New Mexico Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
5 colleges · 162 sections · 33 unique courses · Summer 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at New Mexico 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 162 sections across 5 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 New Mexico, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central New Mexico Community College | 115 | 21 | 43 |
| San Juan College | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| New Mexico Junior College | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Santa Fe Community College | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Southeast New Mexico College | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 5 colleges in New Mexico this term (162 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person89 (55%)
- online73 (45%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)48
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)35
- Evening (5 PM and after)8
- Asynchronous / TBA71
Start dates
Sections begin on 9 distinct dates. 161 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 52 distinct instructors across 5 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Central New Mexico Community College3 programs
Northern New Mexico College3 programs
San Juan College1 program
SJC First Year Experience Requirement: 3 Credits
3 creditsProgram Proficiencies and/or Prerequisites
General Education Requirements: 33 Credits
33 creditsSee catalog for course list
Communications:
Mathematics:
Laboratory Science:
- BIOL 2110G-Prin of Biology: Cellular & Molecular Bio 34 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2110LG-Prin Biol: Cellular & Molecular Bio Lab 14 sections+ plan
- CHEM 1215G-General Chemistry I for STEM Majors 31 section+ plan
- CHEM 1215LG-General Chemistry I Lab for STEM Majors 11 section+ plan
Program Core Requirements & Laboratory Science Electives: 28 Credits
28 credits- BIOL 2410Principles of Biology: Genetics 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2410LPrinciples of Biology: Genetics Lab 1not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2610G-Prin Bio: Biodiversity, Ecol & Evolution 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2610LG-Prin Bio: Biodiversity, Ecol, Evol Lab 1not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2620Ecology & Evolution 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2620LEcology & Evolution Lab 1not offered+ plan
- CHEM 1225G-General Chemistry II for STEM Majors 3not offered+ plan
- CHEM 1225LG-General Chemistry II Lab for STEM Majors 1not offered+ plan
Science Electives
- BIOL 2210Human Anatomy & Physiology I 32 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2210LHuman Anatomy & Physiology I Lab 12 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2225Human Anatomy & Physiology II 32 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2225LHuman Anatomy & Physiology II Lab 12 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2310G-Microbiology 31 section+ plan
- BIOL 2310LG-Microbiology Lab 11 section+ plan
- BIOL 2410Principles of Biology: Genetics 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2410LPrinciples of Biology: Genetics Lab 1not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2630General Botany 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2630LGeneral Botany Lab 1not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2632Systematic Botany 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2632LSystematic Botany Lab 1not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2120Cellular & Molecular Biology 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2120LCellular & Molecular Biology Lab 1not offered+ plan
- CHEM 2130Organic Chemistry I 3not offered+ plan
- CHEM 2130LOrganic Chemistry I Lab 1not offered+ plan
- CHEM 2135Organic Chemistry II 3not offered+ plan
- CHEM 2135LOrganic Chemistry II Lab 1not offered+ plan
- GEOL 1110G-Physical Geology 32 sections+ plan
- GEOL 1110LG-Physical Geology Lab 12 sections+ plan
- GEOL 2110G-Historical Geology 3not offered+ plan
- GEOL 2110LG-Historical Geology Lab 1not offered+ plan
- PHYS 1230G-Algebra-based Physics I 3not offered+ plan
- PHYS 1230LG-Algebra-based Physics I Lab 1not offered+ plan
- PHYS 1240G-Algebra-based Physics II 3not offered+ plan
- PHYS 1240LG-Algebra-based Physics II Lab 1not offered+ plan
TOTAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: 61-64 Credits
61 creditsSee catalog for course list
Fall 1
- BIOL 2110G-Prin of Biology: Cellular & Molecular Bio 34 sections+ plan
- BIOL 2110LG-Prin Biol: Cellular & Molecular Bio Lab 14 sections+ plan
- ENGL 1110G-Composition I 325 sections+ plan
- FYEX 1132Academic and Personal Effectiveness 318 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXCreative and Fine Arts 3not offered+ plan
Spring 1
- BIOL 2610G-Prin Bio: Biodiversity, Ecol & Evolution 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2610LG-Prin Bio: Biodiversity, Ecol, Evol Lab 1not offered+ plan
- ENGL 1120G-Composition II 38 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXCommunications 3not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXHumanities 3not offered+ plan
- MATH 1240G-Pre-Calculus 41 section+ plan
Fall 2
- CHEM 1215G-General Chemistry I for STEM Majors 31 section+ plan
- CHEM 1215LG-General Chemistry I Lab for STEM Majors 11 section+ plan
- ELEC XXXRemaining Requirements 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2620Ecology & Evolution 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2620LEcology & Evolution Lab 1not offered+ plan
Spring 2
- BIOL 2410Principles of Biology: Genetics 3not offered+ plan
- BIOL 2410LPrinciples of Biology: Genetics Lab 1not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXRemaining Requirements 3not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXScience Elective 4not offered+ plan
- CHEM 1225G-General Chemistry II for STEM Majors 3not offered+ plan
- CHEM 1225LG-General Chemistry II Lab for STEM Majors 1not offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Common Biology courses
- BIOL 1140LBIOLOGY FOR HLTH SCI LAB(20 sections)
- BIOL 1140BIOLOGY FOR HLTH SCIENCES(18 sections)
- BIOL 2310LMICROBIOLOGY LAB(13 sections)
- BIOL 2210HUMAN ANAT & PHYSIO I(12 sections)
- BIOL 2225HUM ANAT & PHYSIO II(12 sections)
- BIOL 2310MICROBIOLOGY(11 sections)
- BIOL 1110GENERAL BIOLOGY(8 sections)
- BIOL 2510PATHOPHYSIOLOGY I(7 sections)
- BIOL 1110L(CNM ONLINE COLLEGE STUDENTS) GENERAL BIOLOGY LAB(6 sections)
- BIOL 2110LPRIN OF BIO CELL & MOLEC BIO(6 sections)
- BIOL 2210LHUM ANAT & PHYS I LAB(6 sections)
- BIOL 2110PRIN OF BIO: CELL & MOLEC BIO(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 New Mexico’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in New Mexico
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.