From DNA to Biosphere: Grow Your Career in Biology
What You'll Learn
Students in the Biology program at Ivy Tech learn about the patterns and processes that all forms of life on Earth share. The program provides a well-rounded understanding of biology through courses and lab exercises. Students learn general biology, chemistry, physics and scientific research as well as molecular biology, ecology or genetics. Courses cover subjects such as:
Biochemical and molecular properties of life
Cellular organization
Reproduction
Organism diversity in animals, plants, fungi and microbes
Ecology and ecosystem processes
Career Options
The Ivy Tech Biology program prepares students to pursue careers in locations ranging from analytical or research labs to national parks. Careers include:
Research assistant or associate
Lab technician
Genomics researcher
Naturalist
Wildlife biologist
Conservation officer
Ecologist
Environmental educator
TRANSFER AS A JUNIOR
Graduates of the Associate of Science in Biology degree program also have the foundation to transfer to earn a bachelor's degree, if desired.
Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
The Ivy Tech Associate of Science (AS) in Biology degree program focuses on life and physical sciences, allowing students to explore various biology topics through electives like molecular biology, genetics and ecology. Course and lab work covers subjects such as:
Cellular organization
Reproduction
Biochemical and molecular properties
Organism diversity among animals, plants, fungi and microbes
Ecology and ecosystem processes
In addition to two semesters of general biology, general chemistry and physics, the program includes a capstone course on scientific research.
Graduates of the AS in Biology can also choose to transfer to a four-year college or university, where they can earn a bachelor's degree to pursue careers in genetic counseling, medicine, agriculture, marine biology and many other fields.
The AS in Biology is designated as a TSAP program (which stands for “Transfer Single Articulation Pathway”), which enables students to transfer to Indiana public four-year institutions with automatic junior status. You can save upward of $10,000 by completing your first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring to a four-year college.
Our Biology program has partnerships with more than two dozen four-year universities and colleges so you can seamlessly transfer without losing your credits or time. Talk to our transfer advocates for information about continuing your education after completing your AS degree at Ivy Tech.
Note that admission is not guaranteed just by enrolling in the Associate of Science in Biology program. You will need to be admitted to the institution you intend to transfer to.
The Ivy Tech Associate of Science in Biology degree program requires 60 credit hours. For those entering the program with college-ready math competency, the associate degree program requires four semesters to complete. For some students, remedial math is recommended, or college algebra as an elective.
The associate degree in biology can prepare students for careers working for schools, research laboratories or departments of natural resources. Careers include:
Biological lab technician
Forest conservation technician
Medical lab technician
Teaching assistant
Student Outcomes
Student Outcomes (SOs) are the competencies that Ivy Tech students should
be well versed in upon graduating from the program.
Biology can be a good fit for students interested in pursuing technical careers in the industry or in transferring to bachelor's degree programs. They can work toward roles in:
Research science
Medical or dental
Pharmacy or pharmaceutical industry
Bioinformatics
Biotech
Entrepreneurship
Biology students study a variety of scientific topics, and the Ivy Tech program features a capstone course on scientific research.
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the details above, biology may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
Students coming to Ivy Tech with their high school diploma or equivalent can start straight into the degree program without completing any prerequisite courses as long as they are considered college ready by the knowledge assessment. For some students, remedial math is recommended, or college algebra as an elective.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Biology Courses
Descriptions of biology courses can be found in our online course catalog:
See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Class Format
Ivy Tech biology courses are taught in a traditional, in-person format.
Big Dreams? Go for Honors
If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider enhancing your associate degree in Biology by pursuing an Honors pathway. Honors courses are fully virtual with opportunities to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state. The coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership. View eligibility requirements
Graduating with a Biology degree with an Honors pathway can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.