Transfer Plan
Transfer Plan for Des Moines Community College (DMACC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Des Moines Area Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Eastern Iowa Community College (EICC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Eastern Iowa Community College (EICC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Eastern Iowa Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Hawkeye Community College (HCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Hawkeye Community Colleges (HCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
Transfer Plan for Indian Hills Community College (IHCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Indian Hills Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Iowa Central Community College (ICCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Iowa Central Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
Transfer Plan for Iowa Valley Community College (IVCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Iowa Valley Community Colleges (IVCC) in Ellsworth or Marshalltown to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
Transfer Plan for Iowa Western Community College (IWCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Iowa Western Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Kirkwood Community College (KCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Kirkwood Community College (KCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
Transfer Plan for North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 North Iowa Area Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Northeast Iowa Community Collge (NICC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Northeast Iowa Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Northwest Iowa Community College (NWICC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Northwest Iowa Community College (NWICC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Northwest Iowa Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Southeastern Iowa Community College (SCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Southeastern Iowa Community College (SCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Southeastern Iowa Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Southwestern Iowa Community College (SWCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Southwestern Iowa Community College (SWCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Southwestern Iowa Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transfer Plan for Western Iowa Technical Community College (WITCC)
This transfer plan is designed to assist students who wish to transfer from Western Iowa Technical Community College (WITCC) to Iowa State University and major in Biology. We recommend discussing the plan with an advisor in our Student Services office for more information.
2022 Western Iowa Technical Community College Transfer Checklist (PDF)
Transferring to Iowa State Recommended Courses
If you intend to transfer to Iowa State University as a biology major, the following courses are recommended prior to your arrival:
For the Biology Program
- Principles of Biology I and II (plus labs). Most institutions offer a full year, college-level overview of biology intended for biology majors that covers a broad range of subjects including biodiversity, cell biology, genetics, ecology, and evolution. Principles of Biology is a pre-requisite for upper-division biology courses, and is therefore the most important pair of courses to complete prior to transferring to Iowa State.
- You should plan to take both semesters of this full year biology overview at the same institution if at all possible. This is required in order for the classes to transfer in as our Principles of Biology in many cases, most notably for all Iowa community colleges.
- General Chemistry (plus lab). We require one semester of college-level general chemistry for our program. Because many professional schools require a full year of general chemistry, you may want to take a full year of college-level general chemistry instead.
- If you opt for the full year of general chemistry, take both semesters at the same institution if at all possible.
- Organic Chemistry (plus lab). We require one semester of college-level organic chemistry for our program. As with general chemistry, many professional schools require a full year of organic chemistry, therefore you may want to take a full year of college-level organic chemistry instead.
- If you opt for the full year of organic chemistry, take both semesters at the same institution if at all possible.
- Mathematics and/or Statistics. We require two semesters of math and/or statistics. For most students, taking one semester of calculus and an introductory statistics course will suffice.
- General Physics (plus labs). One semester of physics, including a lab, will satisfy the requirements for our biology major. Some professional schools require a full year, so plan accordingly and take the full year if you need to or want to.
- If you opt for the full year of physics, take both semesters at the same institution if at all possible.
For General Education
- College-level Composition and Speech. Iowa State University requires a year of English (sometimes called composition I and II at other institutions) for all majors, and an advanced communications component such as a speech class. Completing these before transferring here is recommended.
- World Language. If you plan to enroll through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State and you don't have 3+ years of a world language from high school, you may want to complete your 101/102 level language before transferring to our institution.
- Arts and Humanities. Take one to four classes in subjects like classical studies, cultural studies, history, literature, philosophy, and religion.
- Social Sciences. Take one to three classes in subjects like anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.
If you are attending one of Iowa's community colleges, we have transfer plans available that provide additional recommendations. If you are attending a community college outside of Iowa, or a 4-year public or private institution, TRANSIT can be used to check course equivalency at Iowa State.