Washington Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
22 colleges · 100 sections · 45 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at Washington 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 100 sections across 22 SBCTC 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 Washington, 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 →
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 22 colleges in Washington this term (100 sections total).
Delivery format
- hybrid44 (44%)
- online33 (33%)
- in person23 (23%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)26
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)15
- Evening (5 PM and after)5
- Asynchronous / TBA54
Start dates
Sections begin on 9 distinct dates. 5 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 48 distinct instructors across 22 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Cascadia College1 program
Communication
Natural Sciences Distribution Requirement
- BIOL& 211Majors Cellular(6 cr)10 sections+ plan
- BIOL& 212Majors Animal(6 cr)not offered+ plan
- BIOL& 213Majors Plant(6 cr)2 sections+ plan
- CHEM& 161General Chemistry with Lab I(6 cr)12 sections+ plan
- CHEM& 162General Chemistry With Lab II(6 cr)not offered+ plan
- CHEM& 163General Chemistry with Lab III(6 cr)not offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Centralia College2 programs
Clark College1 program
Edmonds College3 programs
Grays Harbor College1 program
General Requirements (15 credits required)
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills (5 credits)
5 creditsSee catalog for course list
Social Science (15 credits)
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Humanities (15 credits)
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Natural Science (30 credits)
30 creditsSee catalog for course list
Electives (15 credits)
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Green River College4 programs
Highline College1 program
Communications Skills: 15 credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Quantitative Skills: 5 credits
5 creditsSee catalog for course list
Diversity and Globalism: 3 credits
3 creditsSee catalog for course list
Humanities Distribution: 10 credits
10 creditsSee catalog for course list
Social Science Distribution: 15 credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Natural Sciences: 30 credits
30 creditsSee catalog for course list
Physical Education: 3 credits
3 creditsSee catalog for course list
Electives: 12 credits
12 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Lake Washington Institute of Technology1 program
Program Requirements
- ELEC XXXQuarter Onenot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXHumanities course 5 creditsnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXQuarter Twonot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXQuarter Threenot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXQuarter Fournot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXQuarter Fivenot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXHumanities course 5 creditsnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXQuarter Sixnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXHumanities course 5 creditsnot offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Olympic College1 program
Pierce College District4 programs
Shoreline Community College4 programs
Skagit Valley College3 programs
South Puget Sound Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
- ABE 062Applied Math Inot offered+ plan
- ABE 063Applied Math IInot offered+ plan
- ABE 064Contextualized Math Inot offered+ plan
- ESOL 061ESOL Level I (Beginning Literacy)not offered+ plan
- ESOL 062ESOL Level II (Low Beginning)not offered+ plan
- ESOL 063ESOL Level III (High Beginning)not offered+ plan
- ESOL 064ESOL Level IV (Low Intermediate)not offered+ plan
- ESOL 065ESOL Level V (High Intermediate)not offered+ plan
- ESOL 066ESOL Level VI (Advanced)not offered+ plan
- ABE 053ABE Language Arts III (Low Intermediate Language Arts)not offered+ plan
- ABE 054ABE Language Arts IV (High Intermediate Language Arts)not offered+ plan
- ABE 055ABE Language Arts V (Adult Secondary Level Language Arts)not offered+ plan
- MATH 092Mathematical Reasoning(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- ABE 065Contextualized Math IInot offered+ plan
- ENGL 090Integrated Reading and Writing I(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- ENGL 095Integrated Reading and Writing IInot offered+ plan
- CCS 101Pathways to Success(3 cr)27 sections+ plan
Source: College catalog
Spokane Community College1 program
The Associate in Biology DTA/MRP is an articulated transfer agreement for future biology majors between the community colleges and most four-year institutions in the state of Washington. A candidate for this degree must complete a minimum of 90 quarter credits in academic courses numbered 100 or above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and meet specific distribution requirements.
Plan all required coursesQuarter 1
Quarter 2
Quarter 6
Health/PE Group A Electives
Humanities Group A/B/C Electives
Social Science Group A Electives
Social Science Group B Electives
Source: College catalog
Tacoma Community College2 programs
Walla Walla Community College1 program
Detailed course requirements are not yet available for this program. View in college catalog
Source: College catalog
Common Biology courses
- BIOL 110Northwest Ecology(8 sections)
- BIOL 107Biology and Society(7 sections)
- BIOL 150Marine Biology(6 sections)
- BIOL 140Mammals of The Northwest(6 sections)
- BIOL 125Survey of Human Diseases(5 sections)
- BIOL 120Survey of the Kingdoms(5 sections)
- BIOL 101Environ Biol Conf/Lab(5 sections)
- BIOL 105Western Washington Ecology w/Lab(5 sections)
- BIOL 103Introduction to Botany(5 sections)
- BIOL 108Human Biology(4 sections)
- BIOL 100Environmental Biology(4 sections)
- BIOL 102The Process of Discovery(2 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 Washington’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in Washington
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.