calculus or Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | IC | 5 |
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I | 2 & Major | 5 |
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication/Thinking | Communication/Analytical Thinking GE Course | 1B | 3-4 |
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II | 2 & Major | 5 |
| BIO 80 | Integrated Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems | 2 & Major | 4 |
| Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 1 |
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO 81 | Integrated Biology: From DNA to Organisms | 2 & Major | 4 |
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 12A | Organic Chemistry | 2 & Major | 5 |
| BIO 82 | Genetics | 2 & Major | 4 |
| Arts/Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | 4 | 3 |
| Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 3 |
| Course | Title | AS GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 12B | Organic Chemistry | 2 & Major | 5 |
| BIO 83 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 2 & Major | 4 |
| Social Sciences | Social Sciences GE Course | 3 | 3 |
| Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 2 |
- This sample academic plan assumes that student is eligible for Math 2 or Math 3A in the first semester.
- Note: This sample academic plan does not account for the Ethnic Studies requirement for the AS degree.
*Students may be eligible for one or more AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T degrees if they complete a GE transfer pattern, have specific courses, and have 60 transferable units. Please see a counselor for degree options and advisement.
- This is only a sample academic plan. Some UC majors may have additional required or recommended courses for transfer. Please see a counselor to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| MATH 3A* | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 2A & Major | 5 |
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 2 | College Writing Critical Thinking | 1B | 4 |
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| MATH 3B | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 2A & Major | 5 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics 4A** | General Physics | 5A/5C & Major | 4 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 12A | Organic Chemistry | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| BIO 80 | Integrated Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems | 5B/5C & Major | 4 |
| Physics 4B and/or 4C** | General Physics | 5A/5C & Major | 4-8 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 12B | Organic Chemistry | 5A/5C & Major | 5 |
| BIO 81 | Integrated Biology: From DNA to Organisms | 5B/5C & Major | 4 |
| Major Prep | Major Preparation Course | Various & Major | 3-5 |
| Arts or Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences | Arts or Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences GE Course | 3A or 3B or 4 | 3 |
- This sample academic plan assumes that student is eligible for Math 3A in the first semester.
- Some UCs may require or recommend two or three physics courses for transfer as a biochemistry major.
*Students may be eligible for one or more AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T degrees if they complete a GE transfer pattern, have specific courses, and have 60 transferable units. Please see a counselor for degree options and advisement.
- This is only a sample academic plan. Some CSU majors may have additional required or recommended courses for transfer. Please see a counselor to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| MATH 3A | Calculus I | B4 | 5 |
| ENV 1 | Introduction to Enviromental Studies | D | 3 |
| Arts | Arts GE Course | 3A | 3 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | 1C | 3 |
| WR 2 | College Writing 2 - Critical Thinking | 1B | 4 |
| CHEM 1A* | General Chemistry I | B1/B3 & Major | 5 |
| Social Science | Social Science GE Course | 4 | 3 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEOG 1 | Physical Geography | B1 & Major | 3 |
| GEOG 1 Lab | Physical Geography Lab | B3 & Major | 1 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO 80** | Integrated Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems | B2/B3 & Major | 4 |
| Physics 2A or 4A** | Introduction to Physics or General Physics | 1B | 4 |
| Social Science | Social Science GE Course | 4 | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | 3A or 3B | 3 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO 81** | Integrated Biology: From DNA to Organisms | B2/B3 & Major | 4 |
| Physics 2B or 4B** | Introduction to Physics or General Physics | 5A/5C & Major | 4 |
| Statistics | Various Statistics Courses | B4 & Major | 3 |
| Transfer Elective | Transfer Elective Course (Courses 1-199) | 1-3 |
- Some CSUs may require or recommend a second semester of chemistry for admissions to their CSU campus.
- Students can take Bio 80 & 81 or BIO 2, 5 & 16 as a set to meet the requirements for the Environomental Science AS-T degree. Please see a counselor to see what is your best option.
*Students may be eligible for one or more AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T degrees if they complete a GE transfer pattern, have specific courses, and have 60 transferable units. Please see a counselor for degree options and advisement.
- AA = Associate of Arts
- AS = Associate of Science
- AA-T = Associate of Arts for Transfer
- AS-T = Associate of Science for Transfer
- COA = Certificate of Achievement
- COP = Certificate of Proficiency
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Not sure if Biological Sciences is the right fit?
That's OK!
Begin with the Exploratory Interest Area and explore Biological Sciences while still working toward your academic goals.
Or speak to one of IVC’s Academic Counselors to learn more about all of your options.
