Associate of Science (A.S.) - Natural Sciences
General Associate Degree Requirements
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of an associate degree program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Online Program Option
This program may be completed in an online format. Students interested in pursuing an online degree or certificate program are strongly encouraged to contact the offering department to discuss specific program and course modalities and create a plan of study with an academic advisor. The course requirements listed below may not be consistently offered via online delivery.
Associate of Science - General A.S.: Natural Science Concentration
The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree has the following general requirements. Students must:
- Complete all of the university's general education requirements with the exception of the language requirement and the advanced writing requirement.
- All courses taken to satisfy general education requirements must be taken for a traditional letter grade and must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
- Complete a minimum of 60 credits.
- Earn a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 2.0.
- Complete at least 30 of the total 60 degree credits at Missoula College or UM-Missoula.
- Complete 9 credits of transferable coursework in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) beyond those taken as general education requirements.
Missoula College students are limited to enrolling in lower-division (100- and 200-level) courses only.
To receive to Associate of Science with a concentration in Natural Sciences, a student must complete the requirements specific to the concentration listed below. Some courses may satisfy multiple general education perspectives. Visit with your advisor for more information.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following course: | ||
| BIOB 210N | Communicating Biology | 3 |
| Complete 6-7 credits of the following courses: | 6-7 | |
| College Algebra | ||
| College Trigonometry | ||
| Applied Calculus | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Complete 15 credits from the following courses including a minimum of 2 courses that have a lab component: | 15 | |
| Discover Biology | ||
or BIOB 160 | Principles of Living Systems | |
| Principles of Living Systems Lab | ||
| Montana Ecosystems | ||
| Nature and Society | ||
| Introduction to Physical Geology | ||
| Introduction to Physical Geology Lab | ||
| Basic Human Nutrition | ||
| Fundamentals of Physical Science | ||
Two Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| BIOB 101N or BIOB 160 |
Discover Biology or Principles of Living Systems |
3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| M 121 or M 122 |
College Algebra or College Trigonometry |
3-4 |
| PSYX 100S or COMX 115S |
Intro to Psychology or Introduction to Interpersonal Communication |
3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOB 109N | Montana Ecosystems | 3 |
| CHMY 121N | Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
| M 162 or STAT 216 |
Applied Calculus or Introduction to Statistics |
4 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17-18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIOB 220 | Our Environment & Us | 3 |
| COMX 140L | Introduction to Visual Rhetoric | 3 |
| LIT 110L | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| PHSX 105N or NUTR 221N |
Fundamentals of Physical Science or Basic Human Nutrition |
3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTY 101H | Anthropology & the Human Experience | 3 |
| BIOB 210N | Communicating Biology | 3 |
| ENST 231H | Nature and Society | 3 |
| GEO 101N | Introduction to Physical Geology | 3 |
| GEO 102N | Introduction to Physical Geology Lab | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 63-65 | |
- *
Students are encouraged to include at least one additional approved STEM course in their electives.
Last Updated Fall 2026
Two Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| BIOB 101N or BIOB 160 |
Discover Biology or Principles of Living Systems |
3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| M 121 | College Algebra | 3,4 |
| PSYX 100S or COMX 115S |
Intro to Psychology or Introduction to Interpersonal Communication |
3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOB 109N | Montana Ecosystems | 3 |
| CHMY 121N | Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
| CHMY 122 | Introduction to General Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| M 162 or STAT 216 |
Applied Calculus or Introduction to Statistics |
4 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 18-19 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIOB 220 | Our Environment & Us | 3 |
| COMX 140L | Introduction to Visual Rhetoric | 3 |
| LIT 110L | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| NUTR 221N | Basic Human Nutrition | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTY 101H | Anthropology & the Human Experience | 3 |
| BIOB 210N | Communicating Biology | 3 |
| GEO 101N | Introduction to Physical Geology | 3 |
| GEO 102N | Introduction to Physical Geology Lab | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 64-66 | |
- *
Students are encouraged to include at least one additional approved STEM course in their electives.
Last Updated Fall 2026