Description

The Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree, with a focus in biology, is designed for students who wish to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology. Lower division coursework at COCC in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics prepares students to transfer to a four-year university ready for upper division coursework in the biology major. Graduates with a bachelor of science in biology from their transfer institution will be well-equipped for graduate school and other careers in biomedical fields, industry, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations which require a broad-based education in science, mathematics and communication. Those graduates may enter such fields as conservation or environmental science, science writing, education, botany, forest or marine science, veterinary medicine, agricultural research, pharmaceuticals, human medicine or other life science careers such as research in microbiology, biotechnology, bio-informatics or genetics.

Learning Outcomes

Arts & Letters

1. Interpret and engage in the Arts & Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life; and

2. Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues. 

Cultural Literacy

1. Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.  

Health

1. Explain the relationship between human behavior and health.

Mathematics

1. Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems; and

2. Recognize which mathematical concepts are applicable to a scenario, apply appropriate mathematics and technology in its analysis, and then accurately interpret, validate, and communicate the results.

Science or Computer Science

1. Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models and solutions and generate further questions;

2. Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner; and

3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment. 

Social Science

1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior; and

2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.

Speech/Oral Communication

1. Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals;

2. Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts; and

3. Build and manage relationships.

Writing and Information Literacy

1. Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences;

2. Recognize and articulate the need for information, and then locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize that information to communicate effectively; and
3. Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.

Entrance Requirements

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

Course Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
General Education/Foundational
Health:
Choose three credits 1		3
Mathematics:
Choose one course		4
Recommend: MTH 111
Oral Communication:
Choose one course		3-4
Writing:
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
WR 122	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition	4
or WR 227	Technical Writing
General Education/Discipline Studies
Cultural Literacy:
One course from the following categories must be designated as cultural literacy on the Discipline Studies list (credits count once).
Arts and Letters:
Choose three courses chosen from at least two prefixes		9-12
Social Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes		12-16
Science/Math/Computer Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes including at least three laboratory courses in biological and/or physical science		12-20
Recommend: BI 211, BI 212, BI 213 and MTH 112
Electives
Choose any course numbered 100 or above that brings the total credits to 90 quarter hours. This may include up to 12 credits of Career and Technical Education courses designated by COCC as acceptable. 2		39
Recommend: CH 221, CH 222, CH 223, MTH 251, MTH 252, PH 201, PH 202, PH 203
Total Credits		90-106

1	HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated.
2	Related courses to consider: BI 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BI 232 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, BI 233 Human Anatomy and Physiology III, BI 234 Microbiology, and FN 225 Human Nutrition are not prerequisites for admission into dental, medicine, or veterinary programs, but may help a student preparing for any of those careers.

Advising Notes

Oregon public universities with a biology major include: Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon, Western Oregon University.

BI 211 Principles of Biology, BI 212 Principles of Biology, and BI 213 Principles of Biology should be taken at the same institution to avoid transfer issues, see advisor for details.

Oregon State University: Recommend COMM 111 Fundamentals of Public Speaking, WR 227 Technical Writing, and HHP 295 Health and Fitness from the recommended Foundational Curriculum options.

University of Oregon: Recommend WR 122 Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition from the recommended Foundational Curriculum options.

Eastern Oregon University, Portland State University, and Southern Oregon University: Recommend MTH 243 Introduction to Probability and Statistics I as an elective if room in the program.

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

Sample Plan Grid

First Term		Credits
Mathematics (recommend MTH 111 or higher)		4
Health (3 credits with HHP or HHPA prefix)		3
Elective (recommend PH 201)		5
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
	Credits	16
Second Term
WR 122 or WR 227	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition Technical Writing	4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science (recommend MTH 112)		4
Elective (recommend PH 202)		5
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
	Credits	16-17
Third Term
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
Oral Communication:		3-4
Elective (recommend PH 203)		5
Elective (recommend MTH 251)		4
	Credits	15-17
Fourth Term
Discipline Studies Lab Science (recommend BI 211)		5
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Elective (recommend MTH 252)		4
Elective (recommend CH 221)		5
	Credits	17-18
Fifth Term
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
Elective (recommend CH 222)		5
Discipline Studies Lab Science (recommend BI 213)		5
	Credits	16-18
Sixth Term
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
Elective (recommend CH 223)		5
Discipline Studies Lab Science (recommend BI 212)		5
	Credits	16-18
	Total Credits	96-104