Biotechnology

Degrees and Certificates

The Biotechnology Program has been designed by working scientists and biotechnology company management to give students the theoretical background as well as the practical experience necessary to be an effective technician. 

Download the MiraCosta Biotechnology Brochure

Certificates of Proficiency

Laboratory Skills This certificate is designed to meet the increasing need for trained and competent associates in laboratory environments. The required courses provide students with fundamental laboratory skills to start or enhance a career in the biosciences. Students completing this certificate can expect employment utilizing their technical skills in the performance of tests and routine tasks inherent to a wide range of laboratory settings. This certificate is intended for the development of general laboratory skills as well as professional growth for those already employed in the industry.

Bioprocess Technology The Bioprocess Technology certificate provides a foundation in, and practical application of, the technologies employed by biotechnology companies engaged in the production of cell-derived products from small to large scales. Through a combination of applied lecture and hands-on laboratory instruction, students will acquire the confidence, the competence, and the compliance for technical work in a regulated environment. Bioprocess technologies encompass the operation of specialized equipment and instrumentation used to produce biopharmaceuticals or reagents utilized by biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and academic research labs. Students will learn to grow a variety of cells, express a biomolecule of interest, and recover the desired biomolecule through a series of purification steps. They will learn to follow good manufacturing practices by maintaining records in order to comply with quality system requirements and government regulations. This certificate is designed for development of bioprocess technician skills as well as professional development for those already employed in the industry.

Certificate of Achievement

Research and Development The Research and Development certificate is designed to meet the increasing need for entry-level laboratory technicians, especially in the field of research and development. Technicians in this field must be proficient in the application of scientific methodology to solve problems. They must learn and implement laboratory procedures and use specialized laboratory equipment. Competency in organizational, computational and communication skills is required. This three-semester program is designed to give students the theoretical background and the practical experience necessary to be an effective laboratory technician as well as prepare them for upper division coursework in the biosciences. Graduates of this biotechnology program can expect to be employed in various capacities including quality control, quality assurance, production, applied research, product development, analytical testing, and academic (basic) research. Students interested in an Associate in Arts degree in Biotechnology must complete the requirements for this certificate and the other degree requirements listed in the college catalog for the AA degree.

Associate in Arts Degree

An Associate of Arts in biotechnology may be obtained by completing the requirements for the Research and Development certificate and the other degree requirements listed in the catalog section entitled "Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree"