Biology

• Associate of Arts Degree In Biology (Majors Code 0401.00)
• Associate of Arts Degree In Biology - Health Science Option (Majors Code (1260.00.00)
• NEW: Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) In Biology

Transfer students should consult the Counseling Office for major preparation and general education requirements for the particular transfer institution of their choice.

Transfer students who want to also obtain an Associate degree may do so by completing all WLAC general education requirements plus at least 18 units in the major as required by the transfer institution (a total of 60 units for an Associate Degree).

In 2012, the California Community Colleges and CSU launched the new Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T) Pathway. The Science Division now offers an Associate Degree for Transfer in Biology. Upon successful completion, you are guaranteed admission to the CSU system as a junior. With this new degree, you now have the opportunity to complete two degrees with only 120 units if you apply and are admitted into a similar degree program.

Associate Degrees for Transfer comply with The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (Senate Bill 1440).

To earn an AS-T in Biology, students must meet the following requirements:

(1) Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the CSU, including the following:

• (A) 31 IGETC units or 33 CSU-GE units.
• (B) 35 semester units in the courses listed below
• (C) Electives up to 60 units

(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

(3) Earn a C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Students will not be required to complete additional local graduation requirements to obtain the AA-T or AS-T degree.

REQUIRED COURSES (35 units)

• BIOLOGY 6 General Biology I (5 units)
• BIOLOGY 7 General Biology II (5 units)
• CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (5 units) AND
• CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (5 units)
• PHYSICS 37 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I (5 units) AND
• PHYSICS 38 Physics for Engineers and Scientists II (5 units)
• MATH 261 Calculus I (5 units)

Don't miss out on obtaining this degree. Contact the faculty for more information on applying for this degree.

The Associate Degree in Biology is intended for those students who wish to transfer to a four-year institution and major in a biological science. This curriculum is generally required of pre-dental, pre-medical, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, and pre-veterinary students

Students who wish to obtain an Associate degree in Biology may do so by completing the course requirements listed below PLUS all other WLAC requirements for an Associate degree.

REQUIRED COURSES

• BIOLOGY 6 General Biology I (5 units)
• BIOLOGY 7 General Biology II (5 units)

AND 30 UNITS FROM THE FOLLOWING THREE GROUPS:

GROUP 1

• CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (5 units) AND
• CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (5 units)

GROUP 2

• CHEM 211 Organic Chemistry for Science Majors I (5 units)
• CHEM 212 Organic Chemistry for Science Majors II (5 units)

GROUP 3

• MATH 260 Pre-Calculus (5 units)
• MATH 261 Calculus I (5 units)

The Health Science option of the Associate in Arts Degree in Biology provides an orientation to the health sciences while including the general background required for the fields of nursing, dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, and other health fields.

Students who wish to obtain an Associate degree in Biology (Health Science Option) may do so by completing the course requirements listed below plus all other WLAC requirements for an Associate degree.

REQUIRED COURSES

• ANATOMY 1 Introduction to Human Anatomy (4 units)
• BIOLOGY 3 Introduction to Biology (4 units)
• CHEM 51 Fundamentals of Chemistry I (5 Units) OR
• CHEM 60 Introduction to General Chemistry (5 units)
• MICRO 20 General Microbiology (4 units)
• PHYSIOL 1 Introduction to Human Physiology (4 units)

RECOMMENDED COURSES

• CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (5 units)
• PSYCH 1 General Psychology I (3 units)
• SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology (3 units) OR
• SOC 2 American Social Problems (3 units) OR
• ANTHRO 102 Human Ways of Life: Cultural Anthropology (3 units)

NOTE: Always review requirements of the institution to which you plan to transfer.

Introduction to Biology (4 Units total)
This introductory course in biology is designed to fulfill a laboratory science requirement for students not majoring in biology. Students must be enrolled concurrently in a lecture and a lab section. The lecture portion of the course (formerly known as Biology 3A) emphasizes the basic principles in biology and the fundamental characteristics of all living organisms. Lecture topics include the scientific method, cell structure and function, levels of organization of living organisms, heredity, and the genetic control of cellular processes, evolution, and ecology. The laboratory portion of the course (formerly known as Biology 3B) emphasizes the diversity of living organisms. Laboratory topics include an introduction to the microscope, study of the cell, a survey of the microorganisms, plants, and animals that comprise the kingdoms of life, and the anatomic study of the earthworm, grasshopper, and fetal pig.

NOTE: Biology 3A and 3B are no longer offered as separate courses.

UC Transfer Credit Limit: No credit will be given for Biology 3 if taken after Biology 6

Lecture Textbook: “Inquiry Into Life” 15th edition. By Sylvia s. Mader and Michael Windelspecht. Publisher: McGraw Hill Education 2017

Lab Textbook: Biology 3B Lab Manual. Revised Fall 2017. Steven Fink, MS, Vered Mirmovitch, PhD & Patricia Zuk, PhD.

Recommended: English 28, Math 105

Transfer: UC/CSU

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the semester, the student will be able to:

1. Identify the functions of selected carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins & minerals & how a deficiency or excess could affect one’s health.
2. Relate the structure of a cell and its organelles to essential processes of life

1. Determine whether an unknown solution contains a sugar, a protein or a starch using the Benedict's test, Biuret test and the Iodine test.
2. Understand the principles of taxonomy and apply those principles to classify organisms

The principles of molecular biology, cell structure and function, genetics, evolution and organization at the tissue level in plants and animals are studied in this general biology course. Biology 6 and Biology 7 satisfy the requirements of lower division biological science majors, pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-pharmacy majors.

Note: Many four-year institutions recommend the completion of both Biology 6 and 7 as a core program.

Textbook: Campbell's Biology. Urry et al. Pearson Publishing

Lab Manual: Biology 6 Lab Manual. Kareen Martin, PhD OR Patricia Zuk, PhD. (Available at WLAC Bookstore)

Pre-requisite: Biology 3 or equivalent college-level biology; Chemistry 60 (or 101); Math 125 (Intermediate Algebra)

Recommended: English 28

Transfer: UC/CSU

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the semester, the student will be able to:

1. Understand the major components of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
2. Understand and discuss the major cellular processes of eukaryotic cells such as membrane transport, cell division/mitosis, DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein translation, cellular organization and secretion and energy production

This course covers the principles of organ and organ system physiology in plants and animals, together with ecology and the course of evolution. A survey of the various plant and animal groups is included in the laboratory section of this course. Biology 6 and Biology 7 satisfy the requirements of lower division biological science majors, pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-pharmacy majors.

Note: Many four-year institutions recommend the completion of both Biology 6 and 7 as a core program.

Textbook: Campbell's Biology. Urry et al. Pearson Publishing

Lab Manual: Biology 7 Lab Manual. Vered Mirmovitch, PhD & Patricia Zuk, PhD. (Available at WLAC Bookstore)

Pre-requisite: Biology 3 (or Biology 6) or equivalent college-level biology

Recommended: English 28

Transfer: UC/CSU

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the semester, the student will be able to:

1. Understand the principles of taxonomy and how it works & how molecular genetics has changed taxonomy
2. Understand the differences between a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell and how each are structured

Students examine biological principles including evolution, adaptation and scientific methods using the local environment. Includes the role of climate in the distribution of plant and animal species and a systematic survey of the common local plants, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, birds, and mammals.

Textbook: contact professor for textbook information

Pre-requisite: None

Recommended: English 28

Transfer: UC/CSU

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the semester, the student will be able to:

1. Explain how a species can change using a Darwinian explanation.
2. Explain how different biotic and abiotic factors effect species distribution and population dynamics

This course is designed for Life Science majors as a continuance of their general biology studies. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to molecular genetics, genomics and genetic analysis, whereby students examine topics such as the molecular biology of DNA and RNA, chromosome analysis, population genetics and genomes. This course also provides a comprehensive introduction to the science of biotechnology by providing the theory of current laboratory procedures, together with and hands-on experience.

Textbook: contact professor for textbook information

Lab Manual: Biology 110 Lab Manual. Patricia Zuk, PhD. (Available at WLAC Bookstore)

Pre-requisite: Biology 6, Chemistry 101, Math 125

Recommended: English 28

Transfer: UC/CSU

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the semester, the students should understand and be able to explain the fundamental concepts of the following:

1. What a genome is
2. Mendelian genetics and the chromosomal basis of inheritance including the laws of segregation and independent assortment
3. What is a genetic mutation and where do they occur?

Study of microorganisms, including their structure, metabolism, methods of multiplying, and classification. The techniques used to control microorganisms and the human body’s defenses against microbial attack are emphasized. The laboratory covers the microscopic examination of microorganisms, aseptic techniques, the cultivation of bacteria, the effects of antimicrobial agents, and the influence of the environment on bacterial growth.

Textbook: Microbiology: an Introduction. G.R. Tortora, B.R. Funke, & C.L. Case. Benjamin Cummings Publishing Co. 12th edition

Lab Manual: Microbiology Laboratory Theory & Application, Brief 3rd ed. Leboffe, Pierce. Morton Publishing Company. Customized for WLAC (Available at Bookstore)

Pre-requisite Biology (or Biology 6) or college-level biology

Recommended: English 28

Transfer: UC/CSU

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the semester, the student will be able to:

1. Understand the physiology, molecular composition, identification and microorganisms, and the structure and replication of infectious particles
2. Understand and discuss the characteristics of infectious diseases, and the molecular and cellular principles of the human immune response to them.