Will biology satisfy the science requirement for my degree plan at MCC?Yes.  The BIO 100 (Biology Concepts), BIO 181 (General Biology Majors I) and BIO 182 (General Biology Majors II) courses can be used to meet the General Education Core curriculum requirement for science at MCC and most universities.

Will my life sciences classes from MCC transfer to four-year universities or other colleges? Most of the time there is no problem with transferring MCC life sciences courses to other universities, but for science courses particularly you should always check the transfer policy of the university to which you intend to transfer.  Transfer information is available at AZTransfer.

I want to become a nurse, which biology should I take? Both Biology Concepts (BIO 100) and General Biology Majors I (BIO 181) will satisfy the biology requirements for admission to the Nursing Program at MCC.  If you plan to go on for a B.S.N. degree, be sure to check the specific requirements of the nursing school you plan to attend as requirements do vary.

Is biology supplemental instruction available? For supplemental instruction in specialized programs of study, students should contact their instructors for additional assistance and study group opportunities.

Can I ask the instructor to add me to his or her class roster since the class is already full? No, only the department chair can give you permission to enroll in a closed class.  The department chairs are: Bullhead City: Shawn Bristle at 928.758.4435, sbristle@mohave.edu ; Neal Campus - Kingman: Danette Bristle at 928.692.3041, dbristle@mohave.edu; Lake Havasu City: Eric Aurand at 928.505.3388, eaurand@mohave.edu; North Mohave Campus: Susan Hammond at 928.875.9104, shammon@mohave.edu.

Can I take more than one biology class at the same time? In general, not a good idea!  Certainly not if one class is the prerequisite for the other.  Most students should not take more than two science courses with labs in one semester.

I already took the lab as a separate course at my university.  Do I have to do the lab in my class at MCC? Yes.  The labs are not offered separately at MCC but instead are integrated with the course in a four semester hour format.  Since the lab is part of the course and your course grade, you are required to take it!

I did not do well on my final exam. Can I get a Withdrawal (W) for the course?No.  If you complete the course, you must receive a regular letter grade.  It is therefore very important to realistically assess your situation before the withdrawal date in order to make the best decision about withdrawing. 

You should meet with your instructor to get his or her opinion, and if you decide to withdraw, you must turn in a withdrawal form at the registration office with your instructor’s signature. While we always want the best outcome, circumstances sometimes make it best to withdraw to avoid getting a low grade in the course.

I am not doing well in my class.  Can I get a grade of Incomplete and finish it next semester? In this case a Withdrawal (W) would be given.  The Incomplete ("I") is a temporary grade given only under special circumstances with department chair approval.  If a grade of I is given, no exams or labs can be repeated for a better grade.  When the missed material is made up, your instructor will calculate your course grade accordingly.  A grade of I automatically changes to a grade of F if the material is not made up by the 8th week of the next semester!

Where can I get advice about taking a particular biology class? Always feel free to contact any of the Life Sciences Faculty at Mohave Community College.  The faculty for the various campuses are:

• Bullhead Campus: Amy Littlejohn 928.758.3926, internal ext. 4423 or Don Plantz (928) 758-3926, internal ext. 4432.
• Neal Campus - Kingman: Tom McKinney (928) 692-3028, internal ext. 1228.
• Lake Havasu City Campus: Dr. Jeff Kingsbury 928.505.3330, internal ext. 3330 or Dr. Mike Rourke 928.505.3357, internal ext. 3357.
• North Mohave Campus: Dr. Kris Hansen (928) 875-9136, internal ext. 2236. 

It is very important to know that you are registering for the correct course with regard to your major and to clearly understand the course prerequisites and content before registering.

Biology is my worst subject! I just can't seem to be able to learn it! No doubt, biology usually requires more than the usual amount of study and practice!  As noted above, satisfactory completion of the course prerequisites is very important.  Following are a few more suggestions worth remembering:

• Learning biology takes time.  A reasonable guide is to spend about two hours studying for each hour of lecture. Heavy work and/or class loads are not compatible with learning biology!
• Attend class regularly and take generous notes during class.  Ask questions.
• When beginning a new chapter, read through it quickly the first time, just to give yourself a good feel for what it is about.  If you are really on the job you will have done this before the class lecture on the chapter!  You will understand what's going on in class much better if you do this.
• Study groups can be very helpful.  Keep the group small though, no more than three or four people.
• Finally, keep a positive outlook!  Biology can be hard, but with a good attitude and approach, you will succeed in mastering it!