Associate in Science Degree in Biology
San Bruno, USA
Associate of Science
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
About: Skyline College’s Associate in Science (AS-T) in Biology readies students to transfer into the California State University (CSU) system for Biology or related majors. It covers core biology principles and required lower-division coursework; major courses need a grade of C or better (or Pass). Transfer to accepting CSUs requires no more than 60 units after transfer. Skyline offers in-person and Global Online Learning (GOL).
Career Outcomes: The AS-T supports upper-division study pathways. Graduates can enter research, biotech, teaching or conservation. Roles include researcher, pharma/biotech specialist, teacher, biologist, lab technician. Graduates can apply to medical, veterinary, law or teaching programmes.
An Associate in Science in Biology for Transfer (AS-T) from Skyline College is intended for students who are interested in transferring to a California State University (CSU) campus with a major in Biology, or similar major. This degree allows students to learn the fundamental principles and practices in Biology in order to create a solid foundation and solid preparation to pursue further study for a variety of scientific disciplines at the baccalaureate level and for some graduate-level programs, or to enter a pre-professional or professional program in a health-related field.
Students completing an AS-T degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. Students transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the AS-T will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor's degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a Skyline College counselor for further information about university admissions and transfer requirements. A grade of "C" or better, or "Pass" if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, is required for each course applied to the major. Some major course requirements may also be applied to meet general education requirements.
In addition to in-person studies, most programs are available through the Global Online Learning (GOL) Program, which allows students to take classes fully online from their home countries.
The San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (SMCSV) offer more than 50 institutional scholarships each year, and all enrolled students are eligible to apply. Award amounts range from $300 to $7,000, helping make college more affordable. Students can also apply for external scholarships, such as the $1,000 Study in California Scholarship, to further support their educational journey.
Core Courses
- Organismal Biology: Core I
- Introduction to Cell Biology: Core II
List A
- General Chemistry I
and
- General Chemistry II
- Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
or
- Applied Calculus I
- General Physics I
and
- General Physics II
or
- Physics with Calculus I
and
- Physics with Calculus II
Total Required Major Units: 33
General Education - Certified completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
Starting Fall 2025, the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) became the singular general education pathway for California Community College students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements for transfer to both the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC).
Up to (7) major course units may be double counted to apply to meet general education requirements. This degree does not require the Skyline College Associate Degree requirements.
Elective courses: If applicable, additional courses to meet the minimum requirement of 60 CSU transferable units.
Please refer to Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) Requirements for more information.
Students completing this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of how the major groups of living organisms are related to each other and of their adaptations for survival.
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts in cell biology, and the experimental approaches taken to address them.
- Write clear and well-argued descriptions of topics in biological sciences, based on the course material and articles.
- Master laboratory techniques including microscopy, spectrophotometry, gel electrophoresis, and PCR.
- Design, perform and analyze experiments in biology.
- Apply principles of math, chemistry and physics to the study of biology.
- Apply knowledge of biological organisms and principles in advanced courses in order to transfer to four year institutions.
Required lower division courses in preparation for upper division work in Biology. Biology allows students to pursue incredibly diverse types of jobs: Research scientist, science writer, pharmaceuticals, teacher, a wildlife biologist, and lab tech. Graduates can apply to med schools, vet schools, law school, or master's in teaching programs.