Biology (DTA/MRP)

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The Associate in Biology (DTA/MRP) is designed for students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions after completing the first two years of study at Pierce College. Pierce College’s biology, microbiology and natural science departments offer these courses for students planning to transfer. This degree streamlines and facilitates preparation for upper division course work in Biology across the state, and prepares students for Bachelor’s degree majors in Biology.

Degree Outcomes

General Degree Requirements

Minimum of 90 credits earned in courses numbered 100 or above is required to complete the Associate in Biology DTA/MRP degree.
ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits) - required
COLLG 110 College Success required during the first or second quarter of attendance
Earn the lesser of (at least) 20 college level credits or 25% of the credits applicable to the degree or certificate at Pierce College
Cumulative college-level grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher is required
1.5 grade (C-) or higher is required for all coursework, unless stated otherwise
“Pass” (P) grades, independent study and cooperative work experience/work-based learning credits may be used for general elective credits only
Once a course has been successfully completed, credits earned may be used in only one category

Notes:

Admission application deadlines vary; students must meet the deadline for the university or universities to which they plan to apply for transfer admission.
Certain schools may have additional university-specific requirements that are not prerequisites to admission to the Biology major but will need to be completed prior to graduation. Contact with advisors from individual schools for institutional requirements is highly recommended since this DTA may not meet every institution specific graduation requirement.
Certain schools may have additional university-specific requirements for admission to the institution that are not prerequisites specifically identified in the DTA requirements.
In order to better prepare for successful transfer, students are encouraged to consult with the institution(s) to which they wish to transfer regarding the humanities and social science courses that best support or may be required as prerequisites to their Biology curriculum.
Students should check with the transfer institution prior to taking any further biology courses beyond the one-year sequence. Some colleges require all continuing biology courses be taken at the 300 level.

Core Requirements

Communications (10 Credits)

ENGL& 101 requires a 2.0 or higher grade. Second communications course requries a 1.5 or higher grade and may be individualized based on baccalaureate college of choice.

ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits) required

Select one:

Quantitative Skills (5 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 or higher grade.

Intermediate algebra proficiency leading to a pre-calculus math course is required. Intermediate algebra proficiency may be demonstrated by successful completion of a calculus and/or statistics course for which intermediate algebra is a prerequisite.

Statistics (a course that includes descriptive and inferential statistics MATH& 146 ) may be substituted for Calculus 1 at some institutuions; students are encouraged to check with the transfer institution early in the decision process to confirm requirements.

MATH& 151 Calculus I (5 credits)

Humanities (15 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 or higher grade. Select from at least two disciplines. Nor more than five credits from performance skills and no more than five credits are allowed in world language.

In order to better prepare for successful transfer, you are encouraged to consult with the institution(s) to which you wish to transfer regarding the humanities courses that best support or may be required as prerequisites to their Biology curriculum.

Humanities Performance/Skills

Social Sciences (15 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 or higher grade. Select from at least two disciplines.

In order to better prepare for successful transfer, you are encouraged to consult with the institution(s) to which you wish to transfer regarding the social science courses that best support or may be required as prerequisites to their Biology curriculum.

Natural Sciences (30 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 grade or higher. A full year sequence at a single college is the best preparation for the baccalaureate biology degree.

All baccalaureate institutions want the following four areas covered within the 15 credit general biology sequence: Ecology, Evolution, Major Cell and Molecular biology and Organismal (plant and animal) physiology.

General Electives (15 Credits)

Minimum grade of 1.0 is required. Additional college-level courses so that the total credits earned is a least 90 credits. A maximum of three PE activity credits can be applied to this degree.

Electives allow you to include additional courses to prepare for the biology major based on college selection. Examples include a full year sequence of organic chemistry for majors; a full year sequence of physics for science majors; or further math at the pre-calculus level or above or statistics.

You should check with the transfer institution(s) prior to taking any further biology courses beyond the one-year sequence. Some colleges require all continuing biology courses be taken at the 300 level.

COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits) required with a 2.0 or higher grade

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