Arizona Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
17 colleges · 210 sections · 39 unique courses · Summer 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at Arizona community colleges sits at the foot of the pre-health pipeline: pre-nursing, pre-med, pre-pharmacy, pre-dental, and pre-PT students all complete their lower-division biology — anatomy, physiology, microbiology, general biology — at community college tuition rates before transferring or applying to professional programs. The 210 sections across 17 Public 2-year institutions this term include the lab-heavy sequences that admissions committees specifically look for.
A standalone biology associate isn't directly career-track — most biology careers require a bachelor's or graduate degree — but the credits transfer cleanly to four-year biology programs in Arizona, and the lab experience builds the foundation health-profession schools expect. Compare colleges below for online vs in-person section availability; many programs require live lab attendance even when lecture is online.
Colleges offering Biology
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Biology is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 17 colleges in Arizona this term (210 sections total).
Delivery format
- online134 (64%)
- in person48 (23%)
- hybrid26 (12%)
- zoom2 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)91
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)12
- Evening (5 PM and after)12
- Asynchronous / TBA95
Start dates
Sections begin on 14 distinct dates. 196 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 137 distinct instructors across 17 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Mohave Community College1 program
First Semester: 14 credits
14 credits- BIO 181General Biology I (Majors) with Lab1 section+ plan
- CHM 151General Chemistry I with Labnot offered+ plan
- PHI 101Introduction to Philosophy3 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXor any 3 credit course within the Arts & Humanities category of the AGECnot offered+ plan
- ENG 101English Composition I10 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXNotes: Build an academic plan and become familiar with degree requirements in the catalog.not offered+ plan
Second Semester: 14 credits
14 creditsThird Semester: 16 credits
16 credits- MAT 211Introductory Statisticsnot offered+ plan
- CHM 235General Organic Chemistry I with Labnot offered+ plan
- BIO 200Biological Inquiry: Research Methods and Ethics1 section+ plan
- PSY 101Introduction to Psychology10 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXor any 3 credit course within the Social and Behavioral Science category of the AGECnot offered+ plan
- SOC 131Introduction to Sociology2 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXor any 3 credit course within the Social and Behavioral Science category of the AGECnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXNotes: Check degree progress and adjust the academic plan if needed.not offered+ plan
Fourth Semester: 14 credits
14 credits- CHM 236General Organic Chemistry II with Labnot offered+ plan
- BIO 160Anatomy and Physiology of Human Structure and Function2 sections+ plan
- HUM 150Humanities I - Gods, Myths, and Empires2 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXor any 3 credit course within the Arts & Humanities category of the AGECnot offered+ plan
- HIS 131History of the United States I1 section+ plan
- ELEC XXXor any course(s) totaling 3 credits within the Institutions of the Americas category of the AGECnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXNotes: Confirm lower-division coursework is on track for completion.not offered+ plan
Fifth Semester: 16 credits
16 creditsSixth Semester: 17 credits
17 credits- PHY 111General Physics I with Labnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXornot offered+ plan
- PHY 115University Physics I with Labnot offered+ plan
- BIO 308Cell Biology with Labnot offered+ plan
- BIO 309Ecologynot offered+ plan
- BIO 310Evolution Biologynot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXNotes: IF taking PHY 111 and PHY 112, will need to take an additional AGEC course to meet the program total of 120 creditsnot offered+ plan
Seventh Semester: 17 credits
17 credits- PHY 112General Physics II with Labnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXornot offered+ plan
- PHY 116University Physics II with Labnot offered+ plan
- BIO 302Marine Biologynot offered+ plan
- BIO 305Botanynot offered+ plan
- BIO 306Zoologynot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXNotes: IF taking PHY 111 and PHY 112, will need to take an additional AGEC course to meet the program total of 120 creditsnot offered+ plan
Eighth Semester: 12 credits
12 creditsSource: College catalog
Common Biology courses
- BIO 181General Biology (Majors) I(19 sections)
- BIO 160Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology(18 sections)
- BIO 202Human Anatomy and Physiology II(18 sections)
- BIO 205Microbiology(16 sections)
- BIO 100General Biology (non-majors)(15 sections)
- BIO 201Human Anatomy & Physiology I(12 sections)
- BIO 105Environmental Biology(9 sections)
- BIO 156Intro Biology Allied Health(9 sections)
- BIO 202INHuman Anatomy/Physiology II SUN# BIO2202(9 sections)
- BIO 156INIntro Biology Allied Health (9 sections)
- BIO 145Marine Biology(7 sections)
- BIO 201IHHuman Anatomy/Physio Histology (7 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Can I take pre-med biology courses at a community college?
- Yes, and many med-school applicants do — at lower tuition and often with smaller class sizes than at a four-year. The caveat: med schools sometimes prefer to see at least the upper-division biology (cell, genetics, biochemistry) taken at a four-year institution. Talk to a pre-health advisor early; the strategy varies by which med schools you're targeting.
- Do biology lab credits transfer to a bachelor's program?
- Usually yes for general bio, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology — the standard pre-health four. Specialized labs (organic chemistry lab, biochemistry lab, upper-division cell biology lab) often need to be retaken at the four-year because the lab equipment and protocols differ. Confirm with the target program before enrolling.
- What can I do with just a biology associate degree?
- Limited but real: biological technician roles (lab tech at research institutions, pharma quality-control, environmental monitoring), some health-care support roles (medical assistant if combined with appropriate certifications), and entry-level government inspection roles. The strongest direct-career CC pathways for the bio-curious are nursing, dental hygiene, and medical lab technology — career-track programs rather than the transfer-track biology associate.
- How long is the biology associate?
- Two years full-time. Pre-health students often take it in 2.5–3 years to fit in the additional chemistry and physics courses that med, PT, dental, and pharmacy schools require in addition to the standard biology sequence.
Compare Biology programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Arizona’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in Arizona
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.