Which Science Course Should I Take?

Many students who attend Gaston College are required to take at least one science class. Students should read the requirements for their degree program carefully to see if a specific course is required at a specific time. In addition, students planning to transfer credits from Gaston College to another institution need to check with the institution they plan to attend for specific science requirements. Some of the state universities are now requiring a two-course sequence of science for all majors; some require a sequence only for certain majors.

All of the science classes have a prerequisite of RED 090 or an appropriate test score placing you out of that class. In addition, some of the classes (astronomy, chemistry, geology and physical science,) have math prerequisites. Most science classes also require Internet and email access. It is the student's responsibility to check for prerequisites before registering for a class. If you have questions about prerequisites for science classes, please call a science faculty member before you register!

Core Science Courses for AA and AS students:

The following science courses fulfill the "core" science requirement and are approved for transfer as part of the AA and AS curriculum:

*These courses have a science or math prerequisite. Consult the college catalog for more details.

Elective Science Courses:  

The following courses have been approved for transfer as electives in the AA and AS curricula. In addition some are requirements for health-science AAS degrees.

*These courses have a science or math prerequisite. Consult the college catalog for more details.

Additional Information for AAS and Certificate students:

Biology Requirements:

• Students applying to (or enrolled in) certain Health-Science fields are required to take specific introductory Biology Classes.
• BIO 163 (Basic Anatomy and Physiology) is required for the Practical Nursing, Therapeutic Massage, Dietetic Technician, and Medical Office Administration curricula.
• BIO 168 and 169 (Anatomy and Physiology I) are required for Medical Assisting, Registered Nursing, and EMT. (BIO 168 is a prerequisite for BIO 169!)

Chemistry Requirements: Gaston College's nursing programs do not currently require a chemistry course, but many other programs require either high school chemistry or one semester of college chemistry.

• CHM 130 is required by the Dietetic Technician and Veterinary Technology Curricula at Gaston College. This is the chemistry course required by the Dental Hygiene programs at Catawba Valley Community College (Hickory, NC) and York Technical College (in Rock Hill, SC). SOME local nursing schools accept this course as a replacement for High School Chemistry.
• CHM 121 is generally accepted at local nursing schools as a replacement for High School Chemistry. CHM 121 generally will not transfer to the University system.
• CHM 131 is also accepted by local nursing schools as a replacement for High School Chemistry. CHM 131 will also transfer for a 4-year nursing degree as a core science requirement.

Need more information about science classes?

Ask for the BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY or OTHER SCIENCE information sheets from an advisor.

If you have any further questions contact Dr. Armstrong (704-922-6458) in the science department for more information BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR A CLASS!

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Which Chemistry Course Should I Take?

What are the differences among the introductory chemistry courses?

CHM 121 Foundations of Chemistry

• This course is intended for students with no previous chemistry, or those with a C or less in High School Chemistry who need to take a higher-level chemistry course (CHM 151).
• Topics include matter, structure of the atom, nomenclature, chemical equations, bonding and reactions
• Mathematical topics include measurements, scientific notation, and stoichiometry. This requires that a student be comfortable with algebraic manipulation of numbers.
• Students completing this course should be ready to enroll in CHM 151

CHM130 General, Organic, and Biochemistry

• A survey course of inorganic, organic and biochemistry.  The course is intended to develop understanding of basic chemical concepts and to promote the ability to apply these concepts in the health sciences. 
• It includes some mathematical problem solving using basic algebra.
• This course DOES NOT fulfill the natural science requirement for the AA degree.

CHM131 Introduction to Chemistry

• An course introducing the fundamental concepts of inorganic chemistry
• The 1^st semester of a two-semester sequence, with the second semester course focusing on organic and biochemistry.  CHM 132, Organic and Biochemistry will be offered on an as needed basis
• It includes some mathematical problem solving using basic algebra.

CHM132 Organic and Biochemistry

• A course introducing the fundamental concepts of organic and biochemistry.
• Designed for nursing majors.
• This course does NOT usually meet organic chemistry requirements for 4 year biology degrees OR pharmacy, medical, dental, or medical school.

CHM151 General Chemistry

• This course is for students pursuing an associate of science degree or those intending to transfer to a senior institution and pursue a degree in science biology, physics, chemistry, engineering or pre-health professional programs such as pre-med, pre-dentistry or pre-pharmacy.
• This course requires that students have previous instruction in chemistry, from taking CHM 121 or with departmental approval with a strong high school chemistry background.
• Math requirements for this class are more rigorous and College Algebra or pre-calculus is a prerequisite for this class. Students not meeting these prerequisite requirements will be dropped from the course!

What are the prerequisites? (Students not meeting prerequisites may be dropped from the class)

Which courses apply to which degree programs?

What course is appropriate for other allied health technology programs?
(this includes dental hygiene at other institutions)

• CHM130 and CHM130A  

What course is appropriate for nursing majors?

• The AAS Degree (RN) nursing program at Gaston College requires NO chemistry courses.
• Mercy Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital nursing programs accept ANY of these chemistry courses to fulfill chemistry prerequisites. We recommend CHM 121/121A or 131/131A.
• UNC BS nursing programs accept CHM 131 and CHM 131A or CHM 151 for the first semester chemistry requirement. A second semester is required to complete the sequence. That course will be 132 for those taking CHM 131 or 152 for those taking CHM 151.
• CHM 132, Organic and Biochemistry will be offered on an as needed basis

Contact information for questions about Chemistry Classes: Dr. Peggy Geiger, RCH 217, x6528 or Dr. Melissa Armstrong, RCH 120, x6458

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Which Biology Course Should I Take?

What are the differences among the introductory Biology courses?

BIO 110 Principles of Biology

• This course is intended for non-science majors. This course fulfills the core requirement of a one-semester biological sciences course for non-majors.
  
• This course surveys fundamental biological principles.  Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate understanding of biology as it applies to everyday life.
• Topics include introduction to chemical and biochemical terms, cell biology, metabolism, genetics, taxonomy, evolution, ecology, diversity, and related topics.  Course includes lecture and lab. 

 BIO 111 General Biology I

• This course is intended for science majors. It is considerably more detailed and rigorous than BIO 110. This course is has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core in natural sciences/mathematics. This course is the first of a two semester sequence (followed by BIO112)

• Topics include basic biological chemistry, cell structure and function, metabolism and energy transformation, genetics, evolution, classification, and related topics. Course includes lecture and lab.

BIO 163 Basic Anatomy &physiology

• This course has been approved for transfer as an elective, through the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement
• This course is a one semester course designed to provide a basic study of the structure and function of the human body
• Topics include introduction to homeostasis, cells, tissues, and the body systems. Course includes lecture and lab.
• This course counts as an elective in the AA and AS curricula

BIO 168  & BIO 169 Anatomy and Physiology I and II

• This course has been approved for transfer as an elective, through the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement
• This is a two semester sequence course for students pursuing an associate of science degree, or those intending to transfer to a senior institution and pursue a degree in science (biology, physics, chemistry), or pre-health professional programs such as nursing, premed, pre-dentistry or pre-pharmacy.
• This course sequence provides a comprehensive study of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Course includes lecture and lab. Course includes lecture and lab.
• These courses count as electives in the AA and AS curricula.

What are the prerequisites?

All Biology Courses have a RED 090 prerequisite. Other prerequisites are listed in the course descriptions in the College catalog.

Which courses apply to which degree programs?

• BIO 110 counts toward the science requirement for the AA degree. BIO 110 will count as an elective for the AS degree for students who choose chemistry or physics for their sequence. Students in the AA or AS curriculum may not receive credit for both BIO 110 and BIO 111.
• The BIO 111/112 sequence fulfills the sequence of science requirement for the AS degree or the 2 science course requirement for the AA degree
• BIO 163 counts as an elective in the AA and AS curricula.
• BIO 168 and 169 are also electives in the AA and AS curricula, they do not fulfil the sequence requirement under the AS or the two-science requirement of the AA.  We no longer offer BIO 165 and BIO 166, which have the same curriculum as Bio 168 and BIO 169 but in the past were not transferable as separate courses.

BIO 175 is for the PN program

BIO 275 is for the RN program

Both count as electives in the AA and AS curricula

A student may take BIO 275 in place of BIO 175. Not all colleges accept BIO 175 as transfer. We offer Bio 175 once a year, usually during the summer.  We offer BIO 275 each semester.

Contact information

For questions and further information please contact :

• Cliff Grimsley at extension 6457 for questions about BIO 163, 168, 169, 175 or 275
•  Paula Dedmon at extension 6455 for questions about BIO 110, 111 or 112.

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What Other Science Courses Can I Take?

What are the differences among the Astronomy, Geology and Earth Science courses?

• All courses are one-semester courses and might not fit into a sequence, which might be needed for science majors.
• All of these courses require use of the Internet and some require email. There is free access to the Internet available on campus.

AST 111/111A Descriptive Astronomy/Descriptive Astronomy Lab

• This course is intended for science and non-science majors.
• This course fulfills a natural science core requirement for the A.A. degree and will transfer based on the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
• This course fulfills a natural science elective for the A.S. degree and will transfer based on the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
• You must register for lecture and laboratory as 2 separate course numbers. Lab is a corequisite for the lecture course.
• This course has a prerequisite of College Algebra (MAT 161) and RED 090.
• Topics include an overview of the solar system, the sun, stars, galaxies and the larger universe.
• <![endif]> The laboratory will include some outdoor viewing sessions after dark, for some sections these may have to be scheduled outside of regular class times.

GEL 111 - Introductory Geology

• This course is intended for science and non-science majors.
• This course fulfills a natural science core requirement for the A.A. degree and will transfer based on the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
• This course fulfills a natural science elective for the A.S. degree and will transfer based on the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
• This course includes a lecture and a required 2-hour lab.
• <![endif]> This Geology course introduces basic landform and geological processes, which include: plate tectonics, basic rock and mineral identification, volcanoes, fluvial (river) processes, glaciers, geological history, and coastal dynamics.

PHS 130 - Earth Science

• This course is intended for non-science majors.
• This course fulfills a natural science elective for the A.A. & A.S. degree and will transfer based on the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
• This course includes a lecture and a required 2-hour lab.
• This course introduces basic forces that impact the earth.  Topics include: meteorology (hurricanes, tornadoes, weather patterns, climate, atmospheric dynamics), geology (earthquakes, volcanoes, very basic rock and mineral identification, fluvial (river) processes) and oceanography (beach erosion and ocean currents).

PHS 140 - Weather and Climate

• This course is intended for science and non-science majors.
• This course fulfills a natural science elective for the A.A. & A.S. degree and will transfer based on the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
• This course is NOT a lab science course and only has a lecture component.
• <![endif]> This course discusses the earth's atmosphere in general and covers topics such as general weather, weather patterns, climate and ecological influences of the atmosphere.

Contact information:

For more information about these courses, please contact Brian DiBartolo 704-922-6527, RCH 216 or Jerry Angelichio 704-922-6230, RCH 213

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