Credit
28 courses · Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
BIOL 100 Concepts Of Biology
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 108 (54 lecture, 54 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Basic concepts of biology. Designed for non-biological sciences majors with no prior general biology course. Satisfies SBCC General Education requirement in Natural Sciences.
BIOL 101 Plant Biology
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 108 (54 lecture, 54 lab)
- Prerequisite
- MATH 107 or MATH 110C or MATH 137C or SS 110C or equivalent based on SBCC's Assessment Services placement via multiple measures.
- Advisory
- Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E or ENGL C1000H.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- BIOL 135S, BIOL 140, BIOL 155
Principles of biology, with emphasis on major plant groups. Anatomy, physiology, evolution, and diversity of the archaea, bacteria, algae, fungi and plantae. Required for the Biological Sciences major. Satisfies SBCC General Education requirement in Natural Sciences.
BIOL 102 Animal Biology
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 162 (54 lecture, 108 lab)
- Prerequisite
- MATH 110C or MATH 137C or MATH 107 or SS 110C or equivalent based on SBCC's Assessment Services placement via multiple measures.
- Advisory
- BIOL 101, ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E or ENGL C1000H.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- BIOL 135S, BIOL 140, BIOL 150
Principles of animal taxonomy, evolution, population and community ecology; protist and animal diversity and adaptations; emphasis on vertebrate anatomy and physiology. Required for the Biological Sciences major.
BIOL 103 Cell and Molecular Biology
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 162 (54 lecture, 108 lab)
- Prerequisite
- CHEM 155 or CHEM 104, MATH 107 or MATH 110C or MATH 137C or SS 110C or equivalent based on SBCC's Assessment Services placement via multiple measures.
- Advisory
- ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E or ENGL C1000H.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
- C-ID
- BIOL 135S, BIOL 190
Cell structure and function: molecular architecture, reproduction and growth; mechanisms of genetics; intercellular communication; cell and organ system physiology; life's origin. Study scientific literature with instruction in critical thinking, composition and logical analyses of ideas and experiments. Required for Biological Sciences majors. Satisfies SBCC General Education requirement in Communication and Analytical Thinking.
BIOL 110 Natural Science
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Physical and chemical principles underlying biological architecture and function. In combination with BIOL 141, BIOL 110 satisfies General Education requirement in Natural Sciences.
BIOL 112 Evolution and Adaptation
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Principles of biological evolution, diversity of life on earth, and a survey of living and extinct organisms. Investigates theories of life's origin, modes of speciation and adaptations of dominant life forms through the ages.
BIOL 116 Biological Illustration
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 108 (54 lecture, 54 lab)
- Advisory
- ART 120.
- Transfers to
- CSU
Traditional and contemporary techniques of scientific illustration of biological subjects for technical and medical print and electronic publications.
BIOL 118 Nature Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU
Photography of biological subjects. Camera, light and the special methods of field and wildlife photography.
BIOL 120 Natural History
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 108 (54 lecture, 54 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Survey of the natural environment through studies of Earth's ecosystems, with emphasis on the plant and animal inhabitants and the influences of cosmic, geological and meteorological phenomena. Weekly field trips.
BIOL 122 Ecology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Organisms and populations as integrated elements of communities and ecosystems. Covers population structure; growth and evolution; relationships between species including competition, predation and coevolution; community structure and development; biodiversity; and biogeography.
BIOL 123 Ecology Laboratory
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 54 (54 lab)
- Corequisite
- BIOL 122.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Laboratory and field investigations of ecological principles.
BIOL 124 Biological Oceanography
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 108 (54 lecture, 54 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Relationships between marine plants and animals and physical characteristics of Earth's oceans. Emphasis on marine organisms found in the open sea, their characteristics and ecological relationships. Biological sampling techniques and physical measurements studied in laboratory and at sea.
BIOL 125 Marine Biology
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 108 (54 lecture, 54 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Study of marine plants and animals, with emphasis on local organisms and their ecological adaptations. Laboratory includes visits to local coastal and marine ecosystems.
BIOL 126 Aquatic Ecosystems
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Diversity of life associated with marine and freshwater aquatic ecosystems; ecological relationships and adaptations to life in water.
BIOL 130 Methods in Field Biology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 90 (36 lecture, 54 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU
Through weekly field trips and 2-3 weekend field experiences, students study flora and fauna of California using current biological and ecological field research methods, collect and analyze data, demonstrate leadership and group work skills, and write and present a research proposal. Students must be able to hike in rough terrain and carry bulky equipment.
BIOL 133 Ecology of Morro Bay Area
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 36 (9 lecture, 27 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU
Field course focusing on organisms and ecology of California coastal ecosystems (e.g., mudflats, salt marsh, rocky outer coast). Weekend, overnight field trip required.
BIOL 140 Principles of Biology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Basic principles of cells, genetics, evolution, biodiversity and ecology. Designed for Natural History majors. Satisfies Natural Science General Education requirement when combined with Bio 141.
BIOL 141 Biology Laboratory
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 72 (18 lecture, 54 lab)
- Prerequisite
- BIOL 110 or BIOL 112 or BIOL 140 or
- Corequisite
- BIOL 110 or BIOL 112 or BIOL 140.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Laboratory investigation of biological principles and techniques of investigation.
BIOL 142 Marine Science
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to physical oceanography and marine biology. Exploration of ocean ecosystems and organisms including tropics, poles, temperate and deep-sea regions. Marine environmental issues and solutions.
BIOL 144 Biogeography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Survey of the history, distribution and diversity of life and the methods by which biodiversity is defined and measured.
BIOL 150 Biodiversity
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Broad introduction to life on Earth including diversity, adaptations and evolutionary history; principles of ecology and evolution; and examination of how life evolved and the tree of life is constructed using fossil evidence, comparative morphology and genomics.
BIOL 161 DNA and Society
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to DNA structures and functions, heredity, genetics, biotechnology, cloning, genetically modified organisms, and stem cells from a biological perspective; relevant ethical issues and implications for society and the individual will be explored. Satisfies SBCC General Education requirement in Natural Sciences.
BIOL 171 Human Evolution
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
Evolution of Humans from early primate ancestors to modern humans including cultural, genetic and anatomical changes.
BIOL 172 Symbiosis
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 (54 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Origin and nature of biological partnerships. Symbiotic relations from microbial landscapes to global ecology. Emphasis on ecological, behavioral and chemical exchanges between organisms and ecosystems.
BIOL 291 Seminars in Biology
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 (36 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU
Topics of current interest in the Biological Sciences are presented in seminar format by invited researchers and students enrolled in the course. Emphasis on research and presentation skills, including analysis of primary literature.
BIOL 295 Internship In Biology
- Units
- 2-4
- Hours
- 210 (210 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU
Structured, on-the-job experience in a field directly related to the student's area of interest in the biological sciences.
BIOL 298 Independent Reading in Biology
- Units
- 1-4
- Hours
- 192 (192 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU
Independent literature search and/or reading of material on a topic in biology. A final report, including an annotated bibliography, is required.
BIOL 299 Independent Research In Biology
- Units
- 1-4
- Hours
- 192 (192 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU
Independent, systematic research investigation of a problem in biology. A final report on research conducted is required. May be taken multiple times for credit. Course restricted to 3 repetitions