Biological Sciences

A degree in Biological Sciences may lead to such jobs as wildlife management, fishery biologist and/or biological research scientist, just to name a few.

The curriculum is designed to give the student a broad education in the biological sciences, especially teaching at the secondary level. A total of 64 hours is required for the Associate in Science Degree. At the university level, students may decide to specialize in zoology or botany after having had this sequence of courses.

Associate in Science Degree

A degree in Biological Sciences may lead to such jobs as wildlife management, fishery biologist and/or biological research scientist, just to name a few.

The curriculum below is designed to give the student a broad education in the biological sciences, especially teaching at the secondary level. A total of 64 hours is required for the Associate in Science Degree. At the university level, students may decide to specialize in zoology or botany after having had this sequence of courses.

► Total = 64 Hours

First Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)

BIO 1101 College Biology (5)
ENGL 1101 Rhetoric and Composition I ¹ (3)
HEA 1101 Health Education (2)
Elective – Fine Arts (3)
Elective – Humanities (3)

Second Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)

BIO 1104 College Biology II ⁵(5)
ENGL 1102 Rhetoric and Composition II (3)
MATH 1121 Calculus & Analytic Geometry I ¹, ⁶ (5)
Elective – Social Science ² (3)

Third Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)

BIO 1102 Environmental Ecology (4)
CHE 1103 Inorganic Chemistry (see prerequisites) ⁵ (5)
MATH 1111 Statistics ¹, ⁶ (3)
Elective – Social Science ² (3)

Fourth Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)

CHE 1104 Inorganic Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis ⁵ (5)
COMM 1101 Principles of Effective Speaking (3)
ZOO 1101 General Zoology (4)
Elective – Social Science ² (3)
Elective (1)

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVE

Elective – Fine Arts / Humanities ³,⁴ (3)

¹ Prerequisite course(s) may be required based test scores.

² If a student is preparing for teaching at the secondary education level, education courses should be taken.

³ Some schools require a year of foreign language.

⁴ One Fine Arts course and one Humanities course needed to meet IAI core requirements.

⁵ To guarantee full transfer of credit, students must complete the entire course sequence at the same school before transfer.

⁶ Check with your transfer university for math requirement.

Brochures

Biological Sciences Brochure

Program Outcomes

Biological Sciences

1. Demonstrate undestanding of basic biological principles

2. Demonstrate critical thinking skills needed to analyze information in a laboratory or clinical setting.

3. Demonstrate basic laboratory skills.

4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate understanding and analysis of biological concepts.

Biological Sciences is a part of the Math and Sciences Division at Rend Lake College. It includes approximately 100 faculty members, 14 of whom are full-time. These faculty have expertise in areas of biological and physical sciences, math, early childhood, elementary and secondary education, business and health and P.E. The Division provides a solid background for students entering a pre-professional career.