- Community of interest
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Award
- AS Degree
- Program code
- 01306.00AS
- Department
- Biological Science
- CIP code
- 26.0101: Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
- TOP code
- 0401.00 - Biology, General
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP
Program Snapshot
- Community of interest
- STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Award
- AS Degree
- Program code
- 01306.00AS
- Department
- Biological Science
- CIP code
- 26.0101: Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
- TOP code
- 0401.00 - Biology, General
Next Steps
AS Degree — expand to learn about this award
The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.
About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.
Semester-by-Semester Map
Term 1
Class Schedules
Meets Area 5.
course details
This course introduces students to the basic principles of chemistry with a quantitative emphasis. Topics include atomic theory, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, gases, thermochemistry, intermolecular forces and solutions. This is the first semester of a one-year course in chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, pre-medicine), mathematics, and engineering. The two-semester sequence of CHEM 1 and CHEM 2 provides the basic chemical background needed for further investigations into our physical environment. Graded only. (C-ID CHEM 110/CHEM 120S).
Prerequisite: CHEM 11 or CHEM 51 or one year of high school Chemistry; and Intermediate Algebra or equivalent
General Education: Area 1A
about Area 1A
English Composition
Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.
General Education: Area 2
about Area 2
Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.
General Education: Area 6
about Area 6
Ethnic Studies
The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.
Term 2
Class Schedules
Meets Area 5.
course details
This course is an introductory study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure and function as well as basic viral structure and reproduction. Attention is given to life processes within cells and to interactions between cells. Coverage includes experimental design and statistical analysis; basic biotechnology concepts and techniques; DNA structure, function, and gene expression; enzyme function; energetics; nutrient cycles in ecosystems; transport mechanisms; cytoskeletal components; cell communication (including nerve impulse conduction and signal transduction); cell reproduction; Mendelian and population genetics; cell evolution; and modern concepts of molecular biology. This course is designed for biology majors. (C-ID BIOL 190/BIOL 135S).
Prerequisite: CHEM 1 and Intermediate Algebra or equivalent
Meets Area 5.
course details
This course is a continuation of CHEM 1, General Chemistry I. Topics include chemical kinetics and equilibrium, acid-base and solubility equilibria, thermodynamics, oxidation-reduction, electrochemistry, coordination compounds, nuclear chemistry, introduction to organic chemistry and qualitative analysis. This is the second semester of a one-year course in chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, pre-medicine), mathematics, and engineering. The two-semester sequence of CHEM 1 and CHEM 2 provides the basic chemical background needed for further investigations into our physical environment. Graded only. (C-ID CHEM 120S) (C-ID CHEM 120S = CHEM 1 and CHEM 2).
Prerequisite: CHEM 1
General Education: Area 1B
about Area 1B
Oral Communication and Critical Thinking
Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.
General Education: Area 4
about Area 4
Social and Behavioral Sciences
The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.
Term 3
Class Schedules
Meets Area 5.
course details
This course is intended for majors and includes a survey of the biology and diversity of organisms and emphasizes classification, structure and function of organisms. (C-ID BIOL 130S/BIOL 135S).
Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra or equivalent
General Education: Area 3
about Area 3
Arts and Humanities
How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.
Elective (any course numbered 1-199 or C1000-C2999)
Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.
Term 4
Class Schedules
Meets Area 5.
course details
This course, intended for majors, examines the basic principles governing evolution of organisms and interactions between organisms and the environment, and emphasizes ecological principles and mechanisms of evolution. (C-ID BIOL 130S/BIOL 135S).
Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra or equivalent
Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)
Elective (any course numbered 1-199 or C1000-C2999)
Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.
Career Connections
2-Year Degree Paths
Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.
No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.
4-Year Degree Paths
Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.
Example roles: 8
- Secondary School Teachers
- Natural Sciences Managers
- Life Scientists, All Other
Graduate School Paths
Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.
No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.
Local Job Market
Secondary School TeachersSOC 25-20312 nearby openings
Top employers in sample
- Amergis 1
- E Center 1
Where the postings are
- Linda, Yuba County 1
- Thermalito, Butte County 1
Sample current postings
Natural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-91212 nearby openings
Top employers in sample
- Consolidated Municipality of Carson City 1
- State of Nevada 1
Where the postings are
- Mound House, Carson City 2
Sample current postings
Life Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-10992 nearby openings
Top employers in sample
- Broadbent & Associates, Inc 1
- Premiere Healthcare Staffing 1
Where the postings are
- Galena, Washoe County 1
- Palo Cedro, Shasta County 1
Sample current postings
Food Science TechniciansSOC 19-4013no nearby openings indexed
No nearby openings matched any of: food science technician. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.
Biological TechniciansSOC 19-40211 nearby opening
Top employers in sample
- Mendocino College 1
Where the postings are
- Ukiah, Mendocino County 1
Sample current postings
Biological Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-10291 nearby opening
Top employers in sample
- Parexel 1
Where the postings are
- Sacramento, Sacramento County 1
Sample current postings
Biological ScientistsSOC 19-10201 nearby opening
Top employers in sample
- Sierra Pacific Industries 1
Where the postings are
- Thermalito, Butte County 1
Sample current postings
Agricultural TechniciansSOC 19-4012no nearby openings indexed
No nearby openings matched any of: agricultural technician. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.
Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 90 days within up to 100 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.
Source Notes
Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.
Career Connections shows 8 of 10 occupations mapped by the NCES/IPEDS crosswalk.
Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.
Last generated 2026-07-05T16:49+00:00