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Biology

Chemeketa offers about 20 biology classes to fulfill requirements for transfer degrees and professional programs.

topics Science

Skills & InterestFiguring Things Out

CareersScience & Engineering

  • Three biology students working together
  • Students on a beach trip
  • Student examining a forested area

Why choose Biology?

The study of biology reveals the workings of our natural world. You will enjoy understanding how life is formed. How life is sustained. How different life forms function and adapt.

A career based on biology will reward you with experiences where your knowledge helps people and nature thrive.

What will you learn?

  • The diversity of life: forms and functions of living things
  • How plants and animals maintain homeostasis
  • Marine life and ocean biology
  • Environmental science
  • How organisms interact in ecosystems
  • How cells function.
  • The genetic code and evolution, biotechnology
  • Human anatomy and physiology
  • Microbiology and medical microbes

Where will you learn?

Field Experiences

You can participate in field experiences to enhance learning and deepen your understanding of course topics. Many biology courses at Chemeketa include field trips:

  • BI 101: Study plant diversity and communities in the forest at Bonesteele County Park.
  • BI 131: Study the community diversity and carbon storage of intact forests at Silver Falls State Park.
  • BI 132: Contribute to a long term study of forest regeneration in the Opal Creek Ancient Forest after the Beachie Creek Fire in 2020.
  • BI 143: Explore tidepools, estuaries, and animal behavior at Seal Rock & Hatfield Marine Science Center.  Explore sand dunes and examine impacts of plastics in the ocean at South Beach.
  • BI 211: Examine plant and fungal diversity in its natural surrounding in old growth rain forests.
  • BI 213: Study invertebrate diversity in tidepools in Boiler Bay.

Note:  Changes in field trips may occur due to changes in weather or destination access.

Study Experiences

You can study "beyond the lecture" with these hands-on opportunities to practice.

Cadaver Lab

Chemeketa’s cadaver lab contains up to four cadavers that have been dissected to show different structures and systems of the human body as an integral part of the human anatomy and physiology course sequence. Cadaver lab is currently on hold.

Open Lab

Take advantage of the Science Hub to study science models, view slides, or review lab materials as provided by your instructor. 

Science Hub

You can use the Science Hub in Building 8 as a place to meet with a study group, confer with your instructor, or use shared science resources.  The room includes whiteboards, references, and workspace for group assignments.

What will you do?

Biologists use skills such as:

  • Studying live organisms in the field
  • Microbiological techniques
  • Bio-chemical & bio-medical testing
  • Microscopy
  • Dissection
  • Sample collection & preparation

Biology courses are a foundation for many possible careers, such as

  • Agriculture
  • Animal science & veterinary
  • Ecology
  • Environmental science
  • Fish & wildlife
  • Forestry
  • Health
  • Genetics & biotechnology
  • Medicine & pharmacy
  • Science journalism
  • Teaching
  • Research