Biotechnology Lab Assistant

Program Code: SAC.BIOLA.CA

Program Control Number: 41874

This certificate program is designed to prepare students for entry level jobs as laboratory assistants in biotechnology and related fields in the bioscience industry or academia.

The major goal of the Biotechnology Lab Assistant Certificate of Achievement is to provide students with information and skills which will provide employment and entry-level opportunities in the biotechnology sector, which includes many industries from food processing to medical device manufacturing (for examples, see section 8 table 1). This degree will allow student to move immediately into jobs in the biotechnology field or to continue with an AS Biotechnology degree and transfer to university in STEM related majors for further study.

By completing this certificate of achievement, students 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 the 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. Offer a Certificate of Achievement for a Biotechnology Lab Assistant at Santa Ana College (SAC) in collaboration with Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Fullerton College (FC), and Irvine Valley College (IVC)
2. Integrate existing courses (e.g. chemistry) with biotechnology courses to support the industry needs and provide students with entry level lab skills for employment opportunities or continued course work in academia.