Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Certificate

Program Requirements:

• BIOL 120 - Introduction to Biotechnology 4 Credits. *
• BIOL 253 - Techniques in Biotechnology I 5 Credits.
• BIOL 254 - Techniques in Biotechnology II 5 Credits.
• BIOL 282-6 - Cooperative Education II: Biology 2-6 Credits.

Total Number of Credits Required for Certificate 16-20**

* BIOL 120  may be waived at the discretion of the Program Coordinator. If waived, the student will need to take an additional four credits of electives to receive a certificate.

** A new college orientation requirement, completion of the one-credit ACDV 101  course, Transitioning to College, went into effect spring 2010. If you are a credit student who is new to college (meaning you have not successfully completed college coursework at another institution(s)), you are required to take ACDV 101  during your first semester at CCBC, thereby increasing the number of credits required for this certificate to 17-21 credits. Students are required to provide an official transcript(s) to document successful completion of college coursework at another institution(s) in order for this requirement to be waived.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a working knowledge of laboratory safety and the safe handling of chemical and biological reagents including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mammalian cell culture systems;
2. follow written laboratory protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
3. keep accurate laboratory records and be able to communicate their experimental results using a variety of media;
4. demonstrate an awareness of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) record keeping requirements and operations; and
5. perform laboratory activities commonly found in the biotechnology laboratory including, but not limited to, DNA and protein isolation, PCR, electrophoresis, centrifugation, enzyme manipulations, solution preparation, and the culture of biological organisms.

Program Description:

The Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing program at CCBC aims to provide students with the technical skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in this rapidly growing industry. Graduates of the program have found employment in academic research laboratories, industrial research laboratories, and biopharmaceutical production facilities.

Students enrolled in the CCBC Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing program have the option of taking courses leading to a Biotechnology Laboratory Technician certificate or the A.A.S. degree. Students electing the A.A.S. option can elect courses that will fulfill degree requirements at four-year colleges and universities. Students interested in entering directly into the workforce can take alternative courses and electives.

The “core” of the Biotechnology program consists of three sequential courses that cover the discovery, development, and production of a modern biopharmaceutical. Students enrolled in these courses can expect to learn about the new drug approval process including the regulatory requirements, laboratory and production documentation, laboratory techniques including recombinant DNA, electrophoresis, enzyme assays, protein purification, cell culture, and quality control methods employed in the biotechnology industry.

Capstone projects bring together the skills and knowledge taught during the program as students engage in mini-research projects and produce a “cGMP compliant” biopharmaceutical.

Courses within the program are designed to transfer to four-year institutions.

Students may choose to enroll in the certificate or A.A.S. degree program in Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing. The certificate is designed primarily for non-degree seeking students, individuals switching careers, displaced workers, or those already in the field seeking advancement. Individuals completing either program are well prepared for technical careers in the health sciences, basic research, pharmaceutical research and development, production and manufacturing, and quality assurance.