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Major options 
Earn your Associate in Science degree and transfer to a four-year institution to study biological sciences. You’ll take core classes along with biology-focused courses in fundamentals of cellular and organismal biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and more. This program follows the Illinois Articulation Initiative biological sciences baccalaureate major recommendations.
Harper College is a great place to study biological sciences. You’ll take science classes in the new Avanté Center, which features modern classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratories. Additionally, you can get experience outside the classroom by participating in the Environmental Club, Biology Club, Health Career/Pre-Med Club or one of many other extracurricular activities that are available to students.
This program is a convenient and affordable way to begin your college education. Academic advisors will help you choose courses that meet the specific requirements of the four-year college or university you plan to attend.
This sample transfer planning guide meets the requirements of the Associate in Science degree and follows the Illinois Articulation Initiative biological sciences baccalaureate major recommendations. Students should decide the specialization within the biological sciences major as early as possible, preferably by the beginning of the sophomore year. Students choosing to follow this sample plan need to choose the major of Associate in Science if needing financial aid. Transfer institution requirements may vary - students should check individual college/university requirements before completing the sample plan as outlined. Baccalaureate admission may be competitive. Completion of these courses alone does not guarantee admission.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
First Semester | Hours | |
| BIO 115 | Fundamentals of Cellular Biology | 4 |
Description: Introduces fundamental processes of organisms operating at the molecular and the cellular level of organization. Topics include chemical and molecular aspects of life, cellular metabolism, genetic information flow, theory of inheritance, genetic engineering and principles of physiology. This course is in the first semester of a two-semester sequence intended for biology majors and pre-professionals. To guarantee credit students must complete the entire course sequence at the same school before transfer. (NOTE: Lab science credit.) IAI L1 910L, IAI BIO 910 Prerequisite: Prerequisite: Placement into college-level mathematics without support AND placement into college-level English without support https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/mathplacement.php https://harpercollege.edu/testing/english-placement-grid.php Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 6 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| CHM 121 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
Description: Studies principles of atomic and molecular structure, bonding, stoichiometry, states of matter, kinetic molecular theory, and solutions. Corresponding laboratory experiments include volumetric and gravimetric analyses, a qualitative study of reactions, visible spectrophotometry, and problem-based analyses. Intended for all students whose majors require general chemistry, including science majors and pre-professionals. The course also satisfies a general education laboratory science requirement for students with previous chemistry experience. IAI P1 902L, IAI CHM 911 Prerequisite: Two semesters of high school chemistry or CHM 110 with a grade of C or better AND placement into college-level mathematics without support. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/mathplacement.php Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 7 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
Description: Emphasizes the writing of expository prose. Introduction to the critical reading of nonfiction prose. IAI C1 900 Prerequisite: ENG 096 with a grade of P or other placement options. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/english-placement-grid.php ESL students need one of the following options: ESL 073 and ESL 074 with grades of B or better; ESL 073 with a grade of B or better and required writing placement test score; or ESL 074 with a grade of B or better and required reading placement test score. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| MTH 200 | Calculus I | 5 |
Description: Studies limits, continuity, derivatives, antiderivatives and definite integrals as they relate to algebraic, trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions. Includes applications to geometry, science and engineering. IAI M1 900-1, IAI MTH 901 Prerequisite: MTH 140 (Precalculus) with a grade of C or better or other placement options. Click here for Math placement information: https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/mathplacement.php Lecture Hours: 5 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
Second Semester | ||
| BIO 116 | Fundamentals of Organismal Biology | 4 |
Description: Introduces students to higher levels of biological organization from the organism to the ecosystem. Topics include organismal diversity, mechanisms of micro and macroevolution, animal behavior, and the dynamics and organization of populations, communities and ecosystems. This course is in the second semester of a two-semester sequence intended for biology majors and pre-professionals. To guarantee credit students must complete the entire course sequence at the same school before transfer. (NOTE: Lab science credit.) IAI L1 910L, IAI BIO 910 Prerequisite: BIO 115 (Fundamentals of Cellular Biology) with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 6 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| CHM 122 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
Description: Continues CHM 121 as the second semester of a general chemistry sequence intended for all students whose major requires a full year of general chemistry, including science majors and pre-professionals. Includes the principles of chemical kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base reactions, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics. Also introduces topics in organic, nuclear, transition metal, and descriptive chemistry. Laboratory includes experiments related to lecture material. IAI CHM 912 Prerequisite: CHM 121 (General Chemistry I) with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 7 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
Description: Continues ENG 101. Reading literature and writing of various types of prose. Introduces methods used in writing investigative papers. IAI C1 901R Prerequisite: ENG 101 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor or department chair. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| Humanities and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
Third Semester | ||
| BIO 260 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
Description: Introduces the anatomy of the human body; the following systems studied either regionally or systemically: integumentary, skeletal, articular, muscular, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, respiratory, digestive, excretory, endocrine and reproductive. Includes some introductory histology. Specially designed for students in health careers, biology, and physical education. Strongly recommended preparation: One year of high school biology with a grade of C or better taken within the last five years, or BIO 110. (NOTE: Lab science credit.) Formerly BIO 160. IAI BIO920C Prerequisite: Placement into college-level English without support. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/english-placement-grid.php Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| CHM 204 | Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
Description: Applies modern theories of electronic structures to the study of chemical and physical properties of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and alkyl halides. Students also study reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry as they apply to the above classes of organic compounds. Laboratory includes syntheses, qualitative organic analyses, IR and visible spectrophotometry, gas chromatography, thin layer chromatography, HPLC, polarimetry, and refractometry. Intended primarily for science majors and pre-professionals. IAI CHM 913 Prerequisite: CHM 122 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 6 Contact Hours: 9 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| MTH 225 | Business Statistics | 4 |
Description: Focuses on the use of statistical concepts as decision-making tools with an emphasis on business-related applications. Topics include descriptive statistics, probablity theory, and inferential methods including chi-square tests, regression analysis and ANOVA. This course is strongly recommended for business majors. (Credit will be given for either MTH 225 or MTH 165 or MTH 162 or MGT 225,) IAI M1902 and IAI BUS 901 Prerequisite: MTH 103 with a grade of C or better, or other placement options including registration in MTH 124, MTH 134, MTH 140, MTH 200 or higher. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/mathplacement.php Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| or MTH 165 | or Elementary Statistics | |
Description: Focuses on statistical reasoning and the solving of problems using real world data rather than on computational skills. The use of technology-based computations (more advanced than a basic scientific calculator, such as graphing calculators with a statistical package, spreadsheets or statistical computing software) is required with an emphasis on interpretation and evaluation of statistical results. Topics must include data collection processes (observational studies, experimental design, sampling techniques, bias), descriptive methods using quantitative and qualitative data, bivariate data, correlation, and least squares regression, basic probability theory, probability distributions (normal distributions and normal curve, binomial distribution), confidence intervals and hypothesis tests using p-values. (Credit will be given for either MTH 162 or MTH 165 or MTH 225, but not for more than one of these courses.) IAI M1 902 Prerequisite: Placement into college-level mathematics without support. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/mathplacement.php Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| Social and Behavioral Science 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
Fourth Semester | ||
| BIO 261 | Human Physiology | 4 |
Description: Emphasizes physiological principles at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and system level, as they pertain to the human organism. The following systems are studied in detail: skeletal, muscular, circulatory, nervous, digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive and endocrine. In this course, special applications will be made to meet the needs of students in health careers, biology and physical education.(NOTE: Lab science credit.) Formerly BIO 161. IAI BIO920C. Prerequisite: BIO 260 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 5 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| CHM 205 | Organic Chemistry II | 5 |
Description: Continues CHM 204 with further study of nomenclature, stereochemistry, reactions, and mechanisms of the following functional groups: conjugated dienes, aromatics, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, and nitrogen containing compounds. Laboratory includes syntheses, qualitative organic analyses, NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, gas chromatography, thin layer chromatography, HPLC, polarimetry, and refractometry. Intended primarily for science majors and pre-professionals. IAI CHM 914 Prerequisite: CHM 204 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 6 Contact Hours: 9 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| Humanities and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science 2 | 3 | |
| SPE 101 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | 3 |
Description: Theory and practice of oral communications. Development of poise, confidence and skill in speech organization and delivery. Emphasis on frequent speaking, development of standards of criticism and selection and organization of material. IAI C2 900 Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 66 | |
Select at least one course from Humanities and one from Fine Arts. Interdisciplinary courses may count in either category. Refer to the Associate in Science degree for approved courses in this category. One course from Humanities and Fine Arts or from Social and Behavioral Sciences must meet the World Cultures and Diversity graduation requirement for the Associate in Science degree.
One course from Humanities and Fine Arts or from Social and Behavioral Sciences must meet the World Cultures and Diversity graduation requirement for the Associate in Science degree.
For more information about Biological Sciences, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.