Courses

Expanded Course Descriptions & Supplemental Course Information

Additional course information (beyond what is described here) may be found by going to the current class web sites for a specific instructor. You will find those more specific pages by going to the "Course Materials" section.

Note: Information in this section is subject to change and may not be current. Information supplied is not in any way a legal substitute for the current catalog or other official Sierra College publications. Please confirm this information by consulting directly with Sierra College staff and the current printed catalog prior to making any educational decisions. Specific topics in each course may vary as different instructors teach specific sections or may vary by which semester the class is offered. Consult with each specific instructor currently teaching course for specific content & topic outlines, in addition to their class web pages. The information presented here is general by its nature and is not intended to replace specific course information or requirements presented in class.

Sierra College offers an unusually broad selection of biological courses that are designed to meet diverse student needs. Please consult the Sierra College catalogue and meet with your counselor to identify those courses which meet the needs for biology majors and non-majors, and to determine which courses are transferable (to CSU, UC, etc.)

Biological Sciences A.S. Degree

The Biological Sciences curriculum provides students with the opportunity to meet the requirements for transferring to four year colleges in the areas of agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, bioengineering, biological sciences, biotechnology, chiropractic, clinical lab technician, curator, dental hygiene, dentistry, environmental studies, forestry, nutrition/dietetics, occupational therapy, plant science, pharmacy, physical therapy, pre-medical, nursing, range management, veterinary medicine, wildlife/fisheries biology, zoology, or entry level positions in related fields. Students must fulfill general education requirements for the AA/AS degree and take 20 units from a list of required biology courses and chemistry/geology/math/physics electives.

Diverse Offerings in the Biological Sciences for Students not Majoring in Biology!

A wide variety of biology courses are offered for students not majoring in biology but need to fulfill his or her general education, life science requirements. Non-major students may choose from a wide variety of specific biology courses related to their own interests while meeting the General Education science requirements. Most of these courses also satisfy the General Education requirement for completing a laboratory science course. In addition, these courses may meet transfer requirements for students majoring in areas such as agriculture, horticulture, forestry, wildlife biology, environmental science, and other applied science fields.

Courses

The following Bio. Sci. courses meet Sierra's 1999-2000 General Education Requirements for the Natural Sciences (Life Sciences): Bio. Sci. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7AB, 10, 11, 14, 15, 22, 33, 35, 36, 44, 55, 56, & 56/56L. Of those the following Bio. Sci. courses also meet the laboratory requirements for an A.S. degree: Bio. Sci. 1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6, 7AB, 11, 14, 15, 22, 33, 44, 55, 56/56L.

(Offerings primarily for Bio. Sci. majors and biology-related majors)

Bio. Sci. 1 - General Biology
Bio. Sci. 2 - Botany
Bio. Sci. 3 - General Zoology
Bio. Sci. 4 - Microbiology
Bio. Sci. 5 - Human Anatomy
Bio. Sci. 6 - Human Physiology
Bio. Sci. 7A - Principles of Human Anatomy
Bio. Sci. 7B - Principles of Human Anatomy

(Offerings primarily for non-bio. majors, preparation for taking Bio. Sci. courses intended for bio. majors, & special interest courses for enrichment)

Bio. Sci. 10 - Introduction to Biology
Bio. Sci. 11 - Concepts of Biology
Bio. Sci. 14 - Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation
Bio. Sci. 15 - Marine Biology
Bio. Sci. 16 - Field Studies in Biology Program (see expanded list below)
Bio. Sci. 20 - Current Topics in Biology - A Film/Lecture Series
Bio. Sci. 22 - Introduction to Botany
Bio. Sci. 23 - Wildflower Identification
Bio. Sci. 28 - Independent Study
Bio. Sci. 30 - Introduction to Ornithology
Bio. Sci. 33 - Introduction to Zoology
Bio. Sci. 35 - Introduction to Entomology
Bio. Sci. 36 - Introduction to Mammalogy
Bio. Sci. 44 - Introduction to Microbiology
Bio. Sci. 55 - General Human Anatomy and Physiology
Bio. Sci. 56 - Biology: A Human Perspective
Bio. Sci. 56L - Biology: A Human Perspective (Laboratory)
Bio. Sci. 90 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Bio. Sci. 95 - Internship in Biological Sciences
Bio. Sci. 300 - Selected Topics in Biological Sciences
Bio. Sci. 601 - Basic Laboratory Skills in Microbiology

Bio. Sci. 16 - Field Courses

(Not offered consistently; offered on a rotational basis as time, interest and seasons permits—see current class schedules for actual offerings.)

Bio. Sci. 16A - Local Ecosystems of Placer County
Bio. Sci. 16B - Local Ecosystems of Nevada County
Bio. Sci. 16C - Vernal Pools and the California Prairie
Bio. Sci. 16D - Biology of Waterfowl and Marsh Birds
Bio. Sci. 16E - Ecology of the Sierran Conifer Forest

Bio. Sci. 16G - Field Paleontology and Ancient Environments
Bio. Sci. 16H - Ecology of the Mendocino Coast
Bio. Sci. 16I - Biology of Mono Lake and the Great Basin
Bio. Sci. 16J - Biology of Point Reyes National Seashore
Bio. Sci. 16K - Foothill Ecology of the Sierra Nevada

Bio. Sci. 16L - California Waterways (Riparian & Aquatic Biology)
Bio. Sci. 16M - Marine Mammals and Birds
Bio. Sci. 16N - Modoc Plateau Ecology
Bio. Sci. 16O - High Sierra and White Mountain Ecology
Bio. Sci. 16P - Death Valley and Desert Ecosystems

Bio. Sci. 16Q - Ecology of Mid-Western North America
Bio. Sci. 16R - Canyon Lands of the Southwest
Bio. Sci. 16T - Coastal Habitats of Northern California
Bio. Sci. 16U - Coastal Habitats of Central California
Bio. Sci. 16V - Deserts of Southern California

Bio. Sci. 16W - Biology of Pacific Northwest and the Cascades
Bio. Sci. 16Y - Ecology of Selected Wilderness Ecosystems
Bio. Sci. 16Z - Ecology of the American River