Biotechnology
Allied Health & Sciences
Degree awarded: Associate in Applied Science
Program Narrative
Major improvements in agriculture, breakthroughs in health care, energy production, solutions to environmental challenges - biotechnology is changing our world in exciting ways. Biotech is also one of the more rapidly expanding and diverse areas of employment in today's economy. A career in a biotechnology-related field could lead you to the development of new products and processes to improve the quality of life.
NCC graduates are positioned to compete for a wide range of positions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, governmental institutions such as the FDA, USDA, Department of Defense, NIH, EPA, forensics laboratories, the cosmetic industry, biomedical research institutions and the expanding field of green energy.
Students entering this program should be interested in science and should have taken high school classes in biology, chemistry and algebra (or the equivalent). Students who have not taken chemistry or algebra may do so before beginning the program.
Program Features
Students in NCC's Biotechnology program receive a solid background in math and science and practical knowledge in biotechnology. Students also gain good laboratory and critical thinking skills that make them attractive to employers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry as manufacturing or research technicians. In addition this program prepares students to transfer to a four year institution should they want to pursue a Bachelors degree in Biotechnology.
The program can be completed on a part time or full time basis.
Optional Fifth Semester for Biotechnology AAS Degree
Students in the program have the option to acquire additional skills by attending a capstone semester at Penn State focusing on nanotechnology. This optional fifth semester of study will provide students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment found in industries that apply nanotechnology. Students who are interested in pursuing this training should work closely with their advisor to ensure that they choose those electives that will best prepare them for the capstone semester.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:
- Demonstrate the ability to work in a typical biotechnology laboratory or manufacturing facility while following appropriate safety procedures and regulations.
- Demonstrate an understanding of biotechnological principles and concepts.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the practice and theory of modern biotechnology instrumentation.
- Show the ability to follow instructions and work both independently and collaboratively on a wide variety of projects.
- Demonstrate literacy in data manipulation and analysis using computerized spreadsheets and graphing programs.
- Apply statistics to analyze the credibility of scientific results.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate results both orally and through written reports in an effective and efficient manner.
- Apply all the steps of the scientific method to research, design, perform, and report on a solution to a scientific problem.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply results of previous research to new experimental applications.
Associate in Applied Science Degree
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| First Semester | ||
| BIOS 107 | Biology I |
4
|
| BIOT 184 | Introduction to Biotechnology |
3
|
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry I |
4
|
| ENGL 101C | English I (Report Writing) |
3
|
| MATH 140 | College Algrebra |
3
|
|
17
|
||
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOS 150 | Biology II |
4
|
| BIOT 185 | Biotechnology Techniques |
4
|
| CHEM 220 | General Chemistry II |
4
|
| ENGL 151 | English II (Report Writing Option) |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Summer Session | ||
| BIOT 188 or --------- |
Biotechnology Internship or Restricted Elective * |
1/3/4
|
| Third Semester | ||
| BIOS 202 | Microbiology for Allied Health |
4
|
| BIOT 190 | Industrial Biotechnology |
3
|
| CHEM 201 | Organic Chemistry I |
4
|
| CMTH 102 | Speech Communication |
3
|
| ---------- | Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior Elective (SSHB)+ |
3
|
|
17
|
||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| BIOT 200 | Aseptic Processing |
3 |
| BIOT 202 | Biotechnology Seminar |
1
|
| BIOT 220 | General Biotechnology |
4
|
| MATH 150 | Introductory Statistics |
3
|
| ---------- | Arts and Humanities Elective (AH) + |
3
|
| ---------- | Elective + |
3
|
|
17
|
||
| Total Credits: |
67/69/70
|
*Internship is highly recommended. Students who elect not to take or are unable to secure an internship are required to take one of the restricted elective courses to complete the AAS degree: BUSA 101, BUSA 114, BUSA 260, CMTH 105, SOCA 103 or CHEM 251.
+ One course must be designated Writing Intensive (WI) and one Diversity (D).
Nanofabrication Specialization (Optional 5th Semester)
Semester at the Nanofabrication Facility at Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus
| NANF 211 | Materials, Safety and Equipment Overview for Nanofabrication |
3
|
| NANF 212 | Basic Nanofabrication Processes |
3
|
| NANF 213 | Thin Films in Nanofabrication |
3
|
| NANF 214 | Lithography for Nanofabrication |
3
|
| NANF 215 | Materials Modification in Nanofabrication |
3
|
| NANF 216 | Characterization, Packaging, and Testing of Nanofabricated Structures |
3
|
|
18
|
Career Potential: Laboratory Technician, Process Supervisor, Quality Control Technician, Manufacturing Operator/Technician, Research Technician, Forensic Lab Technician, Environmental Lab Technician