Associate in Science Degree

The Associate in Science Program in Biotechnology is designed for students who wish to enter the field of scientific research or who wish to transfer to a four-year program in biology, chemistry or a related field. The program will provide students with skills and knowledge necessary to work in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or basic research fields. This program will also provide the majority of the freshman and sophomore level coursework required of biology majors at most four-year institutions. Students may be either full-time or part-time. This program is appropriate for the traditional or non-traditional student. Graduates of the program will able to find employment in a variety of research settings, including the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, private and university research laboratories and State run labs. In addition, graduates of this program are well prepared to continue their education in a biology related field immediately after graduation, or later in their careers.  Learn more about this program >

Learning Outcomes


  1. Conduct themselves as lab technicians in a biotechnology laboratory with the basic skills and knowledge required to function effectively in a research setting.
  2. Demonstrate proficiencies in both basic and advanced principles of chemistry and biology that are required by a person working as a lab technician or planning to enter into a four-year college science program.
  3. Explain the basic principles of genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology.
  4. Employ sterile technique in the handling of microbial cultures with knowledge of what is safe and what is hazardous.
  5. Prepare solutions and perform accurate measurements using precision instruments such as balances and micropipettors.
  6. Demonstrate skills in the use of recombinant DNA techniques, PCR, DNA sequence analysis, HPLC, gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, UV/VIS spectroscopy, as well as the use of the computer to collect and analyze experimental data.
  7. Recognize the ethical issues that are relevant to the field of biotechnology.

Graduation Checklist

Biotechnology – Graduation Checklist


Degree Requirements