Biotechnology

A.S. Degree Biology · Santa Ana College · 2026-2027 Catalog

Program Code: SAC.BIOT.AS

Program Control Number: 33690

The associate degree in biotechnology prepares students for careers in a wide variety of industry or for curriculum at a four-year institutions leading to a baccalaureate degree in such areas as molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology and microbiology. These fields provide career opportunities in biomanufacturing, research and development, and teaching. See counseling for transfer requirements.

Students who complete this degree will obtain an A.S degree in biotechnology, will have obtained proficiency in basic and more advanced laboratory skills, and will have been exposed to fundamental theory and general education necessary to transfer and succeed in related Bachelor’s degree programs. By having a coordinated collaboration between four campuses in Orange County, students will benefit by having multiple opportunities to seek to experience extracurricular informational events in the field of biotechnology. This degree meets the needs of the emerging and growing biotechnology sector in Orange County. Although this program is a coordinated collaboration between colleges, no formal MOU has been signed. Additionally, a student can choose to enroll in this program, take all of the courses, and graduate with a degree from Santa Ana College. Students do not have to take courses at the other campuses.

Learning Outcome(s):

  1. Students will know how genetically engineer a gene, subclone and express it to obtain a purified sample of a genetically engineered protein.
CourseTitleUnits
Required33-34.5
Required core (Biotech courses)16
BIOL 191Biotech A: Basic Skills4
BIOL 192Biotech B: Proteins4
BIOL 193Biotech C: Nucleic Acids4
BIOL 194Quality and Regulatory Compliance in Biosciences2
BIOL 202Cell Culture Techniques2
Required core (Statistics) - take one of the courses listed below4-4.5
STAT C1000Introduction to Statistics4
STAT C1000EIntroduction to Statistics4.5
STAT C1000HIntroduction to Statistics - Honors4
Required core (cell and molecular biology) - take one of the courses4-5
BIOL 211Cellular and Molecular Biology5
BIOL 275Cell and Molecular Biology4
Required core (chemistry) - take CHEM209 and one of the CHEM219 series9
CHEM 209Introductory Chemistry4
CHEM 219General Chemistry5
CHEM 219HHonors General Chemistry5
Total33-34.5

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