Life Sciences & Technologies

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Interested 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 & Certificates

The 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!

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Transfer Options, Degrees and/or Certificates

Sample Academic Plans

Biology UC TransferCSU TransferAS

UC Transfer: Biology, Major* UC-7 Course 2 Years Full-Time

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.

Semester 1

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 2

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Summer

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
Course	Title	IGETC Area/Major	Units
Physics 4A**	General Physics	1B	4

Semester 3

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 4

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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.

CSU Transfer: Biology, AS-T* CSU-STEM 2 Years Full-Time

Semester 1

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 2

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Summer

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
Course	Title	CSU GE Area/Major	Units
COMM 1	Communication Fundamentals	A1	3
Critical Thinking	Critical Thinking GE Course	A3	3-4

Semester 3

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 4

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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.

Biology, AS AS-GE 2 Years Full-Time

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.

Semester 1

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 2

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Summer

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
Course	Title	AS GE Area/Major	Units
BIO 81	Integrated Biology: From DNA to Organisms	2 & Major	4

Semester 3

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 4

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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.

Biochemistry UC Transfer

UC Transfer: Biochemistry, Major* UC-7 Course 2 Years Full-Time

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.

Semester 1

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 2

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Summer

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
Course	Title	IGETC Area/Major	Units
Physics 4A**	General Physics	5A/5C & Major	4

Semester 3

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 4

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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.

Environmental Science CSU Transfer

CSU Transfer: Environmental Science, AS-T* CSU-GE 2 Years Full-Time

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.

Semester 1

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 2

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Summer

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
Course	Title	IGETC Area/Major	Units
GEOG 1	Physical Geography	B1 & Major	3
GEOG 1 Lab	Physical Geography Lab	B3 & Major	1

Semester 3

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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

Semester 4

Sample Educational Plan for a single term.
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.

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

Explore Careers Related to Biological Sciences

Animal Scientists

Median Salary

$50,067

Job Growth

-4%

Education

Bachelor's Degree
15%

Master's Degree
26%

Doctoral or More
59%

Course	Title	Units
BIOT 70	Introduction to Biotechnology	3
BIOT 70L	Introduction to Biotechnology Laboratory	1

Course	Title	Units
BIOT 274	Biotechnology B: Proteins	4
BIOT 276	Quality and Regulatory Complicance in Bioscience	2

Course	Title	AS GE Area/Major	Units
WR 1	College Writing 1	1A	4
MATH 10 or PSYC 10	Introduction to Statistics or Statistical Methods in Behavioral Sciences	1C & Major	3
BIO 10 or CHEM 4	Biochemistry for Health Sciences or Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry	2 & Major	4-5
Elective	Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299)		3

Course	Title	AS GE Area/Major	Units
Communications/Thinking	Communication/Analytical Thinking GE Course	1B	3-4
BIO 11	Human Anatomy	2& Major	4
HLTH 5	Introduction to Public Health	3 & Major	3
CS 1 or CIM 107	Introduction to Computer Systems or Introduction to Personal Computer Applications		3
Elective	Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299)		3

Course	Title	AS GE Area/Major	Units
BIO 15	General Microbiology	2 & Major	5
PSYC 1 or SOC 1	Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology	3 & Major	3
Elective	Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299)		3
Elective	Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299)		3

Course	Title	AS GE Area/Major	Units
BIO 12	Human Physiology	2 & Major	4
Arts/Humanities	Arts or Humanities GE Course	4	3
Elective	Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299)		3
Elective	Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299)		3
Elective	Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299)		3

Biological Sciences

Program Length

Transfer Options

Program Specific Support

Your Support Team

Transfer Options, Degrees and/or Certificates

Explore Careers Related to Biological Sciences

Animal Scientists

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Bioinformatics Scientists

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Biologists

Biostatisticians

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Epidemiologists

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Medical Scientists

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Postsecondary Biological Science Teachers

Secondary School Teachers

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Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

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