AS in Biological Science
Northampton Community College
Key Information
Campus location
Bethlehem, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 2,535 / per semester *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* Northampton County PA: $2,535 Monroe County PA: $3,990 Other PA County: $5,325 Out of State/Country: $7,410. Additional fees may apply
Scholarships
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Introduction
Whether studying organisms under a microscope, the effect of insect population in a forest, or viruses that affect humans, biologists learn how living things work and evolve. The work that biologists do increases our understanding of the natural world that we live in.
NCC's Biological Science program is designed to give students a traditional liberal arts education with a science and math emphasis that will transfer to a four-year college or university. Students will receive a solid foundation in biology and chemistry, along with mandatory mathematics and other Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences electives. Technologically-equipped classrooms can be found in NCC's Penn Hall labs, where students are engaged in inquiry-based, industry-level activities to strengthen their critical thinking and connection with the course material.
NCC students have transferred to: Cedar Crest College, East Stroudsburg University Florida Institute of Technology, Kutztown University, Millersville University, Moravian College Pennsylvania State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Temple University, University of Colorado, West Chester University, and many others nationwide.
Admissions
Curriculum
Northampton has dual admissions agreements with a variety of colleges. These arrangements enable you to have admission to Northampton and the four-year institution you select. You will receive close advising, and, based on your performance, our agreements guarantee your easy transfer of credits. NCC also offers a transfer agreement with schools that belong to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Pennsylvania State University-Berks/Lehigh Valley and State University of New York-College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry.
Please note that General Ecology, Environmental Biology, Microbiology and Genetics are each offered once per academic year at both the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses. Organic Chemistry I is only offered in the Fall semester and Organic Chemistry II is only offered in the Spring semester at the Bethlehem campus.
Students interested in graduate programs in Veterinary Medicine should contact Dr. Charles Rinehimer.
Requirements
We expect you to have an adequate background in English, chemistry, and algebra. If you need to develop this background, you may take the necessary preparatory classes prior to, or during your first semester.
First Semester
- COLS101College Success
- BIOS107Biology I
- CHEM120General Chemistry I
- ENGL101English I
- MATH140 College Algebra
or
MATH180Calculus I
Second Semester
- BIOS150Biology II
- CHEM220General Chemistry II
- ENGL151LEnglish II
- CMTH102Introduction to Communication
- MATH145 Trigonometry
or
MATH181Calculus II
Third Semester
- BIOS2__Biology Elective ++
- CHEM201GOrganic Chemistry I
- PSYC103Introduction to Psychology
- General Education Elective (SIT)
Fourth Semester
- BIOS2__Biology Elective ++
- CHEM251Organic Chemistry II
- General Education Elective (AH)
- Electives
+ Mathematics Elective options: MATH140 + MATH145 or MATH180 + MATH181. To ensure transfer, electives should be selected to meet the requirements of the appropriate transfer institution.
++ Biology Electives: Students are required to take two of four Biology courses BIOS206, BIOS210, BIOS240, or BIOS260. For students with an Environmental Science intent, BIOS206 and BIOS210 are recommended. For students with an Integrative Biology intent, BIOS260 and either BIOS206 or BIOS210 are recommended.
- For the Electives, students must select one course from the list of approved courses in each of the following categories: Arts & Humanities (AH) and Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time (SIT).
- One course must be designated Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
- Completion of CHEM201G satisfies the program-related Writing Intensive (WI) requirement. In addition, one Elective course must be taken in a Writing Intensive (WI) section.
- Computer competencies are included in various program courses. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement for this program.
Program Outcome
Graduates of the program will:
- Understand fundamental concepts of Biology, which characterize the various life science fields including Botany, Environmental Science, Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology and Zoology.
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for sharing discipline-specific knowledge and communicating professionally.
- Conduct scientific inquiry and research on biological science topics as they relate to science, technology and society.
- Proficiently function in laboratory and field settings, using modern scientific instrumentation, including microscopes, measuring devices, and computer technology.
- Demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of lab safety, to ensure both personal and environmental safety.
- Understand the use of the scientific method, interpretation of scientific data, and scientific literature.
- Be prepared to transfer to a four-year Bachelor's Program or a pre-med, pre-vet, or other pre-professional program.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Biologists learn how living things work, how they interact with one another, and how they evolve. They may study cells under a microscope, insects in a rainforest, viruses that affect human beings, or plants in a greenhouse. Their work increases our understanding of the natural world in which we live and helps us address issues of personal well-being and worldwide concern, such as environmental depletion, threats to human health, and maintaining viable and abundant food supplies.
There are several career paths that those with a background in the biological sciences can follow, including research, health care, environmental management and conservation, education, biotechnology, forensic science, and business & industry. In fact, there are many career options for biologists who want to combine their scientific training with an interest in other fields.
According to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), employment in the biological science fields is projected to increase by 31 percent by 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. More professionals with a background in the biological sciences will be needed to use the knowledge they have gained from basic research to develop biological products and processes that improve our lives.
Future Career Paths
- Biotechnology
- Forestry Management
- Pharmaceutical Technology
- Teaching
- Environmental Studies
- Medicine
- Research
- Veterinary Medicine