Description

The Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree with a focus in life science is designed for students who wish to explore the life sciences prior to committing to a specific major.  This degree will prepare a student to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s of arts or science (B.A. or B.S.) degree in a variety of life science pathways.  Students may also choose this degree option if they prefer a terminal two-year degree that allows for a variety of course options in the life sciences. The AAOT in Life Sciences degree option may be best suited to students whose interests include majoring in environmental biology, organismal biology, microbial sciences, biotechnology, or biology education. Graduates may enter such fields as conservation, environmental science, science writing, science education, botany, forest ecology, marine science, field biology, or health sciences.

Students who wish to obtain a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and be guaranteed junior status upon transfer to a 4-year university in Oregon may want to consider the Associates of Science Transfer Degree in Biology (AST-Biology). Students who wish to pursue academic pathways leading to professional graduate programs in human medicine, pharmacy, veterinary science, or dentistry may want to consider the Associates of Oregon Transfer with a Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Veterinary focus. Speak with your advisor about which degree is best for you.

Entrance Requirements

While this program has no formal entrance requirements, individual courses may have prerequisites which must be met before enrollment.

Course Requirements

¹

HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated.

²

Consider completing both Organic Chemistry [CH 241 Organic Chemistry I, CH 242 Organic Chemistry II and CH 243 Organic Chemistry III] and Physics [PH 201 General Physics I, PH 202 General Physics II and PH 203 General Physics III ] sequences. Best practice is to complete entire sequence prior to transfer. Speak with your advisor for details.

Advising Notes

Oregon public universities with majors in the life sciences include: Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon, Western Oregon University.

BI 221 Principles of Biology: Cells, BI 222 Principles of Biology: Organisms, BI 223 Principles of Biology: Populations, CH 221 General Chemistry I, CH 222 General Chemistry II, and CH 223 General Chemistry III should be completed prior to transfer in order to be prepared for upper-division courses in most life science majors.

Consult specific major requirements at transfer institution prior to choosing  CH 241 Organic Chemistry I, CH 242 Organic Chemistry II, and CH 243 Organic Chemistry III or  PH 201 General Physics I, PH 202 General Physics II, and PH 203 General Physics III or MTH 251 Calculus I and MTH 252 Calculus II as electives. 

If intending to transfer to Oregon State University consider COMM 111Z Public Speaking, WR 227Z Technical Writing, and HHP 295 Health and Fitness from the recommended foundational curriculum options.

If intending to transfer to University of Oregon consider WR 122Z Composition II from the recommended foundational curriculum options.

If intending to transfer to Eastern Oregon University, Portland State University, and Southern Oregon University consider STAT 243Z Elementary Statistics I in place of MTH 251 Calculus I and MTH 252 Calculus II as electives.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:

  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.

  • Options for additional standards:

    • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

• Additional Requirements:

  • None

Sample Plan