Curriculum

Below are possible courses students in the Post Baccalaureate Services for the Health Professions (PBS) will take. Career Changers will likely begin with introductory or intermediate courses. Record Enhancers will likely begin with intermediate or advanced courses. 

Since students can start our PBS any quarter at Shoreline Community College, an advisor will assist the students to create an individualized academic plan. Students determine how many classes per quarter fits their circumstances, and do research on course requirements for their specific school selection. Advisors are knowledgeable about typical course requirements and gpa expectations, make course recommendations, and help create a course plan.

  • At Shoreline, Fall, Winter and Spring quarters each have 10 weeks of instruction. Summer quarter has only 8 weeks of instruction. To find start dates for each quarter, view the college calendar. 
  • The Annual Schedule of Classes provides an overview of when courses may be offered during the academic year to assist students with planning. Some some courses are taught multiple quarters per year and some only once a year.

Rigorous Coursework

Shoreline Community College's science courses are small in size and are taught by excellent instructors who teach both the lecture and lab components. In fact, our science courses are recognized as equivalent to university courses. The University of Washington Equivalency Guide shows that Shoreline courses are fully transferable at both the introductory and upper division course levels. For example, CHEM 255 Biochemistry I transfers as the equivalent to BIOC 405 at the University of Washington Seattle.

Introductory courses (first year or two years)

Algebra and Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics. Most students will need to start by reviewing mathematics. Course descriptions are on the Math Department webpage.

Most students start with an intro to chemistry followed by a three-quarter sequence in General Inorganic Chemistry. More details on the Chemistry Department webpage.

  • CHEM& 121, Intro to Chemistry: Basic chemistry to supplement/replace high school chemistry for non-science majors. Introduces simplified atomic/molecular theory & the quantitative/qualitative relationships in the chemistry of solutions, gases, liquids, solids & their reactions. Mandatory 2-hour lab is taken concurrently. 
  • CHEM& 171/181, Inorganic Chemistry 1: Topics include scientific measurement, atomic structure, nomenclature, stoichiometry, aqueous solutions and reactions, gas laws and theory, basic thermodynamics and nuclear chem. Course includes lecture and seminar. Concurrent enrollment with lab.
  • CHEM& 172/182, Inorganic Chemistry 2: Topics include quantum numbers, orbitals, atomic periodicity, bonding theories, molecular shapes/polarity, liquids & solids, properties of solutions, and basic organic. Course includes lecture and seminar. Concurrent enrollment with lab.
  • CHEM& 173/183, Inorganic Chemistry 3: Topics include kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, buffers, solubility and complex ion equilibrium, entropy, Gibbs energy, electrochemistry & transition metals. Course includes lecture and seminar. Concurrent enrollment with lab.

After taking Cell Biology, students will either need (1) a sequence in Biology including Animal and Plant Biology, or (2) a sequence in Human Anatomy & Physiology.

See the Biology Department webpage

  • BIOL& 211, Cell Biology: Examines the cell as the basic unit of life. Topics include cell classification, architecture, organelles, energy-metabolism, cell signaling, mitosis-meiosis, and individual-population genetics. For life science majors and allied health students. Course has a laboratory component. (prerequisite CHEM& 121)
  • BIOL& 212, Animal Biology: A survey of animals involving a study of the identification structure and function. Evolution, embryology, and ecology of the kingdom is included. The emphasis is on the phylogenetic relationships among animals and the ecological relationships within the kingdom.
  • BIOL& 213, Plant Biology: Survey of major taxonomic groups Fungi, Protista and Plantae. Study of morphology, physiology and reproductive patterns and evolutionary relationships. Origins of life, development of ecosystems, succession and features of the major terrestrial biomes.
  • BIOL& 241, 242, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II: Anatomy and Physiology investigates human structure and function respectively. This two semester series is an introduction to the A&P of tissues, skeletal system, muscles, nerves, CNS, blood, cardiovascular system, digestive system, renal system, and reproductive systems. Labs include both anatomical and physiological exercises.

Programs that typically require a three-quarter sequence in physics are dentistry, medicine, some pharmacy schools, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. Most pre-health students take algebra- based physics PHYS& 114, 115, 116.

Check out the Physics Department webpage

  • Multicultural
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Intermediate Courses (second and/or third year)

A few health professional schools require calculus.

Dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine require a three-quarter sequence in Organic Chemistry (Chem241/242/243). Organic Chemistry sequence with labs (Chem271/272/273) provide the essential information to comprehend molecular structure and biochemical transformations encountered in subsequent biomedical courses

BIOL& 260, Microbiology: A survey of microorganisms with focus on healthcare applications. Structure, classification, metabolism and genetics of bacteria and viruses are main themes, with emphasis on disease processes, microbial control, and immunology. Laboratory techniques include isolation and identification of bacteria.

  • Multicultural
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Advanced Courses

Dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine also require a two-quarter sequence in Biochemistry

  • CHEM 255, Biochemistry I: (equivalent to University of Washington Seattle BIOC 405 course*) Explores the properties of water; biomolecules; amino acid and protein structure/function; enzyme mechanisms, kinetics and regulation; thermodynamics and bioenergetics; carbohydrate metabolism; the citric acid cycle; mitochondrial electron transport and ATP production; and photosynthesis.
  • CHEM 256, Biochemistry II: (equivalent to University of Washington Seattle BIOC 406 course*) Explores lipid biosynthesis, digestion, and β-oxidation; amino acid metabolism; nucleotide metabolism; starvation; diabetes mellitus; central dogma of molecular biology; intracellular protein sorting; and control of eukaryotic gene expression.  Numerous genetic and metabolic diseases are discussed in both courses. Prerequisites: Chem241/271 and Biol211.

  • BIOL 270, Molecular Biology Lecture: Provides a basic understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie cellular processes such as gene regulation, secretory pathways, cell signaling, the cell cycle, and introduction to eukaryotic genetics. (Fall quarter only)
  • BIOL 274, Molecular Biology with Laboratory: (equivalent to University of Washington Seattle BIOL 402 course*) In addition to lecture component, this course emphasizes hands-on experience with molecular biological techniques utilized in modern research laboratories. Techniques include gene cloning, PCR, DNA and protein electrophoresis, and protein purification. (Fall quarter only)

  • BIOL 276, Immunology Lecture: (hybrid) This course focuses on the concepts necessary to understand the cellular, molecular and genetic basis of the immune system. Emphasis will be placed on antigen/antibody recognition, B cells and antibody production, cellular-based immunity, major histocompatibility complexes, and innate immunity. (Spring quarter only)
  • BIOL 277, Immunology with Laboratory: (equivalent to U of Washington Seattle IMMU/MICROM 441 course*) In addition to the lecture component, this course focuses on the concepts and laboratory procedures necessary to understand the cellular, molecular and genetic basis of the immune system. Emphasis will be placed on antigen and antibody structure and function, antibody production, cellular based immunity, and the major histocompatibility complex. (Spring quarter only)

Students can choose to apply and enroll in the Biotechnology Lab Specialist Certificate program. This is four quarters from fall through summer each year and includes 35 upper division biology credits. For a list of the courses, please see the planning guide.