Students completing this associate degree will have completed lower-division major preparation requirements for a biology degree, an emphasis or option within a biology degree, or a degree considered like biology at a participating California State University (CSU) campus. Following transfer to a participating CSU campus, students will be required to complete no more than 60 units to obtain a bachelor’s degree; however, some CSU campuses may require additional lower-division major preparation. This degree may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus not accepting this degree or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient pathway to transfer as a biology major and to determine which CSU campuses are participating in this program.

To complete the degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

Complete a minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.

Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or "P" or better.

Complete the CSU-GE (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C)* general education pattern.

Obtain a minimum CSU-transferable GPA of 2.0.

Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students can:

apply their understanding of the interconnections and interactions of molecular, cellular, and organismal levels of biological organization to the evaluation of biological phenomena.

demonstrate their understanding of the relationship between molecular, cellular, and organism-level structure and the relevant cellular, organismal, and ecological contexts in which they arose through adaptation.