Maryland Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
8 colleges · 614 sections · 114 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at Maryland 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 614 sections across 8 Maryland CC 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 Maryland, 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.
Earnings & outcomes for Biology graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 2601 — Biology, General. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Biology
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Community College | 157 | 25 | 48 | — | — |
| Prince George's Community College | 130 | 18 | 16 | — | — |
| Anne Arundel Community College | 101 | 22 | 17 | — | — |
| Hagerstown Community College | 73 | 14 | 12 | — | — |
| Allegany College of Maryland | 63 | 27 | 26 | — | — |
| Harford Community College | 36 | 14 | 3 | — | — |
| Wor-Wic Community College | 28 | 7 | 4 | — | — |
| Carroll Community College | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | — |
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 8 colleges in Maryland this term (614 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person457 (74%)
- online130 (21%)
- hybrid27 (4%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)254
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)136
- Evening (5 PM and after)82
- Asynchronous / TBA142
Start dates
Sections begin on 15 distinct dates. 94 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 162 distinct instructors across 8 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Anne Arundel Community College1 program
General Education Requirements: 36 credits
36 creditsSee catalog for course list
English Composition: 6 credits
6 creditsArts and Humanities: 6 credits
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Biological and Physical Sciences: 8 credits
8 creditsMathematics: 4 credits
4 credits- MAT 191Calculus and Analytic Geometry 15 sections
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 credits
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Additional General Education requirements: 6 Credits
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Area of Concentration Requirements: 11-12 Credits
11 creditsArea of Concentration Electives: Choose 12-13 Credits
12 credits- BIO 122Fundamentals of Ecology Travel Study 11 section
- BIO 211Estuarine Biology2 sections
- BIO 221Molecular Biotechniquesnot offered
- BIO 223General Microbiology8 sections
- CHE 112General Chemistry 24 sections
- CHE 213Organic Chemistry 12 sections
- CHE 214Organic Chemistry 21 section
- MAT 192Calculus and Analytic Geometry 23 sections
- MAT 201Calculus and Analytic Geometry 33 sections
- SCI 101Introduction to Research1 section
- SCI 201Research Experience2 sections
- SCI 202Research Communication1 section
Source: College catalog
Carroll Community College1 program
Common Biology courses
- BIO 1010General Biology(44 sections)
- BIO 2050Human Anatomy & Physiology I(25 sections)
- BIO 101Found of BIO:Molecule & Cell(24 sections)
- BIO 2060Human Anatomy & Physiology II(19 sections)
- BIOL 107Introduction to Evolution (S)(19 sections)
- BIOL 107LFund of Microbiol Lab(17 sections)
- BIOL 101Fundamentals of Biology 1 (S)(16 sections)
- BIO 2010Microbiology(14 sections)
- BIO 203Human Anatomy & Physiology I(14 sections)
- BIOL 203Anatomy & Phys I(14 sections)
- BIOL 203LAnatomy & Phys I Lab(14 sections)
- BIOL 204Anatomy & Phys II(14 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 Maryland’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in Maryland
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.