Associate Degree Graduation Requirements

Complete all of the following:

1. All Department Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 20% of the department requirements must be completed through SBCC).
2. One of the following three General Education options:
   1. OPTION 1: A minimum of 18 units of SBCC General Education Requirements (Areas A-D) and Institutional Requirements (Area E) and Information Competency Requirement (Area F) OR
   2. OPTION 2: IGETC Pattern OR
   3. OPTION 3: CSU GE Breadth Pattern
3. A total of 60 degree-applicable units (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher).
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all units attempted at SBCC.
5. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all college units attempted.
6. A minimum of 12 units through SBCC.

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Bio-Medical Sciences electives should be carefully selected from the list below in consultation with the Bio-Medical Sciences Faculty Adviser or the Sciences Counselor to avoid problems with transfer. Students intending to transfer with an AA Degree in Liberal Arts: Emphasis in Bio-Medical Sciences should include introductory courses in general and organic chemistry, physics and statistics.

1. Articulate the principles of evolutionary theory, the history of its development, and the role that evolution plays in the continuity and diversity of life.
2. Communicate the unifying principles governing the organization of organisms from molecules to populations.
3. Explain and apply fundamental ecological principles, from populations to communities through ecosystems, and the geographical distribution of life on Earth.
4. Summarize and illustrate an understanding of the development of the organism from fertilization to the adult form.
5. Compare and contrast organismal diversity and life histories including nomenclature, taxonomy, and systematics.
6. Characterize fundamental metabolic pathways, describe bioenergetics, and relate the interdependence of these pathways.
7. Demonstrate understanding of the structure and function of tissues, organs, and organ systems, describing interrelationships and mechanisms of their integration to support the whole, functioning organism and the underlying causes of dysfunction.
8. Describe and connect the role of DNA in regulating cell activity to its importance as the basis of inheritance, evolution, and biotechnology.
9. Demonstrate proficiency in the basic methods, instrumentation, and quantitative analytical skills used to conduct biological research, including fundamental methods of microscopy, animal and plant dissection, and molecular and cellular biology.
10. Produce original research reports and review papers in a standard scientific format based on laboratory, field experiments, and literature searches that include critical quantitative and qualitative evaluation of data to effectively communicate results, interpretations, and concepts.
11. Evaluate how human populations impact and are impacted by abundance and diversity of other species and the structure and function of ecosystems.
12. Describe the physical environment defining the limits to life on Earth and correlate the physical properties of life that allow it to thrive within these limitations.

Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.

How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.