For Students
Science of Today...and for the Future
Our program offers skills training essential for the field of biotech. The Skills Certificate and Certificate of Achievement provide students with the skills needed for today’s in demand jobs.
Our faculty has both teaching experience combined with real-world experience in industry. This specially trained faculty has put together a curriculum that provides opportunities to learn general laboratory procedures, laboratory safety, how to record and analyze data, perform basic calculations, and write laboratory documents.
Technician jobs can be found in environmental testing labs, forensic labs, hospitals, plant culturing labs, research labs, and food industry such as dairy, breweries and wineries.
View more exciting Careers in Biotechnology page.
Learn more about our Certificate options
Skills Certificate
Requirements:
After the successful completion of the prerequisites, only a total of nine units are required for the Skills Certificate:
- CG 51 (College Success) or CG 54 (Careers and Lifestyles), 1 unit
- Bio 41T, Biotechnology Fundamentals, 4 units
- Bio 42T, Advanced Biotechnology, 4 units
- Total of 9 Units
1 Year - 3 classes
Fall
CG 51 or CG 54 - College Success or Careers and Lifestyles • 1 Unit
Fall
BIO 41T - Biotechnology Fundamentals • 4 Units
Spring
BIO 42T - Advanced Biotechnology • 4 Units
TOTAL UNITS
9 Units
Certificate of Achievement
The Certificate of Achievement is similar to the Skills Certificate, but it is geared for students wishing to transfer. In addition to the proficiency gained from the Skills Certificate, students will acquire a deeper set of skills that are useful toward their future B.S. degree.
After the prerequisites have been completed, a total of 23.25 units, taken over two years, are required for the Certificate of Achievement.
These courses should be taken in the following sequence:
Year 1 - 4 classes
Fall
Chem 1A - General Chemistry - 5 Units
Spring
BIO 101 - Introductory to Microscopy - .25 Units
Spring
BIO 9A - Advanced Biotechnology - 4 Units
Spring
CHEM 1B - General Chemistry II - 5 Units
TOTAL UNITS
15.25 UNITS
Year 2 - 2 classes
Fall
BIO 41T - Biotechnology Fundamentals - 4 Units
Spring
BIO 42T - Advanced Biotechnology - 4 Units
TOTAL UNITS
8 - UNITS
Prerequisites
Prior to starting the Biotechnology program for either the Skills Certificate or the Certificate of Achievement, there are necessary prerequisites.
Chemistry Prereqs:
The equivalent of 1 year of high school chemistry or 1 semester of college chemistry with lab (e.g. Chem 3 and Chem 3L, Chem 30A, or Chem 1A)
Biology Prereqs:
The equivalent of 1 year of high school biology or 1 semester of college biology w/ lab (e.g. Bio 11A, Bio 9A, or Bio 4)
“The Biotech program offered great hands-on experience in the lab. The possibilities are endless, and the professors are immensely helpful and encouraging. Importantly, the program helped me prepare for a job in the biotech industry,” Lisa Uribe