BIO 102: Introductory Biology: Ecology and Environmental Biology

Units: 4
Prerequisites: None
Advisory: ACE 150, ENGL 50, ESL 150, or eligibility determined by the English placement process.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
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 work, lab observations and experimentation, simulation exercises, and/or field trips.

BIO 103: Introductory Biology: Animal Diversity

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 202.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This life sciences course challenges students to think critically and demonstrate hypothetico-deductive reasoning within basic biological concepts, such as evolution, ecology, behavior, physiology, and development, while focusing on diversity within the animal kingdom. This course is intended for non-science majors. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 103, BIO 105, BIO 110, or BIO 111.

BIO 104: Introductory Biology: Botany (Plant Life)

Units: 4
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
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. Field trips may be required.

BIO 105: Introductory Biology: Biotechnology in Society

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Advisory: ACE 150, ENGL 50, ESL 150, or eligibility determined by the English placement process.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

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 106: Introductory Biology: Infectious Diseases--A Global Concern

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Advisory: ENGL 100 or ENGL 100H
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer (odd yrs)

This biology course introduces infectious diseases and causative agents affecting human health on a global scale. It covers basic characteristics of selected pathogens and interrelationships between humans, other animals, and the environment. The course highlights ancient and recent outbreaks of human diseases and discusses factors contributing to disease emergence as well as mechanisms of disease control and prevention.

BIO 107: Introductory Biology: Marine Biology

Units: 4
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This general education life science course introduces basic biological concepts in the context of learning about life in the ocean. The course emphasizes organismal diversity, how animals have adapted to the physical environment and anthropogenic impacts on the ocean including fisheries sustainability. The laboratory portion of the course combines classroom investigation with field exploration and emphasizes the scientific method, current research in the field of marine biology and the development of field sampling techniques. Students attend local field trips.

BIO 108: Introductory Biology: Ecology of the Oceans

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This introductory general education life science course examines the ocean from an ecological perspective. Topics include patterns observed 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 marine environmental sustainability and human impacts on ocean ecosystems.

BIO 109: Introductory Biology: The Fundamentals of Life on Earth

Units: 4
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to student's with prior credit in BIO 202.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This is a general course on the study of life and living systems for non-science track students. It introduces the fundamentals of biological mechanism and structure while surveying the dominant forms of life on Earth: animals, plants, and microbes.

BIO 110: Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture/Lab)

Units: 4
Prerequisites: ACE 150, ENGL 50, or ESL 150; MATH 28 or MATH 30; or eligibility determined by the English or math placement process.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 111 and BIO 111L.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
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
Prerequisites: ACE 150, ENGL 50, or ESL 150; MATH 28 or MATH 30; or eligibility determined by the English or math placement process.
Advisory: BIO 111L.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 110.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours.
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
Prerequisites: BIO 111, and MATH 28 or MATH 30, or eligibility determined by the math placement process.
Enrollment Limitation: Concurrent enrollment in BIO 111 if prerequisite not met. Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 110.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Laboratory 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

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 190: Survey of Human Musculoskeletal System

Units: 1
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 210 or BIO 210H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course examines the anatomy and physiology of the human musculoskeletal system. Upon successful completion, students will be able to demonstrate locations, actions, and roles of skeletal muscles and their associated skeletal attachments. Students study the gross and microscopic anatomy of bones, skeletal muscles, and joints in the human body in health and in disease states through work with human skeletons and models. This course is designed for students enrolled in selected occupational health programs.

BIO 202: Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Organismal Biology

Units: 4
Prerequisites: MATH 64, MATH 64S, or eligibility determined by the math placement process.
Advisory: Completion of college-level coursework in biology with focus at organismal or populational level, e.g., BIO 102, BIO 103, BIO 104, BIO 107, BIO 110, BIO 111, or BIO 220.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
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. C-ID BIOL-135S (with BIO 204/BIO 204H) and C-ID BIOL-140.

BIO 204: Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology

Units: 4
Prerequisites: CHEM 150 or CHEM 150H.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 204H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
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. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 204 or BIO 204H. C-ID BIOL-135S (with BIO 202) and C-ID BIOL-190.

BIO 204H: Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology (Honors)

Units: 4
Prerequisites: CHEM 150 or CHEM 150H.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 204.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
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. This honors course offers highly motivated students the opportunity to complete, document, and discuss independent scientific research. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 204 or BIO 204H. C-ID BIOL-135S (with BIO 202) and C-ID BIOL-190.

BIO 210: Human Anatomy

Units: 4
Prerequisites: BIO 110, BIO 111, or a minimum 3-unit course in biology that presents principles of cellular life in its curriculum.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 210H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 6 hours.
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 dissection techniques by working with preserved mammalian specimens, including human cadavers. Because the course presents applied clinical situations, it is recommended for students majoring in the allied health field, massage therapy, kinesiology, and physical education. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 210 or BIO 210H. C-ID BIOL-110B.

BIO 210H: Human Anatomy (Honors)

Units: 4
Prerequisites: BIO 110, BIO 111, or a minimum 3-unit course in biology that presents principles of cellular life in its curriculum.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in BIO 210.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 6 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall or Spring

This course offers highly motivated students an enriched opportunity to understand normal human anatomy and to explore select pathologies (abnormal anatomy). It targets students looking for a more challenging academic experience that will include some human dissection and advanced reading of published scientific material. This enhanced course blends the systemic approach to the study of human anatomy with select regional dissections. It combines microscopic studies of tissues (histology) and organs with gross/visual anatomical studies of the human body. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 210 or BIO 210H. C-ID BIOL-110B.

BIO 220: Human Physiology

Units: 4
Prerequisites: BIO 110, BIO 111, BIO 204, BIO 204H, BIO 210, or BIO 210H.
Advisory: CHEM 115, CHEM 115H, or CHEM 112.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
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
Prerequisites: BIO 220, CHEM 115, CHEM 115H, CHEM 112, CHEM 140, CHEM 150, or CHEM 150H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 6 hours.
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 290: Human Dissection Laboratory

Units: 1
Prerequisites: BIO 210 or BIO 210H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Laboratory 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Summer

This supervised study of human dissection techniques includes a review of dissection procedures as well as practical experience with human cadavers. The course follows a regional approach to human anatomy and covers all major muscle groups, organs, nerves, and blood vessels of the body. It is intended for students who are interested in normal anatomy of the human body, pathology, and the pursuit of careers in the medical field.

BIO 292: Internship Studies

Units: 0.5-3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
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 intern at a new site upon each repetition. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.

BIO 296: Topics in Biology

Units: 1-4
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Lecture 2 hours.
Lecture 3 hours.
Lecture 4 hours.
Course Typically Offered: To be arranged

This course gives students an opportunity to study topics in Biology that are not included in regular course offerings. Each Topics course is announced, described, and given its own title and 296 number designation in the class schedule.

BIO 299: Occupational Cooperative Work Experience

Units: 1-4
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Course Typically Offered: To be arranged

Occupational Cooperative Work Experience Education is intended for students employed in a job directly related to their major. 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 may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.

BIO 340: Molecular Mechanisms of Disease

Units: 3
Prerequisites: BIO 105, BIO 110, BIO 111, BIO 204, or BIO 204H, and CHEM 150 or CHEM 150H.
Enrollment Limitation: Only open to students enrolled in the bachelor's degree program in biomanufacturing at MiraCosta College.
Lecture 3 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall or Spring

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.