Tennessee Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
12 colleges · 1156 sections · 34 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at Tennessee 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 1156 sections across 12 TBR 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 Tennessee, 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
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pellissippi State Community College | 181 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Northeast State Community College | 140 | 9 | 13 | — | — |
| Volunteer State Community College | 128 | 9 | 12 | — | — |
| Walters State Community College | 113 | 20 | — | — | — |
| Jackson State Community College | 100 | 7 | 40 | — | — |
| Nashville State Community College | 99 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Columbia State Community College | 86 | 11 | 23 | — | — |
| Chattanooga State Community College | 77 | 13 | 38 | — | — |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 65 | 12 | — | — | — |
| Motlow State Community College | 61 | 9 | 14 | — | — |
| Cleveland State Community College | 54 | 13 | 9 | — | — |
| Dyersburg State Community College | 52 | 8 | 21 | — | — |
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 12 colleges in Tennessee this term (1156 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person986 (85%)
- online169 (15%)
- zoom1 (0%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)465
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)253
- Evening (5 PM and after)82
- Asynchronous / TBA356
Start dates
Sections begin on 15 distinct dates. 1093 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 172 distinct instructors across 12 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Chattanooga State Community College1 program
Cleveland State Community College1 program
Cleveland State Community College is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution
Detailed course requirements are not yet available for this program. View in college catalog
Source: College catalog
Columbia State Community College1 program
First Year - Fall Semester - Credit Hours: 14-15
First Year - Spring Semester - Credit Hours: 13-14
Second Year - Fall Semester - Credit Hours: 17
Second Year - Spring Semester - Credit Hours: 17
Source: College catalog
Dyersburg State Community College1 program
General Education Requirements:
- ENGL 1010English Composition I49 sections
- ENGL 1020English Composition II15 sections
- COMM 2025Fundamentals of Communication24 sections
- ELEC XXXHumanities/Fine Arts Electives *(9 cr)not offered
- ELEC XXXSocial Sciences Electives *(6 cr)not offered
- ELEC XXXHistory Electives * **not offered
- BIOL 1110General Biology I14 sections
- BIOL 1120General Biology II7 sections
- MATH 1530Introductory Statistics31 sections
- MATH 1720Precalculus Trigonometry(3 cr)6 sections
Area of Emphasis Requirements:
Additional Degree Requirement:
- ORN 1010Orientation: Learning to Succeed39 sections
Source: College catalog
Jackson State Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
65 credits- ENGL 1010English Composition I(3 cr)66 sections
- ENGL 1020English Composition II(3 cr)16 sections
- BIOL 1110General Biology I(4 cr)27 sections
- BIOL 1120General Biology II(4 cr)9 sections
- CHEM 1110General Chemistry I(4 cr)7 sections
- CHEM 1120General Chemistry II(4 cr)3 sections
- COL 1030College to Career Navigation(3 cr)45 sections
- COMM 2025Fundamentals of Communication(3 cr)32 sections
- MATH 1910Calculus I(4 cr)3 sections
- CHEM 2010Organic Chemistry I(4 cr)3 sections
- CHEM 2020Organic Chemistry II(4 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Nashville State Community College2 programs
Northeast State Community College2 programs
Southwest Tennessee Community College2 programs
Volunteer State Community College1 program
General Education Core Requirements - Credits (42)
- COMM 2025^Fundamentals of Communication14 sections
- COMM 2045^Public Speaking (3)5 sections
- ENGL 1010^English Composition I84 sections
- ENGL 1020^English Composition II20 sections
- ELEC XXXHumanities and/or Fine Arts (Must include at least one Literature) Credits: (9)not offered
- MATH 1910^Calculus I4 sections
- BIOL 1110^General Biology I7 sections
- BIOL 1120^General Biology II2 sections
- ELEC XXXSocial/Behavioral Sciences Credits: (6) 1not offered
Area of Emphasis Requirements - Credits (19-20)
First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (14)
First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (15)
Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (16-17)
Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (16)
Source: College catalog
Walters State Community College2 programs
Common Biology courses
- BIOL 2010Human Anatomy Phys 1 Lect/Lab(302 sections)
- BIOL 1110General Biology 1 (Majors)(164 sections)
- BIOL 2020Human Anatomy Phys 2 Lect/Lab(157 sections)
- BIOL 1010Intro to Biology Lect/Lab(156 sections)
- BIOL 2230Microbiology(89 sections)
- BIOL 1020Diversity of Life Lect/Lab(65 sections)
- BIOL 1120Gen Bio 2 Lab for Lect N01(43 sections)
- BIOL 1030Essentials of Biology(24 sections)
- BIOL 1510Environmental Sci 1 Lect/Lab(18 sections)
- BIOL 2130Microbiology Lecture - On-campus instruction(18 sections)
- BIOL 2011Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab(15 sections)
- BIOL 1011Introduction to Biology Lab(11 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 Tennessee’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in Tennessee
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.