General Studies A.A. with Area of Concentration in Biology

Program Description

This is a recommended program of study for students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology or a career in medicine, veterinary medicine, or physical therapy.

Graduates of the Biology Concentration will be able to:

• Investigate natural phenomena through experimentation, using the scientific method.
• Identify interactions among biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems.
• Explain the key principles of modern evolutionary theory and its importance throughout the field of biology.
• Identify prevailing theories of the origins of organic molecules and life.
• Explain the central dogma of biology and how genetic information is transmitted across generations.
• Evaluate relationships between structure and function at the various levels of biological organization.
• Apply key concepts from chemistry and mathematics to solve biological problems.
• Report scientific findings using proper terminology and formatting, and in adherence to ethical standards.

General Education Courses (32 Credits)

The list of general education courses appears in the General Education List . Some programs recommend or require specific courses to fulfill general education requirements. Please check your program’s sequence of study for this information.

• English Composition

• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing 3 Credits
• EGL-1340 Composition II: Writing About Technical Topics 3 Credits

• Humanities

• Any General Education Humanities Speech course 3 Credits
• Any General Education Humanities course other than Speech 3 Credits

• Mathematics

• MAT-1360 Pre-Calculus II - Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry 4 Credits

• Social Sciences

• Any General Education Social Science course other than History 3 Credits
• Any General Education Social Science History course 3 Credits

• Science with a Lab

• CHM-1010 General Chemistry I 4 Credits

• Science

• CHM-1020 General Chemistry II 3 Credits

• Institutional Requirement Computer Literacy

• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology 3 Credits

Area of Concentration (28 Credits)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience 1 Credit (Institutional Requirement)
• BIO-1130 Principles of Biology: Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior 4 Credits
• BIO-1140 Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4 Credits
• CHM-1030 General Chemistry II Laboratory 2 Credits
• CHM-2010 Organic Chemistry I 4 Credits
• CHM-2020 Organic Chemistry II 3 Credits
• CHM-2040 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 2 Credits

Sequence of Study - Biology Concentration A.A.

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not  include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Program Total: 60 Credits

¹ Two semesters of calculus (MAT-2410  and MAT-2420 ) are required for admission to biology programs at some transfer institutions, including the UMCP Limited Enrollment Programs. Students eligible for calculus should take MAT-2410  as the general education math requirement and MAT-2420  as one of the program electives.

² Students pursuing careers in physical therapy should take BIO-2050  and PHY-1010  as their two program electives.

³ One of the program electives must be at the 2000 level.

Asterisk (*) denotes a general education course.

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the  same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.