Biology

To be eligible for an Associate in  Arts (AA), an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), or an Associate in Science (AS) degree from HCC, a student must successfully:

Complete at least 60 semester hours of credit as follows: (a) for the AA degree, 43 hours of required core courses and 17 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major (b) for the AAT degree, 44 hours of required core courses plus 16-18 hours of required pre-teaching courses (c) for the AS degree, 43 hours of required core courses plus six additional hours of mathematics, four additional hours of natural science, and 7 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major.

A student who has received an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution must meet specific requirements to earn an additional degree from HCC.

• The student must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours at HCC for each additional degree. These hours may not repeat credit applied from a previous HCC degree.  These hours may not be satisfied through credit by exam.
• All additional hours must be applicable toward the additional degree. If the student has prior credit in required courses, appropriate substitutions may be arranged.
• All courses required by the specific HCC program of the additional degree must be completed.
• A grade point average of at least 2.0 must be earned on all hours since the previous degree.
• Academic courses from previous degrees may be applied to an additional AAS degree required academic core where equivalent and appropriate, which waives the need for approval, except where program restrictions prevail.
• If the first degree was an Associate in Arts, an Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate in Science, a bachelor degree, or higher degree from an accredited educational institution in the United States, the student will be considered to be “Core Complete”, thus needing to complete only the requirement of 18 additional semester hours at HCC toward a new associate degree.
• Each additional academic associate degree obtained from HCC must be of a different type.  Thus, a student may only obtain one Associate in Arts, one Associate of Arts in Teaching, and/or one Associate in Science from HCC. For example, if one degree from HCC was an AA, then any additional degrees must be an AAT, AS, or AAS.
• Multiple Associate of Applied Science degrees may be earned from HCC if all AAS program requirements are met including earning at least 18 additional semester hours at HCC, 12 of which must be earned in the major program of the additional degree. In most cases, however, there is only one AAS degree allowable per workforce program. See counselor or program chair for clarification.
• Multiple workforce Certificates of Completion may be earned from HCC if all program requirements are met for each certificate including earning at least 9 additional unique semester hours at HCC toward the major program of the additional certificate.
• All other state and institutional graduation requirements, including TSI policies and financial obligations, must be met.

The Biology Program at Houston Community College provides a quality education that encourages students to understand and apply their knowledge in the field of biological sciences, prepares them to interpret and communicate scientific information, assist them to develop critical thinking skills, and helps them to advance into a variety of science, allied health, and general education programs.

Biology Resources

STEM- Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics

Study Lab

There are 1,798 Biological Technicians employed in the Greater Houston Area. This number is expected to increase by 7.4% over the next four years.

• The estimated annual job openings is 96 jobs a year.
• Median Wages - $18.73 hourly, $39,000 annually

Hybrid programs allow students to take a mix of online and face-to-face courses. Hybrid programs offer 50% to 85% of their courses online and the remainder of the curriculum is taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Language Option Restrictions

Some hybrid programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.

Elective Course Restrictions

Some hybrid programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Required Course Restrictions

Hybrid programs require students to participate in campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements. 

Potential Course Restrictions

Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.

Biology Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum

Field of Study Coursework:

• BIOL 1306        Biology for Science Majors I (Lecture)
• BIOL 1106        Biology for Science Majors I (Lab)
• CHEM 1311        General Chemistry I (Lecture)
• CHEM 1111        General Chemistry I (Lab)
• BIOL 1407        Biology for Science Majors II (Lecture & Lab)
• CHEM 1412        General Chemistry (Lecture & Lab)
• CHEM 2423        Organic Chemistry I (Lecture & Lab)
• PHYS 1401        College Physics I (Lecture & Lab)

Fully Transferable: 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has designated the Field of Study Curriculum courses as “fully transferable” to other public colleges and universities in Texas. Students planning on transferring to either private or out-of-state institutions should direct transfer questions to that college or university.  

For more information, refer to the HCC Catalog (https://www.hccs.edu/programs/catalog/ ) and Field of Study Curricula Approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board thecb.state.tx.us/institutional-resources-programs/public-universities-health-related-institutions/transfer-resources/field-of-study-curricula/

Nursing Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum

Field of Study Coursework:

• BIOL 2320        Microbiology for Non-Science Majors (Lecture)
• CHEM 2120        Microbiology for Non-Science Majors (Lab)
• PSYC 2301        General Psychology
• PSYC 2314        Lifespan Growth & Development
• MATH 1342        Elementary Statistical Methods
• ENGL 1301        Composition I
• CHEM 2423        Organic Chemistry II (Lecture & Lab)
• BIOL 1322        Nutrition & Diet Therapy
• BIOL 2301        Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture)
• BIOL 2101        Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab)
• BIOL 2302        Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture)
• BIOL 2102        Anatomy and Physiology II (Lab)

Choose one of the following:

• ENGL 1302        Composition II
• ENGL 2311        Technical and Business Writing

Fully Transferable: 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has designated the Field of Study Curriculum courses as “fully transferable” to other public colleges and universities in Texas. Students planning on transferring to either private or out-of-state institutions should direct transfer questions to that college or university.  

For more information, refer to the HCC Catalog (https://www.hccs.edu/programs/catalog/ ) and Field of Study Curricula Approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board www.thecb.state.tx.us/institutional-resources-programs/public-universities-health-related-institutions/transfer-resources/field-of-study-curricula/