Virginia Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
23 colleges · 1735 sections · 24 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at Virginia 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 1735 sections across 23 VCCS 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 Virginia, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | 526 | 15 | 146 | 53 | — |
| Tidewater Community College | 123 | 11 | 73 | — | — |
| Germanna Community College | 121 | 9 | 69 | — | — |
| Virginia Western Community College | 102 | 10 | 23 | — | — |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | 93 | 6 | 47 | — | — |
| Central Virginia Community College | 84 | 7 | 28 | — | — |
| Brightpoint Community College | 79 | 8 | 42 | — | — |
| Reynolds Community College | 77 | 12 | 38 | — | — |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | 74 | 6 | 21 | — | — |
| Blue Ridge Community College | 65 | 8 | 36 | — | — |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | 57 | 10 | 35 | — | — |
| Rappahannock Community College | 44 | 6 | 20 | — | — |
| Southside Virginia Community College | 39 | 6 | 21 | — | — |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | 39 | 8 | 7 | — | — |
| Camp Community College | 30 | 6 | 21 | — | — |
| Danville Community College | 30 | 6 | 10 | — | — |
| New River Community College | 28 | 5 | 6 | — | — |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | 24 | 5 | 13 | — | — |
| Mountain Empire Community College | 23 | 6 | 18 | — | — |
| Wytheville Community College | 23 | 4 | 14 | — | — |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | 19 | 4 | 6 | — | — |
| Eastern Shore Community College | 18 | 4 | 12 | — | — |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | 17 | 6 | 11 | — | — |
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 23 colleges in Virginia this term (1735 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person836 (48%)
- online692 (40%)
- hybrid182 (10%)
- zoom25 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)581
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)305
- Evening (5 PM and after)135
- Asynchronous / TBA714
Start dates
Sections begin on 22 distinct dates. 356 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Central Virginia Community College2 programs
Germanna Community College1 program
Northern Virginia Community College3 programs
Piedmont Virginia Community College3 programs
Reynolds Community College1 program
Powered by Modern Campus Catalog™.
Detailed course requirements are not yet available for this program. View in college catalog
Source: College catalog
Virginia Highlands Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
63 credits- ENG 111College Composition I(3 cr)15 sections
- BIO 101General Biology I(4 cr)10 sections
- MTH 161or MTH 261 Precalculus I or Applied Calculus I(3 cr)6 sections
- CHM 111General Chemistry I(4 cr)6 sections
- ENG 112College Composition II(3 cr)5 sections
- BIO 102General Biology II(4 cr)2 sections
- PSY 200or SOC 200 Principles of Psychology or Introduction to Sociology(3 cr)6 sections
- CHM 112General Chemistry II(4 cr)not offered
- HIS 121or HIS 122 United States History to 1877 or United States History Since 1865(3 cr)5 sections
- MTH 261or EEE MTH 261 or Approved Elective2(3 cr)1 section
- ENG 245or ENG 246 British Literature or American Literature(3 cr)2 sections
- CST 100Principles of Public Speaking(3 cr)5 sections
- MTH 262or EEE MTH 262 or Approved Elective2(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Virginia Western Community College2 programs
Common Biology courses
- BIO 101General Biology I(651 sections)
- BIO 141Human Anatomy and Physiology I(392 sections)
- BIO 142Human Anatomy and Physiology II(222 sections)
- BIO 102General Biology II(161 sections)
- BIO 150Microbiology for Health Science(133 sections)
- BIO 106Life Science(48 sections)
- BIO 145Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology(43 sections)
- BIO 206Cell Biology(18 sections)
- BIO 299Supervised Study(11 sections)
- BIO 205General Microbiology(10 sections)
- BIO 256General Genetics(9 sections)
- BIO 100Basic Human 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 Virginia’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in Virginia
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.