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Biological Sciences

Associate in Science



Program Details

The Associate in Science in Biological Science degree is in alignment with the University of California (UC) Transfer Pathways and is intended to prepare students who plan to transfer to a UC as a Biology major. In addition to meeting the minimum UC transfer admission requirements, students completing this degree will have met the major preparation requirements for admission to the UC. Students are encouraged to work with a counselor and consult the ASSIST database for possible additional coursework and transfer requirements. To earn an Associate in Science Degree with a major in Biological Sciences, students complete 40 specified units, plus General Education Degree Requirements. These major requirements optimize preparation for upper division course work for advanced degrees in Biology offered by four-year institutions. In addition, earning this degree suggests an achievement of technical skills that may be helpful in seeking immediate employment.

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Biological Sciences Pathways

Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2023-2024. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?

Featured Careers

Find your calling. Explore high-earning careers with entry-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • Agricultural Technicians

    High school diploma/GED, Bachelor's degree

    • Job growth: Rising
    • Low salary: 32,860
    • High salary: 69,010
    • Average salary: 46790
    Rising Job Growth $ 46,790 Average Salary $32,860 $69,010

  • Bioinformatics Scientists

    Bachelor's degree, Post-doctoral training

    • Job growth: Rising
    • Low salary: 54,500
    • High salary: 159,780
    • Average salary: 93330
    Rising Job Growth $ 93,330 Average Salary $54,500 $159,780

  • Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

    Doctoral degree, Post-doctoral training

    • Job growth: Rising
    • Low salary: 50,760
    • High salary: 169,560
    • Average salary: 83460
    Rising Job Growth $ 83,460 Average Salary $50,760 $169,560

All Careers in Biological Sciences (42)

Clinical Data ManagersBachelor's degreeRising112,590
Bioengineers & Biomedical EngineersBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising106,950
Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising104,170
Health Informatics SpecialistsMaster's degree, Bachelor's degreeRising103,790
Biochemists & BiophysicistsPost-doctoral training, Doctoral degreeRising103,650
BiostatisticiansMaster's degree, Doctoral degreeRising103,300
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, & Space Sciences Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree, Doctoral degreeStable101,390
Medical ScientistsDoctoral degree, Post-doctoral trainingRising100,590
Water/Wastewater EngineersBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising99,590
Clinical Nurse SpecialistsMaster's degreeRising93,600
Detectives & Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma/GED, Associate's degreeDeclining93,580
Police Identification & Records OfficersAssociate's degree, Bachelor's degreeDeclining93,580
Bioinformatics ScientistsBachelor's degree, Post-doctoral trainingRising93,330
BiologistsMaster's degree, Bachelor's degreeRising93,330
GeneticistsPost-doctoral training, Master's degreeRising93,330
Molecular and Cellular BiologistsPost-doctoral training, Bachelor's degreeRising93,330
Environmental Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral degree, Post-doctoral trainingStable87,710
MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising87,330
Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree, Post-doctoral trainingStable86,220
Food Scientists & TechnologistsBachelor's degree, Doctoral degreeRising85,310
Agricultural EngineersBachelor's degreeRising84,630
Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral degree, Post-doctoral trainingRising83,460
Environmental Restoration PlannersBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising80,060
Industrial EcologistsMaster's degree, Bachelor's degreeRising80,060
CoronersBachelor's degree, Associate's degreeStable78,420
Zoologists & Wildlife BiologistsBachelor's degree, Master's degreeStable72,860
Bioinformatics TechniciansBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising71,490
Soil & Plant ScientistsMaster's degree, Bachelor's degreeRising71,410
Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising67,950
Forensic Science TechniciansCertificate after high school, High school diploma/GEDRising67,440
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree, Master's degreeDeclining64,580
Middle School TeachersBachelor's degree, Certificate after collegeDeclining62,970
Elementary School TeachersBachelor's degree, Master's degreeDeclining62,340
Quality Control AnalystsHigh school diploma/GED, Bachelor's degreeRising60,130
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, & English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree, Master's degreeDeclining59,950
Social Science Research AssistantsBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising58,040
Chemical TechniciansBachelor's degree, High school diploma/GEDRising57,790
Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree, Master's degreeRising52,000
Food Science TechniciansBachelor's degree, Associate's degreeRising49,430
Agricultural TechniciansHigh school diploma/GED, Bachelor's degreeRising46,790
Precision Agriculture TechniciansBachelor's degree, Associate's degreeRising46,790
TutorsBachelor's degree, Some collegeDeclining40,090

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes help you work towards your educational goals.

  1. demonstrate an understanding of biological observation and experiments as well as the information and theories derived from both of these methods of study
  2. utilize the scientific method to critically analyze data and results.
  3. understand how evolutionary principles provide a comprehensive model for understanding the origins and relationships of living organisms