# Biology (BIO) courses MiraCosta College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 18 courses Source: https://catalog.miracosta.edu/disciplines/biology/ "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026. ### BIO 102 — Introductory Biology: Ecology and Environmental Biology - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 6 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring This general education life science course is intended for non-science track students. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students explore ecology and address current environmental issues, while seeking sustainable solutions. Course activities may include lectures, group discussions, lab observations and experimentation, simulation exercises, field work, case studies, and research projects. ### BIO 103 — Introductory Biology: Animal Diversity - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 202. - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring This course introduces non-science track students to animal diversity and incorporates biological concepts such as evolution, ecology, behavior, physiology, and development. Course activities may include lectures, assessments, class discussions, research projects, reflection and/or application assignments, and observational activities. ### BIO 104 — Introductory Biology: Botany (Plant Life) - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule - Course Typically Offered: Spring This introductory course examines plant anatomy, physiology, and classification. It provides a broad perspective of biological concepts and principles and covers both unicellular and multicellular systems. Topics include structure and function of life, metabolism and manipulation of energy, cell division, genetics, taxonomy, and the evolution and adaptation of living organisms. Required field trips support the development of observational and analytical skills aligned with course objectives. ### BIO 105 — Introductory Biology: Biotechnology in Society - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation) - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This introductory course relates basic biology to the emerging field of biotechnology. Topics include fundamental chemical processes common to all cells, biomolecular chemistry, cellular and molecular biology, classical and molecular genetics, and the molecular basis of immunology and cancer. The course highlights current advances in biotechnology, such as cloning, recombinant DNA technology, and gene therapy as well as the applications, social consequences, and ethical implications of biology and biotechnology in medicine and agriculture. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 103, BIO 105, BIO 110, or BIO 111. ### BIO 107 — Introductory Biology: Marine Biology - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 4 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring From plankton to whales, this general education life science course explores the diversity of life in the ocean and examines the biological and environmental factors that influence ocean ecosystems. Designed for non-science majors, the course emphasizes human impacts on the ocean and issues related to our local marine communities. The laboratory provides hands-on experience with scientific observation, data collection, and the use of field and lab equipment. Required field trips support the development of observational and data analysis skills aligned with course objectives. ### BIO 108 — Introductory Biology: Ocean Ecology and Sustainability - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring This introductory life science course examines the ocean from an ecological perspective with an emphasis on environmental sustainability. Topics include patterns in the marine realm, interactions between organisms and their environment, the flow of energy through food webs, the structure of marine communities and issues related to environmental sustainability and human impacts on ocean ecosystems. Students discuss climate change, reducing our carbon footprint, the impacts of plastics and other pollution, and exploitation of marine resources. This class prepares students for moving forward toward a more sustainable future. ### BIO 108L — Introductory Biology: Ocean Ecology and Sustainability Lab - **Units:** 1 - **Hours:** Laboratory 3 hours - **Prerequisite:** BIO 107 or BIO 108 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule - Enrollment Limitation: Concurrent enrollment in BIO 107 or BIO 108 if prerequisite not met. - Course Typically Offered: Spring This general education life science lab course offers students an experimental approach to examining current topics in the field of ocean ecology with a strong emphasis on sustainability. The course introduces students to current laboratory and field-based research methods, allowing them to develop skills in experimental design and then practice their skills by engaging in instructor-led independent research. This course supports the content of BIO 108 and includes local field trips. ### BIO 110 — Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture/Lab) - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation) - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 22 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 111 and BIO 111L. - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This entry-level course provides a broad perspective of biological concepts and principles with an emphasis on human health. Topics include the process of scientific inquiry, the biochemistry of biomolecules, metabolism and manipulation of energy by plants and animals, cell division, classical and molecular genetics, development, and the evolution and adaptation of living organisms. The laboratory component of this course provides direct participation in experiments, demonstrations, and discussions related to fundamental concepts in biology. This course is designed for pre-health profession students. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 103, BIO 105, BIO 110, or BIO 111. ### BIO 111 — Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture) - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours - **Advisory:** BIO 111L - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation) - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 110. - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This entry-level course provides a broad perspective of biological concepts and principles with an emphasis on human health. Topics include the process of scientific inquiry, the biochemistry of biomolecules, metabolism and manipulation of energy by plants and animals, cell division, classical and molecular genetics, development, and the evolution and adaptation of living organisms. This course is designed for pre-health profession students. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 103, BIO 105, BIO 110, or BIO 111. ### BIO 111L — Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lab) - **Units:** 1 - **Hours:** Laboratory 3 hours - **Prerequisite:** BIO 111 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Concurrent enrollment in BIO 111 if prerequisite not met. Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 110. - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring This laboratory accompaniment to BIO 111 provides direct participation in experiments, demonstrations, and discussions related to fundamental concepts in biology. This course further develops the student's understanding of topics introduced in the lecture. ### BIO 202 — Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Organismal Biology - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours - **Prerequisite:** Knowledge, skills, and abilities at the intermediate algebra level as determined by the math placement process - **Advisory:** Any college-level biology course with an organismal or population focus (e.g., BIO 102, BIO 103, BIO 104, BIO 107, BIO 108, BIO 110, BIO 204, BIO 210, BIO 220, or BIO 230) - **C-ID:** BIOL 135S, BIOL-140 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 8 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring This course surveys the organismal/meta-organismal half of biological disciplines. Topics include the taxonomy and physiology of prokaryotes and basal eukaryotes; the taxonomy, developmental biology, and physiology of plants and animals; and single-species population dynamics and interspecies interactions in communities. The laboratory emphasizes evolutionary process and mechanism, phylogeny reconstruction, comparative anatomy/physiology/survey of plants and animals, and life history evolution. Required field trips support the development of observational and data analysis skills aligned with course objectives. C-ID BIOL 135S (with BIO 204) and BIOL-140. ### BIO 204 — Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours - **Prerequisite:** CHEM 150 - **C-ID:** BIOL-135S, BIOL-190 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 4 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 204H. - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring This course surveys the molecular half of biological disciplines. Topics include biological molecules, metabolic biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. The laboratory emphasizes modern methods in cell and molecular biology, classical genetics, and experimental design. C-ID BIOL-135S (with BIO 202) and BIOL-190. ### BIO 210 — Human Anatomy - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 6 hours - **Prerequisite:** BIO 110, BIO 111, or a minimum 3-unit course in biology that presents principles of cellular life in its curriculum - **C-ID:** BIOL-110B - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 20 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 210H. - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course follows a systemic approach by combining microscopic studies of tissues (histology) and organs along with gross/visual anatomical studies of the human body. Students learn mammalian and human anatomy by working with preserved mammalian specimens and human cadavers. Because the course presents applied clinical situations, it is recommended for students majoring in the health sciences: massage therapy, kinesiology, physical therapy, nursing, and physician assistant. C-ID BIOL-110B. ### BIO 220 — Human Physiology - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours - **Prerequisite:** BIO 110, BIO 111, BIO 204, or BIO 210 - **Advisory:** CHEM 115 or CHEM 112 - **C-ID:** BIOL-120B - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 16 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course presents the interrelationships of the various organ systems, based upon the molecular and cellular activities of the organs that comprise those systems. It emphasizes the integration of body systems for maintaining homeostasis through regulated metabolism and coordinated flow of information. This course is designed for students majoring in pre-medicine, pre-nursing, allied health fields, and physical education. C-ID BIOL-120B. ### BIO 230 — Introduction to Microbiology - **Units:** 5 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 6 hours - **Prerequisite:** BIO 220, CHEM 115, CHEM 112, CHEM 140, or CHEM 150 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 10 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course introduces the fundamental concepts of microbiology and the use of the scientific method applied to the study of bacteria and other microorganisms. Topics include the history, morphology, genetics, and physiology of microbes. The laboratory emphasizes methods for isolating, culturing, identifying, enumerating and controlling bacteria. ### BIO 292 — Internship Studies - **Units:** 0.5-14 - **Corequisite:** Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. Fourteen unit maximum in any combination of work experience education and/or internship studies per semester. - Course Typically Offered: To be arranged This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment. ### BIO 299 — Occupational Work Experience Education - **Units:** 0.5-14 - **Corequisite:** Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Career Center approval. Fourteen unit maximum in any combination of work experience education and/or internship studies per semester. - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course is intended for students who are employed in a job directly related to their major or career area of interest. It allows such students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills of their discipline to their position and to undertake new responsibilities and learn new skills at work. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment. ### BIO 340 — Molecular Mechanisms of Disease - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours - **Prerequisite:** BIO 105, BIO 110, BIO 111, or BIO 204, and CHEM 150 - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/bio.md) - Enrollment Limitation: Only open to students enrolled in the bachelor's degree program in biomanufacturing at MiraCosta College. - Course Typically Offered: Fall This course focuses on the molecular basis of human disease. Topics include genetic, metabolic, signaling, developmental, and infectious diseases as well as the biological mechanisms of immunity, cancer, and aging. This course develops students' understanding of the biological basis of human disease that will allow them to evaluate technological advances in therapeutics and diagnostics. This course is open only to students enrolled in the biomanufacturing bachelor's degree program.