California Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
90 colleges · 3975 sections · 572 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at California 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 3975 sections across 90 California CCs 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 California, 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 90 colleges in California this term (3975 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person2683 (67%)
- online721 (18%)
- hybrid508 (13%)
- zoom63 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)1567
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)983
- Evening (5 PM and after)552
- Asynchronous / TBA873
Start dates
Sections begin on 49 distinct dates. 382 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 1512 distinct instructors across 90 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
College of the Desert1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
- BI 005Molecular and Cell Biology(5 cr)2 sections+ plan
- BI 006Biology of Organisms(5 cr)1 section+ plan
- CH 001AGeneral Chemistry I(5 cr)4 sections+ plan
- CH 001BGeneral Chemistry II(5 cr)2 sections+ plan
- MATH 001ACalculus(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- MATH 001BCalculus II(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- PH 020APhysics for Life Sciences Majors I(4 cr)1 section+ plan
- PH 020BPhysics for Life Sciences Majors II(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- PH 002ACollege Physics I(4 cr)1 section+ plan
- PH 002BCollege Physics II(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- PH 003AEngineering Physics(4 cr)2 sections+ plan
- PH 003BEngineering Physics(4 cr)2 sections+ plan
Source: College catalog
Cuyamaca College2 programs
Evergreen Valley College2 programs
Fullerton College6 programs
Grossmont College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
- BIO 230Principles of Cellular, Molecular and Evolutionary Biology(4 cr)4 sections+ plan
- BIO 240Principles of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology(5 cr)4 sections+ plan
- CHEM 141General Chemistry I9 sections+ plan
- CHEM 142General Chemistry II5 sections+ plan
- MATH 180Analytic Geometry and Calculus Inot offered+ plan
- PHYC 130Fundamentals of Physics5 sections+ plan
- PHYC 131Fundamentals of Physics2 sections+ plan
- BIO 215Statistics for Life Sciences1 section+ plan
- ANTH 215Statistics for the Behavioral Sciencesnot offered+ plan
- PSY 215Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences12 sections+ plan
- SOC 215Statistics for the Behavioral Sciencesnot offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Hartnell College2 programs
Mt San Antonio College2 programs
Pasadena City College2 programs
San Bernardino Valley College3 programs
San Jose City College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
- BIOL 004AGeneral Principles and Cell Biology(5 cr)3 sections+ plan
- BIOL 004BBiodiversity and Organismal Biology(5 cr)2 sections+ plan
- CHEM 001AGeneral Chemistry(5 cr)7 sections+ plan
- CHEM 001BGeneral Chemistry(5 cr)4 sections+ plan
- MATH 071Calculus I With Analytic Geometry(5 cr)9 sections+ plan
- PHYS 002AAlgebra/Trigonometry-Based Physics I4 sections+ plan
- PHYS 002BAlgebra/Trigonometry-Based Physics II4 sections+ plan
- PHYS 004AGeneral Physics2 sections+ plan
- PHYS 004BGeneral Physics2 sections+ plan
Source: College catalog
Common Biology courses
- BIOL C1000Intro to Biology with Lab(196 sections)
- BIOL 20Human Anatomy(90 sections)
- BIOL 5Human Physiology(84 sections)
- BIOL 107General Biology Lecture/Lab(82 sections)
- BIOL 100Introductory Biology(71 sections)
- BIOL 101Introduction to Biology(69 sections)
- BIOL 1Environmental Biology(68 sections)
- BIO 1CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY(67 sections)
- BIO 10Animal Biology(52 sections)
- BIOL B32Human Anatomy and Physiology I(52 sections)
- BIOL 10INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY(49 sections)
- BIOL 020Frontiers in Biology(45 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 California’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in California
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.