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For Science Pre-Majors in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental/Resource Sciences, Geology and Earth Science

The Associate of Science degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to science programs at four-year institutions after completing the first two years of study at Pierce. The degree enables students to fulfill the undergraduate general education requirements of most four-year science degree programs. Students are responsible for checking specific major requirements of baccalaureate institutions in the year prior to transferring.

General Degree Requirements

  1. A minimum of 90 earned credits in courses numbered 100 or above is required to complete the AS degree.
  2. A minimum of 25 of the last 45 credits must be earned at Pierce College.
  3. A cumulative college-level grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher is required.
  4. English 101 (Composition – Exposition) is required.
  5. A 1.5 grade (C-) or higher is required for all coursework unless prerequisites state otherwise. Coursework with a grade of 0.7 through 1.4 (D’s) may be used for General Elective credit only.
  6. Pass (P) grades may be used only for General Elective credits.
  7. Independent Study courses may be used only for General Elective credits.
  8. Cooperative work experience/work-based learning credits may be applied to the General Elective area only.
  9. Once a course has been successfully completed, credits earned may be used only once, even if that course is listed in more than one category.

Note: Additional general education, cultural diversity and foreign language requirements, as required by the transfer institution, must be met prior to the completion of a baccalaureate degree.

Science Pre-Major Requirements (minimum of 35 credits required)

  1. Chemistry sequence: (15 credits required)
    CHEM 140/150/160 General Chemistry sequence
  2. Third quarter calculus OR approved statistics course
    (5 credits required) Choose one:
    MATH 126 Analytical Geometry & Calculus III
    MATH 281 Introduction to Statistics
  3. Biology OR Physics sequence (15 credits required)
    Choose one of the following sequences. Students should check with the receiving institution to determine which sequence is appropriate. Some baccalaureate institutions require physics with calculus.
    BIOL 201/202/203 Principles of Biology I/II/III
    (Cellular/Zoology/Botany)
    OR
    Physics 114/115/116 General Physics I/II/III
    OR
    Physics 121/122/123 Physics for Science & Engineering
    I/II/III

Additional Science Requirements (10-15 credits)

Courses chosen in physics, geology, organic chemistry, biology or mathematics consisting of courses normally taken for science majors (not for general education), preferably in a two- or three-quarter sequence, chosen with the help of an advisor. (Note: Biology majors should select organic chemistry or physics for this requirement.)

List of appropriate courses:

  • BIOL 240/241/250/251 Anatomy & Physiology I/II
  • BIOL 201/202/203 Principles of Biology I/II/III Cellular, Zoology, Botany
  • CHEM 220/221/222 Organic Chemistry I/II/III
  • GEOL 101 Physical Geology
  • GEOL 103 Earth History
  • GEOL/ENVIR 105 Environmental Geology
  • GEOL/ENVIR 220 Earth Resources & the Environment
  • MATH 126 Analytic Geometry & Calculus III
  • MATH 205 Linear Algebra
  • MATH 224 Multivariate Calculus
  • MATH 238 Differential Equations
  • MATH 281 Introduction to Statistics
  • PHYS 114/115/116 General Physics I/II/III OR PHYS 121/122/123 Physics for Science & Engineering I/II/III

General Required Courses (30 credits)

  • Communications — 5 credit minimum. Minimum 5 quarter credits in college-level composition course required: ENGL 101: Composition – Exposition
  • Mathematics — 10 credit minimum. Two courses required at or above introductory calculus level. MATH 124/125: Analytical Geometry and Calculus I and II
  • Humanities and Social Sciences — 15 credit minimum. Courses listed in more than one category may be used only once. A maximum of 5 credits under the Humanities/Performance/Skills area may be used.
    • Humanities 5 credits minimum
    • Social Science 5 credits minimum
    • Humanities OR Social Science 5 credits minimum

General Electives (10-15 credits required)

College-level courses numbered 100 and above. Remaining credits may include prerequisites for pre-major courses (e.g., pre-calculus), meet additional pre-major coursework, or satisfy specific general education or other university requirements. A maximum of 5 PE activity credits can be applied to this degree.