Associate in Science Degree in Natural Science
San Bruno, USA
Associate of Science
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
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 in Natural Science prepares you for upper-division biology and lab work. You'll study organism relationships, adaptations, cell biology and experimental methods; master microscopy, spectrophotometry, gel electrophoresis and PCR; and design experiments. Courses run in person and via the Global Online Learning (GOL) Program. Skyline links with industry partners such as Genentech and has high transfer rates to universities.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work as research assistants, lab technicians, biotech technicians or clinical laboratory staff, or transfer to a bachelor's in Biology for research, healthcare, biotechnology, conservation or teaching. Internships support experience and job exploration.
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 take to address them.
- Write clear and well-argued descriptions of topics in science, based on the course material and articles.
- Master laboratory techniques including microscopy, spectrophotometry, gel electrophoresis, and PCR.
- Design, perform and analyze experiments.
- Continue with upper division coursework in Biology.
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.
Select 18-24 units from the following:
- Organismal Biology: Core I
- Introduction to Cell Biology: Core II
- Human Physiology
- General Chemistry I
- General Chemistry II
- Organic Chemistry I
and
- Organic Chemistry Lab I
- Organic Chemistry II
and
- Organic Chemistry Lab II
- Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming: C++
- General Geology
- General Physics I
- General Physics II
- Physics with Calculus I
- Physics with Calculus II
- Physics with Calculus III
Total Required Major Units: 18 - 24
And required General Education coursework and electives as needed to meet the minimum 60 units required for the Associate degree.
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.
Build your English skills while earning credits toward your degree through the IESL Pathway Program at Cañada College. No English proficiency test score is required to apply to IESL.