This program provides biotechnology experience with general education courses in the arts and sciences and is designed to prepare persons for working in medical, research and industrial laboratory areas. Sixty-nine credit hours are required.

This certificate prepares students to function as entry-level biotechnicians in the laboratory or in biotechnology manufacturing. Thirty-nine credit hours are required.

Biotechnology students will study the theories of modern advances in biotechnology, molecular biology, DNA and RNA technology, and bioethics. Skills will include laboratory management and safety, laboratory operations, planning, recording, and reporting experiments, caring for equipment and living cells, cell and tissue culture, genetics, pipetting, technical writing, and statistical analysis. The final semester will include a capstone internship which will provide a transitional experience from course work to workplace. The biotechnology program will also provide a foundation for students who would like to continue a bachelor's and/or graduate degrees.

Job opportunities include: medical schools, pharmaceutical and industrial companies, colleges, universities and rapidly new emerging occupations. Requires a minimum of 67-68 hours.

The Biotechnology Associate of Applied Science Degree is a two-year, five-semester program designed to prepare the graduate to function as an entry-level research technician in research and/or biotechnology labs. The curriculum includes courses to provide a foundation for understanding the principles and practice of laboratory research, and laboratory courses to promote "hands-on" experience in the fundamental techniques of laboratory research. General education courses are included to meet AAS degree requirements. This program is a cooperative effort between Galveston College and The University of Texas Medical Branch.

Basic science courses are included as general education requirements in the AAS program. Fundamental laboratory techniques, such as pipetting, solution preparation, use of various laboratory equipment, separation and identification techniques, general laboratory safety and ethical considerations in research are included in the technical courses. During the program two internships will be performed where students are placed in research laboratories to gain additional on-the-job experience.

The new Biotechnology program at HCCS prepares students to apply their scientific principles and technical skills to support biologists, chemists, and other natural science associated scientists in industrial and governmental biotechnology settings. Multiple worldwide opportunities exist currently in pharmaceutical, medicinal, and agricultural industries. Biotechnology graduates will be well educated and trained to enter and compete in this rapidly emerging life science industry. Upon successful completion of required courses, students will be awarded either the certificate or the Associate of Applied Science degree in Biotechnology.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree is based on guidelines developed by Biotechnology industry and scientific standards. A solid foundation of applied biotechnology and science supports hands-on experience with the type of equipment, analytical instrumentation, and procedures used in today's industrial and research Biotechnology laboratories.

A successful career requires more than technical knowledge. You will learn to express yourself verbally, in electronic media, and in writing. You will be able to find and utilize information from published resources and the Internet. Continuous familiarization with safety procedures and regulations will assist you in preventing emergencies, train you to manage them safely if they may occur, and apply consistently standard operating procedures.

The Montgomery College biotechnology program prepares graduates for employment as biotechnicians in medical research, pharmaceutical, agricultural, forensic laboratories and similar industries.

The biotechnology associate of applied science degree program is designed to prepare graduates for employment as biotechnicians. Skills in cell culture, laboratory methods, molecular biology, and laboratory instrumentation are included in the courses that make up the specialized portion of this degree plan. Additionally, there is a sequence of basic sciences that is included in the plan - biology, chemistry, and microbiology. The internship experience occurs in the final semester of the program and students will be placed in area biotechnology companies or medical center research labs to complete their training. The biotechnology associate of applied science degree is awarded for successful completion of the 71 semester credit hours required in the degree plan.

Biotechnology Advanced Technical Certificate

Students who have already obtained an associates or bachelors degree may choose instead to obtain an Advanced Technical Certificate in biotechnology. This option is open to students who already have a qualifying degree and have completed the required prerequisite laboratory courses: one year of chemistry and 3 semesters of biology, including microbiology. Like the AAS degree, this 24 semester hour program is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to obtain jobs in the biotechnology sector in one year, including a required internship. The biotechnology program also offers qualified students the opportunity to take individual courses within the biotechnology core. Students with the appropriate level of prior training may elect, for example, to take only the Molecular Biology Techniques - BITC 2441 course to gain skills in that area.

Northwest Vista College - www.accd.edu/nvc/programs/biotech

Northwest Vista College, located in the San Antonio are, offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in biotechnology as of 2002. This program offers several advantages for beginning biologists, including:

• Hands-on experience in various cellular and molecular techniques including gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation, cell culture, protein purification and separation, polymerase chain reaction, ELISA, and various blot techniques.
• Experience using a variety of lab equipment that you may not see in other teaching laboratories.
• An internship opportunity in a local biotechnology laboratory.
• The chance to pursue employment in a variety of areas, including quality control/quality assurance, research and development, forensics, diagnostic laboratories, and bio-manufacturing.
• The experience needed to continue biotech education at a 4-year college or university if desired.
• A potential average salary of $15,000-$30,000 per year at an entry-level position.

As of 05/12/05, the college is in the process of establishing a Biotechnology Life Sciences Center. the college has secured an articulation agreement with the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where students can pursue either an associate of arts or an associate of applied science degree and then transfers to UTMB to earn a bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science or a biotechnology-related area.

The college is working on another articulation agreement with Galveston College where students can complete their academics at the San Jac South and travel to Galveston for lab work. Also, this agreement includes a distance learning element, where a Galveston College biotechnology instructor could teach the lecture portion of the course via interactive television inside the South Campus' Interactive Learning Center. Students could be ready for the biotech field within two years through this program.

Also, the college realizes that computer science is an important element of biotechnology and is taking steps to focus on bioinformatics as a part of its curriculum.

Texas Bioscience Institute - www.texasbioscienceinstitute.com/

The Texas Bioscience Institute is a partnership among Temple College, the Scott and White Medical center, local independent school districts and others. The Institute is located within the Scott and White West Campus research facility. Students are under the rules and procedures of that facility as well as those of Temple College.