Associate in Science, Emphasis in Biological Sciences

Details

Field of Interest

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Degree Type

Associate in Science (AS)

Academic Plan

Associate in Science, Emphasis in Biological Sciences (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

8602

Effective Term

Fall 2026

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

Full-time
Part-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)
Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements. Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include: Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits) Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits) Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits) Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include: Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits) Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits) Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits) Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits) For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO181 or BIO181XT	General Biology (Majors) I or General Biology (Majors) I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.	Critical course Gateway course	NSI, SQ or SQ	4
(CHM150 and CHM151LL) or CHM150AA or (CHM151 and CHM151LL) or CHM151AA	(General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I or (General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory placement), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM130 & CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or 1 yr of high school chemistry taken within the last 5 yrs] & C or better in MAT151 or higher or satisfactory score on placement exam or permission of the Instructor or Dept or Div Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA or one year of high school chemistry taken in the last five yrs] and (MAT151 or higher or satisfactory placement) or permission of the Instructor or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA or one year of high school chemistry taken in the last five yrs] and (MAT151 or higher or satisfactory placement) or permission of the Instructor or Department or Division Chair.		SQ in combo w/ CHM151LL and NSI in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151; or SQ or NSI in combo w/ CHM151LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151; or NSI, SQ	4–5
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in ESL097 or WAC101) or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C/better in ESL097 or WAC101),or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 and Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC	3
OCM	Oral Communication			OCM	3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
BIO182 or BIO182XT	General Biology (Majors) II or General Biology (Majors) II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO181, or BIO181CM, or permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO181 or BIO181XT.	NSI, SG or SG	4
(CHM152 and CHM152LL) or CHM152AA	(General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory) or General Chemistry II with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM152. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.	NSI in combo w/ CHM152LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM152; or NSI, SQ	4
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.	FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM	3
IAM	Institutions of the Americas		IAM	3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement.	OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite.	MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			SCB	3
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	3
Elective	General Electives		Students may be required to complete a language course at the elementary or intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about your transfer-specific world language requirement.		3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
(CHM230 and CHM230LL) or (CHM235 and CHM235LL) or CHM235AA	(Fundamental Organic Chemistry and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory) or (General Organic Chemistry I and General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Organic Chemistry I with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM130 and CHM130LL) or [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or permission of Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM130LL or CHM151LL, or equivalent. Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM230. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 or Corequisites: CHM235. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		NSI in combo w/ CHM230LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM230; or None or None	4
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	3
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			SCB	3
Elective	General Electives		Students may be required to complete a language course at the elementary or intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about your transfer-specific world language requirement.		3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)
Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements. Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include: Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits) Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits) Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits) Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include: Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits) Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits) Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits) Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits) For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO181 or BIO181XT	General Biology (Majors) I or General Biology (Majors) I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.	Critical course Gateway course	NSI, SQ or SQ	4
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in ESL097 or WAC101) or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C/better in ESL097 or WAC101),or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 and Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC	3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
(CHM150 and CHM151LL) or CHM150AA or (CHM151 and CHM151LL) or CHM151AA	(General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I or (General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory placement), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM130 & CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or 1 yr of high school chemistry taken within the last 5 yrs] & C or better in MAT151 or higher or satisfactory score on placement exam or permission of the Instructor or Dept or Div Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA or one year of high school chemistry taken in the last five yrs] and (MAT151 or higher or satisfactory placement) or permission of the Instructor or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA or one year of high school chemistry taken in the last five yrs] and (MAT151 or higher or satisfactory placement) or permission of the Instructor or Department or Division Chair.		SQ in combo w/ CHM151LL and NSI in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151; or SQ or NSI in combo w/ CHM151LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151; or NSI, SQ	4–5
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM	3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO182 or BIO182XT	General Biology (Majors) II or General Biology (Majors) II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO181, or BIO181CM, or permission of Department or Division. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO181 or BIO181XT.		NSI, SG or SG	4
OCM	Oral Communication			OCM	3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
(CHM152 and CHM152LL) or CHM152AA	(General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory) or General Chemistry II with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM152. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		NSI in combo w/ CHM152LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM152; or NSI, SQ	4
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement.	OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite.	MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
(CHM230 and CHM230LL) or (CHM235 and CHM235LL) or CHM235AA	(Fundamental Organic Chemistry and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory) or (General Organic Chemistry I and General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Organic Chemistry I with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM130 and CHM130LL) or [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or permission of Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM130LL or CHM151LL, or equivalent. Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM230. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 or Corequisites: CHM235. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		NSI in combo w/ CHM230LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM230; or None or None	4
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			SCB	3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	3
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			SCB	3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	3
Elective	General Electives		Students may be required to complete a language course at the elementary or intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about your transfer-specific world language requirement.		3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
IAM	Institutions of the Americas			IAM	3
Elective	General Electives		Students may be required to complete a language course at the elementary or intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about your transfer-specific world language requirement.		3

Courses Not Currently Offered

Scottsdale Community College does not currently offer these courses. These courses may be offered by other Maricopa Community Colleges as indicated below. Alternative courses, as outlined in the term-by-term course listing above, may also meet the same requirements for your degree or certificate.

Courses listed in this pathway map that are not currently offered at Scottsdale Community College
Course Number	Course Name	Offering Colleges
BIO181XT	General Biology (Majors) I	Not currently offered
BIO182XT	General Biology (Majors) II	Not currently offered
CHM150	General Chemistry I	Not currently offered
CHM150AA	General Chemistry I	Not currently offered
CHM151	General Chemistry I	Chandler-Gilbert, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado
CHM151LL	General Chemistry I Laboratory	Chandler-Gilbert, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado
CHM152	General Chemistry II	Chandler-Gilbert, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado
CHM152LL	General Chemistry II Laboratory	Chandler-Gilbert, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado
CHM230	Fundamental Organic Chemistry	Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix
CHM230LL	Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory	Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix
CHM235	General Organic Chemistry I	Chandler-Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix
CHM235LL	General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	Chandler-Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix
ENG107	First-Year Composition for ESL	Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, Mesa, Phoenix, Rio Salado, South Mountain
ENG108	First-Year Composition for ESL	Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, Mesa, Phoenix, Rio Salado, South Mountain

General Electives

Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.

Students may be required to complete a language course at the elementary or intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about your transfer-specific world language requirement.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.