The Biology Department offers a comprehensive, multi-course program designed to introduce students to the field of professional biology while providing the foundation needed for future advanced coursework. Our Biology Majors courses are designed primarily for students looking to transfer as biology majors to four year institutions within California, though we welcome any students who have the necessary prerequisites.
Our suggested course sequence for new biology majors at Orange Coast is:
- Biology 181, Cell and Molecular Biology, with lab
- Biology 185, Diversity of Organisms, with lab
After completing these two signature courses, we invite students to sample our wide range of advanced biology courses. Note that not all universities require or accept these additional courses, so be sure to consult with Assist.org, or your academic counselor, to see whether these courses will transfer for you.. These courses do not have to be taken in any particular sequence.
- Biology 280, Evolutionary Ecology, with lab
- Biology 281 & 282, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biology 283, Genetics
Biology majors looking for a more thorough introduction to human anatomy and physiology are welcome to take any of our allied health oriented courses.
There are many possible carreer paths biology majors can choose to pursue; to help explore all the available options, the department is now offering a course called Exploration of Careers in Biology. This 1-unit seminar course will feature regular guest speakers from a range of biology careers, as well as other activities.
While we have attempted to ensure that our biology majors sequence transfers to all UC and CSU campuses our students transfer to, we highly recommend that you consult Assist.org, or an academic counselor, when planning your program of study to determine which courses are transferable to the university you plan on attending.
Many courses in the biology majors program also satisfy prerequisites for professional schools in the health sciences. If you plan on transferring to a professional school, such as pharmacy or optometry, you should consult the admission requirements for specific professional schools.
Note: Some institutions may require Biology 182 (Zoology) and/or Biology 183 (Botany) to be taken following Biology 181 instead of Biology 185. Please consult Assist.org or your academic counselor to determine which course(s) best satisfy your transfer needs.