Students completing the Associate of Science in Biology will be able to demonstrate the following outcomes:
Students can articulate the fundamental similarities of life on earth.
Students learn and practice fundamental lab skills in biology and chemistry.
Students demonstrate how scientific knowledge is derived, reviewed, and communicated.
Nature of Science. Scientific knowledge is based on evidence that is repeatedly examined, and can change with new information. Scientific explanations differ fundamentally from those that are not scientific.
Integration of Science. All natural phenomena are interrelated and share basic organizational principles. Scientific explanations obtained from different disciplines should be cohesive and integrated.
Science and Society. The study of science provides explanations that have significant impact on society, including technological advancements, improvement of human life, and better understanding of human and other influences on the earth’s environment.
Problem Solving & Data Analysis. Science relies on empirical data, and such data must be analyzed, interpreted, and generalized in a rigorous manner.
Levels of Organization. All life shares an organization that is based on molecules and cells and extends to organisms and ecosystems
Metabolism and homeostasis: Living things obtain and use energy, and maintain homeostasis via organized chemical reactions known as metabolism
Genetics and evolution: Shared genetic processes and evolution by natural selection are universal features of all life
Ecological interactions: All organisms, including humans, interact with their environment and other living organisms.