Idaho Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
3 colleges · 203 sections · 33 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at Idaho 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 203 sections across 3 Idaho Community Colleges 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 Idaho, 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 →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Western Idaho | 97 | 19 | 44 |
| North Idaho College | 58 | 16 | 18 |
| College of Eastern Idaho | 48 | 10 | 9 |
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 3 colleges in Idaho this term (203 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person87 (43%)
- online71 (35%)
- hybrid45 (22%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)54
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)59
- Evening (5 PM and after)17
- Asynchronous / TBA73
Start dates
Sections begin on 3 distinct dates. 5 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 38 distinct instructors across 3 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 Southern Idaho1 program
Fall Semester Freshman Year
15 creditsSpring Semester Freshman Year
17 creditsFall Semester Sophomore Year
18 creditsSpring Semester Sophomore Year
15 creditsProgram Electives 5 hours
- ACCT 201Introduction to Financial Accounting(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- ALLH 100Introduction to Allied Health(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- ALLH 101Medical Terminology(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- ALLH 220Fundamentals of Nutrition(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- ALLH 230Healthy Aspects of Aging(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- AGRI 203Principles of Range Management(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- AGRI 205General Soils*(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- AGRI 205LGeneral Soils Lab*(1 cr)not offered+ plan
- ANTH 102Cultural Anthropology(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 102Environmental Science(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 172Workplace Ethics in Science(1 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 204Introduction to Cell Biology*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 209General Ecology*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 210Science Literature & Environment*(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 221Introductory Microbiology*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 250General Microbiology*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 227Human Anatomy & Physiology 1*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 228Human Anatomy & Physiology 2*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL 275Field Biology*(0 cr)not offered+ plan
- CHEM 253Quantitative Analysis*(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- CHEM 298Organic Chemistry I*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- CHEM 299Organic Chemistry II*(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- ECON 201Principles of Macroeconomics(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- ECON 202Principles of Microeconomics(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- ENGL 202Technical Communication*(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- GEOG 100Physical Geography(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- GEOL 101Physical Geology*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- GEOL 104Natural Disasters and Env Geology*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- GEOL 126Fundamentals of GIS*(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- GEOL 155Introduction to GPS(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- MATH 144Precalculus II: Trigonometry*(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- MATH 153Statistical Reasoning(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- MATH 160Survey of Calculus*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- MATH 170Calculus I*(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- MATH 175Calculus II*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- MATH 254Statistical Methods(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- PHIL 103Introduction to Ethics(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- PHYS 100Survey of Physics*(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- PHYS 111General Physics I(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- PHYS 112General Physics II(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- PHYS 211Physics Scientists & Engineers I(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- PHYS 212Physics Scientists & Engineers II(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- PSYC 201Child and Adolescent Development(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- PSYC 211Psychology of Death and Dying(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- SOCY 101Introduction to Sociology(3 cr)not offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
College of Western Idaho2 programs
Common Biology courses
- BIOL 227LHuman Anat & Phys I Lab(36 sections)
- BIOL 227Human Anatomy & Physiology I(31 sections)
- BIOL 228LHuman Anat & Phys II Lab(25 sections)
- BIOL 228Human Anatomy & Physiology II(20 sections)
- BIOL 227PHuman Anatomy & Physiology I(12 sections)
- BIOL 100Concepts of Biology(8 sections)
- BIOL 100LConcepts of Biology Lab(8 sections)
- BIOL 175LHuman Biology Lab(7 sections)
- BIOL 111Biology I(5 sections)
- BIOL 111LBiology I Lab(5 sections)
- BIOL 226Human Anatomy & Phys I Plus(5 sections)
- BIOL 175Human Biology(5 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 Idaho’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in Idaho
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.