University Studies – 22 Unit Emphasis | SC Program: AA.1507

The Biological Sciences emphasis is designed to provide the lower division major preparation for transfer in Biological Sciences.

Choose your path

Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.

A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.

Fall Semester, First Year

16 Units Total
ENGL C1000
GE 4
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1000
Units 4
Note: For students who would benefit from further instruction and individual support while taking their first college-transfer level English course, ENGL C1000E is a recommended alternative to ENGL C1000.

In this course, students receive instruction in academic reading and writing, including writing processes, effective use of language, analytical thinking, and the foundations of academic research. An argumentative research essay is required for the successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Cal-GETC 4
GE 3
Cal-CETC Area 4 - Social Sciences
Cal-GETC 4
Units 3
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MATH C2210
Pre. GE 4
Calculus I: Early Transcendentals
MATH C2210
Units 4
Advisory: English Placement Level 6 or higher.

A first course in differential and integral calculus of a single variable. Topics include limits and continuity of functions, techniques and applications of differentiation, an introduction to integration, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. This course is primarily intended for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CHEM 1A
GE M Lab 5
General Chemistry
CHEM 1A
Units 5
Note: Students must provide those materials which are of continuing value outside of the classroom setting. This cost will be explained at the first class meeting.

This course is for science and engineering majors which covers the nature of atoms, molecules, and ions; chemical reactions; precipitation, oxidation-reduction, and acid/base chemistry; stoichiometry; electronic structure; periodicity; chemical bonding and molecular structure; properties of solids, liquids, and gases; and an introduction to thermodynamics and solutions. The lecture and discussion portions of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, First Year

16 Units Total
Cal-GETC 1B
GE 3
Cal-GETC Area 1B - Critical Thinking and Composition
Cal-GETC 1B
Units 3
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COMM C1000
GE 3
Introduction to Public Speaking
COMM C1000
Units 3
In this course, students learn and apply foundational rhetorical theories and techniques of public speaking in a multicultural democratic society. Students discover, develop, and critically analyze ideas in public discourse through research, reasoning, organization, composition, delivery to a live audience and evaluation of various types of speeches, including informative and persuasive speeches. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
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CHEM 1B
Pre. M Lab 5
General Chemistry
CHEM 1B
Units 5
Note: Students must provide those materials which are of continuing value outside of the classroom setting. This cost will be explained at the first class meeting.

An introduction to chemical kinetics, nuclear chemistry, transition metals, and organic chemistry; along with continued, in-depth study of equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, acid-base and solution chemistry. The lecture and discussion portions of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
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MATH C2220
Pre. 5
Calculus II: Early Transcendentals
MATH C2220
Units 5
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

A second course in differential and integral calculus of a single variable. Topics include applications of integration, techniques of integration, infinite sequences and series, and the calculus of parametric and polar equations. This course is primarily intended for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Fall Semester, Second Year

14 Units Total
Cal-GETC 4
GE 3
Cal-GETC Area 4 - Social Sciences
Cal-GETC 4
Units 3
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Cal-GETC 3A
GE 3
Cal-GETC Area 3A - Arts
Cal-GETC 3A
Units 3
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MATH 4A
Pre. 4
Calculus 4A
MATH 4A
Units 4
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course covers vectors in two and three dimensions, multi-variable functions, partial differentiation, multiple integrals, line integrals, divergence, gradient, curl, Stokes' Theorem, Divergence Theorem, and Green's Theorem. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ZOOL 1
M 4
General Zoology
ZOOL 1
Units 4
This course focuses on the study of the major divisions of the animal kingdom with emphasis on the origin, adaptations, functions, and development.
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Spring Semester, Second Year

14 Units Total
Cal-GETC 6
GE 3
Cal-GETC Area 6 - Ethnic Studies
Cal-GETC 6
Units 3
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Cal-GETC 3B
GE 3
Cal-GETC Area 3B - Humanities
Cal-GETC 3B
Units 3
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BIOL 1
Pre. M Lab 4
Principles of Biology
BIOL 1
Units 4
This is a biological science course emphasizing molecular and cellular organization, energetics of respiration and photosynthesis, and cell integration and development. Topics covered include general principles of heredity, evolution, speciation and ecology. This course is intended for majors in science.
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BOT 1
M 4
General Botany
BOT 1
Units 4
Advisory: BIOL 1 or BIOL 10 with a grade of C or higher

Note: This course includes required field trips that may extend past normal class times.

This Botany course is intended for science majors and covers comparative diversity, structure, and function of major plant and plant-like groups. Topics include plant development, morphology and physiology, taxonomy and systematics, ecology, and ethnobotany. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
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Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.

*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:

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