Catalog 2022-2023 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Associate in Biology, Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP)


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93 CREDITS

Program Admission Dates: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring

The Associate in Biology DTA/MRP degree prepares students to transfer to a four-year university and complete bachelor’s degree majors in Biology, in other life sciences, or in health-related fields. This agreement is with Baccalaureate Institutions (BIs) offering bachelor’s degrees in Biology or related fields and the community and technical college system. BIs that are party to this agreement include Central Washington University; Eastern Washington University; The Evergreen State College; University of Washington Seattle, Washington State University Pullman; Western Washington University; Saint Martin’s University; Seattle University; and Whitworth University.

Biology DTA/MRP students should contact their potential transfer institution(s) early in their program regarding:

  • The specific course choices in each area of the Statewide agreement where options are listed (humanities, social sciences, electives)
  • Admission requirements, including overall minimum GPA, a higher GPA in a selected subset of courses, or a specific minimum grade in one or more courses such as math or English
  • Application deadlines, which vary among insitutions; students must meet the deadline for the univeristy or universities to which they plan to apply for transfer admission

Biology DTA/MRP graduates will:

  • use the scientific method to analyze natural phenomena and acquire skills to evaluate the accuracy of data/information relative to the natural world
  • perform literature reviews and identify and locate appropriate resources to answer questions concerning living systems and basic chemistry
  • describe the concept of homeostasis as it applies to plants and animals, including humans
  • apply fundamental concepts of inorganic chemistry starting with the molecular level to topics such as chemical bonding and interactions, measurements, equilibrium, kinetics, reactions, electrochemistry, acid base, and states of matter
  • apply basic concepts such as the diversity of life, molecular biology, evolutionary processes and patterns, homeostasis, pathophysiology, protein synthesis, gene structure and expression, photosynthesis, ecology, and the relationship between form and function to matters involving the anatomy and physiology of cells, plants, and animals, including humans
  • describe organic compounds and metabolism as they apply to living organisms
  • demonstrate critical thinking, intercultural appreciation, information literacy, communication and teamwork
  • meet Social Science, Humanities, Written Communication, and Quantitative Reasoning distribution area outcomes

Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with an advisor. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.

Program Requirements


Recommended Course Sequence

The courses listed below are a suggested sequence; as long as prerequisites are met, courses may be taken in a different order.

Diversity and Social Justice Requirement


Within the degree requirements, students must complete a 3-5 credit course that meets the college’s Diversity and Social Justice (DSJ) requirement. DSJ courses are designated in the college schedule and are designed to meet other general education or technical requirements simultaneous to meeting the DSJ requirement (e.g., ENGL& 101D meets both the ENGL& 101 requirement and the DSJ requirement).

Visit the DSJ requirement webpage to view the current list of general education and technical courses that meet the requirement.

Total Program Credits: 93


The requirements of the Biology DTA/MRP are met by the degree plan as listed above. The following information lists the requirements by subject area and includes advising notes and institution-specific requirements. Students should review this information carefully in order to plan their degree pathway in alignment with their transfer institution(s).

Communication Skills: 10 credits in English Composition

  • Composition courses may vary by institution. Students should check with the transfer institution(s) to confirm requirements.

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills: 5 credits in Calculus I

  • Intermediate Algebra Proficiency leading to a pre-calculus math course is required. Intermediate Algebra proficiency may be demonstrated by successful completion of a Calculus and/or Statistics course for which Intermediate Algebra is a prerequisite.
  • Statistics (a course that includes descriptive and inferential statistics) may substitute for Calculus I at some institutions; students are encouraged to check with the transfer institution early in their decision process to confirm requirements. 

Humanities: 15 credits in Humanities

  • No more than 10 credits per discipline area
  • 5 credits maximum in world languages or ASL
  • No more than 5 credits of performance/skills classes
  • In order to better prepare for successful transfer, students are encouraged to consult with the institution(s) to which they wish to transfer regarding the humanities courses that best support or may be required as prerequisites to their Biology curriculum.

Social Sciences: 15 credits in Social Sciences

  • No more than 10 credits per discipline area
  • In order to better prepare for successful transfer, students are encouraged to consult with the institution(s) to which they wish to transfer regarding the social science courses that best support or may be required as prerequisites to their Biology curriculum.

Natural Sciences: 30 credits including 15 credits in general biology (majors level) and 15 credits in general chemistry (majors level)

  • The only general biology sequences (major’s level) accepted are those with SBCTC common course numbering - identified with an ampersand (&). The two sequences accepted are: Sequence 1-Biol& 211, Biol& 212, and Biol& 213; OR Sequence 2 - Biol& 221, Biol& 222, and Biol& 223 
  • Students should take the full year sequence at a single college. 
  • All baccalaureate institutions want the following four areas covered within the 15 credit general biology sequence. 
    • Ecology
    • Evolution
    • Major Cell and Molecular biology
    • Organismal (plant and animal) physiology

Elective Courses: 15 additional quarter credits

  • The recommended course sequence above includes BIOL& 160 General Biology with Lab CHEM& 121 Introduction to Chemistry , and MATH& 142 Pre-Calculus II  as electives. If students place directly into higher level BIOL&, CHEM&, and/or MATH& classes, they should choose different courses to earn the required 15 credits total.
  • Must include college-level courses as defined by the community or technical college
  • 15 additional credits should be planned in consultation with an advisor.
  • Electives allow students to include additional courses to prepare for the biology major based on college selection. Students should check with the transfer institution(s) prior to taking any electives, as based on college selection a full year of organic chemistry for majors, a full year of physics for science majors, or further math at the pre-calculus level or above or statistics may be required.
  • Students should check with the transfer institution prior to taking any further biology courses beyond the one-year sequence. Some colleges require all continuing biology courses be taken at the 300 level. 

Certain schools may have additional, university-specific requirements that are not prerequisites to admission to the Biology major but will need to be completed prior to graduation. Contact with advisors from individual schools for institutional requirements is highly recommended since this DTA may not meet every institution-specific graduation requirement. 

Certain schools may have additional, university-specific requirements for admission to the institution that are not prerequisites specifically identified in the DTA requirements. 

View the Associate in Biology DTA/MRP Statewide Major Related Program (MRP) Agreement for this degree.

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