Biology Pathway, A.S.

2 Years On Campus Associate-degree Program

Georgia State University

Program Overview

The Biology Pathway, A.S.: at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College is a two-year, 60-semester-hour pathway designed for students who want a strong foundation in the life sciences before continuing into a bachelor’s degree. Students study living systems, scientific methods, human health, environmental challenges, genetics, microbiology, and emerging areas such as CRISPR and mRNA therapies, with lectures and laboratory experiences connecting scientific theory to practical applications.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with Georgia State’s Core Curriculum while developing the mathematics and science foundation needed for biology. Biology-focused study can include BIOL 2107 Principles of Biology I, supported by BIOL 2107L Principles of Biology I Lab, alongside chemistry and mathematics coursework appropriate to the pathway. The university states that the pathway consists of 42 hours of core curriculum and 18 hours of pathway-specific courses.

Year 2: Students continue the core curriculum and complete additional science coursework selected for their intended bachelor’s progression. The pathway emphasizes laboratory-based learning and scientific investigation, while the university specifically highlights areas such as microbiology, genetics, and physiology through faculty expertise and course offerings; students then transition to Georgia State’s Atlanta campus to pursue the B.S. in Biology or the Dual B.S./M.S. in Biology.

Focus areas: living systems, human health, environmental science, microbiology, genetics, physiology, biodiversity, conservation, scientific research, public health, biotechnology, CRISPR gene editing, mRNA therapies, and emerging biomedical technologies.

Learning outcomes: students develop an understanding of how living organisms interact with one another and their environments, apply the scientific method to real-world questions, strengthen critical thinking and experimentation skills, and connect biological science with challenges such as pandemics, climate change, biodiversity loss, cancer, and public health.

Professional alignment: the pathway can prepare students for entry-level opportunities in areas such as biotechnology and biomanufacturing, environmental science, medical and clinical laboratory work, public health, and bioinformatics when appropriate additional skills or education are obtained. Georgia State specifically identifies roles including lab technician, quality analyst, research technician, data analyst, field technician, water quality analyst, lab assistant, and specimen processor.

Accreditation: Perimeter College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, and successful completion of the pathway leads to an Associate of Science degree.

Reputation

University scale: Georgia State reports that more than 2,300 undergraduates are currently pursuing the B.S. in Biology, with opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary basic and applied research.

Employability rankings: a specific program-level QS, Guardian, or other employability ranking is not stated on the official Georgia State Biology Pathway page, so no ranking is assigned here.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biology Pathway, A.S. at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College combines foundational biology coursework with hands-on laboratory learning, giving students practical experience in experimentation, teamwork, and the scientific method. The pathway specifically includes lecture-and-lab courses taught by faculty with expertise in areas such as microbiology, genetics, physiology, and biomedical engineering, while its structure is designed to prepare students for undergraduate research, internships, and continued study toward a bachelor’s degree.

Students can build this practical foundation through several program-specific opportunities:

Laboratory coursework: The pathway includes foundational courses with laboratory components, where students develop critical-thinking, teamwork, experimentation, and scientific-method skills through hands-on work.
Faculty expertise: Biology pathway courses are taught by faculty with advanced degrees and specialties including microbiology, genetics, physiology, and biomedical engineering, allowing students to connect classroom concepts with research and medical applications.
Scientific method and experimentation: Students receive direct experience using the scientific method to explore and solve real-world biological problems, rather than relying only on lecture-based learning.
Research preparation: The pathway is specifically designed to support progression into undergraduate research. At Georgia State, biology students can later participate in Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), where small groups conduct research under faculty guidance.
Independent research: Continuing biology students can undertake independent laboratory investigations through BIOL 4910, working with a Georgia State Biology instructor on a research topic of mutual interest.
Internships: Georgia State Biology offers internship opportunities that allow students to gain experience in a field of interest while potentially earning academic credit; the department also provides a dedicated Biology Internship Program.
Group research projects: Advanced biology laboratory opportunities can involve students working in small groups to develop biological hypotheses, design experiments, conduct experiments, and analyze results, providing direct collaborative research experience.
Field studies: Perimeter College’s Life & Earth Sciences Department specifically highlights hands-on labs, field studies, research opportunities, mentorship, and connections with scientific communities as part of its student experience.
Progression to advanced facilities: Students who continue to the Atlanta campus can access Georgia State research infrastructure including advanced light and electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, mass spectrometry, and specialized biomedical research facilities.
Research institutes and centers: Biology-related opportunities include the Center for Neuromics, which uses informatics and computational approaches to study the nervous system, and the Molecular Basis of Disease program, an interdisciplinary initiative spanning Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Neuroscience, and Physics and Astronomy.
Biology outreach laboratory: Continuing students can also engage with the Bio-Bus, a mobile teaching laboratory used for biology outreach to primary and secondary schools across metro Atlanta.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biology Pathway, A.S. at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College provides a strong two-year foundation for students planning to continue into a bachelor’s degree in biology or related life-science fields. The pathway also develops laboratory, scientific-method, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that can support entry-level opportunities in laboratory and clinical settings: Typical roles: laboratory assistant, research technician, field technician, and quality analyst.

Career Services: Perimeter College’s University Career Services provides career and employer-relations support, including a dedicated two-year associate-degree career development plan, career appointments, events and career fairs, student job-search resources, VMock 24/7 career assistance, and Handshake for job opportunities.
Career preparation: Georgia State’s College to Career initiative gives students access to Steppingblocks, a digital career counselor with GSU-specific and national employment data, while students also build career-readiness competencies and e-portfolios during their studies.
Employment and salary figures: Georgia State’s Biology Pathway page states that entry-level biology-related jobs typically start at $45,000–$70,000+ annually, depending on position and location, and directs students to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for occupation-specific figures. The university does not publish a Biology Pathway-specific employment rate on the official program page.
University–industry partnerships: Georgia State’s Institute for Biomedical Sciences maintains research relationships with organizations including Amgen and Beams Biotech, while its wider biomedical partnerships include the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and other research institutions. These collaborations support research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, antiviral-drug, vaccine, and biomedical innovation activities.
Research and professional exposure: Biology students can benefit from Georgia State’s wider biomedical research environment, including research centers focused on microbial pathogenesis, translational immunology, antiviral drug development, and inflammation, immunity and infection.
Long-term accreditation value: Georgia State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees; the university’s accreditation was reaffirmed in 2019. This institutional accreditation provides an established quality framework for the A.S. degree and supports progression into Georgia State’s bachelor’s-level programs.
Graduation outcomes: The Biology Pathway is specifically designed as an advising route toward a bachelor’s degree. Students who complete the pathway can transition to Georgia State’s Atlanta campus to pursue a B.S. in Biology, a dual B.S./M.S. in Biology, or additional dual-degree options.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biology Pathway, A.S., students can continue to Georgia State University’s Atlanta campus and complete a B.S. in Biology. Students interested in advanced study can subsequently pursue Georgia State’s dual B.S./M.S. in Biology or graduate-level study in biology and related life-science disciplines; the university also identifies additional dual-degree opportunities for eligible students.