Biology Degree for Transfer

Description

The Associate in Science in Biology degree for Transfer (AS-T) is designed to prepare students to transfer to a California State University (CSU) as a junior with a degree in Biology. This degree provides students with the foundation classes to support ongoing interest in the field of biology. The core consists of the biology sequence required for transfer, in which students acquire a conceptual understanding of cellular and molecular processes, plant and animal diversity, and evolutionary concepts.

See Taft College’s Transfer Center. Our Transfer Admission Guarantees include many other schools. Check with your Counselor to see if this degree can transfer to other four-year schools.

Earnings Potential

An associate degree in biology for transfer offers you the salary potential of $28,958 two years after graduation from Taft College, with expected increases to $57,175 at five years, based on five-year studies of graduates by California Community Colleges. These do not reflect salaries with a four-year degree.1

A wide array of career options in industry, science, and healthcare are available with a degree in biology. They typically require a minimum of a four-year degree. Some options include biologist, botanist, zoologist, registered nurse, high school teacher, agricultural technician, biomedical engineer, hydrologist, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, and respiratory therapist, among many others. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage is $77,600 for registered nurses; $48,140 for biological technicians; $64,650 for zoologists; $149,440 for biomedical engineers; and $101,340 for medical managers and healthcare administrators.2

1 California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Salary Surfer. 2021. https://salarysurfer.cccco.edu. Accessed 19 April 2023.

2 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 8 Sept. 2022. www.bls.gov/ooh. Accessed 19 April 2023.

Program Requirements

  1. Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
    1. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education Breadth Requirements.
    2. A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
  2. Obtain a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Program Learning Outcomes

The Associate in Science in Biology degree for Transfer (AS-T) provides a clear and direct route for students to seamlessly transfer as a junior to a Biology program at a CSU.

Students who complete this program and transfer to a CSU are able to:

  1. Identify and explain the definitive characteristics of living organisms in a clear and concise manner.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of evolution and its relationship to the unity and diversity of living organisms.
  3. Employ the scientific method by proposing hypotheses based on observations, testing the hypotheses, critical analyzing experimental data, and formulating conclusions based on the experimental data.
  4. Find, select, and evaluate various types of scientific information including research articles, mass media sources, and web information.
  5. Demonstrate the safe and correct operating procedures in the use and treatment of common lab equipment and materials.

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