Program: Biological Science, AS - College of Southern Nevada

2025-2026 Catalog and Student Handbook

Jul 14, 2025

CODE: BIOL-AS | TOTAL CREDITS: 60 | FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY: Eligible

This degree is intended for transfer to NSC, UNLV, and UNR. Students should meet with their assigned CSN advising unit first and then contact the transfer program advising unit for the university you plan to attend.

ACADEMIC MAPS: Academic Maps: AS Biological Science

SCHOOL: School of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

DEPARTMENT: Department of Biolo gical Sciences

AREA OF STUDY: Biological & Physical Sciences

DESCRIPTION

The Associate of Science Degree is a general transfer program for students who are planning to transfer to UNLV, UNR, NSU, GBC or another baccalaureate-level institution. A secondary objective may be employment upon completion of the AS degree.

NEED HELP WITH THIS DEGREE OR SELECTING A COURSE?

For advising assistance, log into MyCSN and access your advising unit’s information from the advising notice in the communication center.
If you are on academic warning, probation or suspension, or financial aid warning or suspension, please see an Academic Counselor by visiting Counseling and Retention Services.

Once you have met with your CSN advising unit you should meet with the Transfer Program for the university you wish to transfer to:

NSU/CSN Transfer Program - Aims to provide seamless, transparent pathways for transfer students to complete a bachelor’s degree from NSU. Schedule an appointment by visiting https://transfer2state.as.me/schedule.php?mc_phishing_protection_id=149734-cv8cgsiif6l5uqlogchg.
UNLV/CSN Transfer Program - Prepares students to transfer to UNLV including transfer credit review, referrals to student services, and assistance with transition steps from CSN to UNLV. Schedule an appointment by visiting https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/4ye2pqh0/10.
UNR/CSN Transfer Program - Students should schedule appointments at the beginning of their third semester. Schedule an appointment by visiting tinyurl.com/NVatCSNAdvisors, click Select Staff, the advisor’s name, a date, an appointment time, and then click “Book.”

Student Learning Outcomes

Evaluate biological diversity and similarity of organizational levels ranging from molecules to communities.
Integrate knowledge of biology, biological methods and contextual issues, and be able to communicate them.
Incorporate knowledge of scientific methods and the relationships among theory, experiments and analyses and apply these to a problem or issue in biology.
Demonstrate knowledge of basic laboratory procedures and experimentation skills.

General Education Requirements

TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION CREDITS: 32

300-level and above courses cannot be used to satisfy GE requirements.
Courses with a B suffix (i.e. 100B) cannot be used to satisfy general education or degree requirements for Associate of Arts, Associate of Business, and Associate of Science degrees. B suffix courses may not be transferable within NSHE.

Mathematics (4 Credits)

^{NOTE: Your first college-level MATH course must be completed before reaching 30 total college-level credits.}

MATH 181 - Calculus I
_{REMINDER: If a student does not place into the correct college-level MATH course, they are required to complete a preparatory or prerequisite course(s) or attempt to gain a higher score on the MATH placement exam. Such preparatory or prerequisite courses are not part of the degree, may delay degree completion, and will cause the student to complete more credits than the total listed on this degree.}

English Composition (6-8 Credits)

^{NOTE: Your first college-level ENG course must be completed before reaching 30 total college-level credits.}

Must complete with a grade of C- or better.

Literature (3 Credits)

Recommended: ENG 223.

ENG 231 - World Literature I or above

Humanities (6 Credits)

COM 101 - Public Speaking
and one course from the following:
ANTH 105 - Introduction to World Archaeology
or ANTH 204 - Art in Cross-Cultural Perspective
or ANTH 211 - Introduction to the Archaeology of North America
or ANTH 216 - Cultures Through Film
or ANTH 217 - Drums, Culture, and New World Rhythmatism
or ENG 205 - Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Poetry or above
or any HIST prefix course
or PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy
or PHIL 119 - Introduction to the Old Testament
or PHIL 129 - Introduction to the New Testament
or PHIL 201 - Philosophy Goes to the Movies
or PHIL 202 - Introduction to Philosophy of the Arts
or PHIL 203 - Survey of Existentialism
or PSY 270 - Understanding Psychology Through Film
or World Languages 111 or above (this includes the following course prefixes: ARA, ARM, CHI, FIL, FREN, GER, GRE, ITAL, JPN, KOR, LAT, PORT, RUS, SPAN, and THAI)

Fine Arts (3 Credits)

any ART prefix course
or DAN 101 - Dance Appreciation
or any MUS prefix course (except MUS 100)
or PHO 101 - Beginning Photography
or any THTR prefix course (except 275)

Social Science (6 Credits)

Choose two from the following. Course selections must be from two different disciplines.

ANTH 101 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
or ANTH 106 - Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics
or ANTH 112 - Social Anthropology
or ANTH 201 - Peoples and Cultures of the World
or ANTH 202 - Introduction to Archaeology
or ANTH 205 - Race and Ethnicity in Everyday Life
or ANTH 207 - Sport and Culture
or ANTH 209 - Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
or ANTH 212 - Introduction to North American Indians
or ANTH 214 - Introduction to Mesoamerican Prehistory and Archaeology
or ANTH 215 - Introduction to Faith, Witchcraft and Magic
or ANTH 225 - Archaeological Field Methods Survey
or CRJ 104 - Introduction to Administration of Justice
or any ECON prefix course
or PHIL 135 - Introduction to Ethics
or PHIL 205 - Science and Religion
or PHIL 207 - Social and Political Philosophy
or PHIL 216 - Philosophy of Human Nature
or PHIL 244 - Bioethics
or PHIL 245 - Contemporary Moral Issues
or PHIL 246 - Philosophy of Law
or PHIL 249 - Environmental Ethics
or any PSC prefix course
or any PSY prefix course (except PSY 270)
or any RST prefix course
or any SOC prefix course

U.S. and Nevada Constitutions (4-6 Credits)

Recommended: HIST 100 or PSC101

Four Credit Options
HIST 100 - Historical Issues and Contemporary Society
or PSC 101 - Introduction to American Politics
Six Credit Options
HIST 101 - U.S. History to 1877
and HIST 102 - U.S. History Since 1877
or
HIST 101 - U.S. History to 1877
and HIST 217 - Nevada History
or
HIST 102 - U.S. History Since 1877
and HIST 111 - Survey of U.S. Constitutional History
or
HIST 111 - Survey of U.S. Constitutional History
and HIST 217 - Nevada History

Values and Diversity

^{All students MUST fulfill this requirement. Course chosen may also be used to fulfill the corresponding general education or special program requirements.}

ENG 223 fulfills this requirement.

Major Requirements

TOTAL MAJOR REQUIREMENTS CREDITS: 28

Core Requirements (24 Credits)

BIOL 190 - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
and BIOL 191 - Introduction to Organismal Biology
and CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I
and CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
and PHYS 151 - General Physics I
and PHYS 152 - General Physics II

Electives (4-6 Credits)

BIOL 113 - Life in the Oceans or above (except BIOL 189 and BIOL 299)
or CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I