Bioprocessing Technician

This 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 acquire the confidence, competence, and compliance for technical work in a regulated environment. Bioprocess technologies encompass the operation of specialized equipment and instrumentation used to produce bio pharmaceuticals or reagents utilized by biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and academic research labs. Students learn to grow a variety of cells, express a bio molecule of interest, and recover the desired bio molecule through a series of purification steps. They 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 bio process-technician skill development as well as professional development for those already employed in the industry.

This new certificate of achievement in bioprocess technology is being used, in part, to serve as a foundation for the first two years of the B.S. in biomanufacturing, which MiraCosta College was awarded through SB850 and subsequent approval by the Board of Governors.

In preparation for the application tothe Chancellor’s Office, the College’s Biotechnology Department surveyed 138current and former biotechnology students. The results indicated 48 percent were very interested and an additional 34 percent were interested in the baccalaureate program, as illustrated below, pending more detail on course work developed in partnership with industry. Therefore, there was clear demand to support not only the new bachelor’s degree but also this new certificate. Since the launch of the BS program, we have consistently welcomed 23-30students to each cohort, which has a maximum size of 30 students per year.

As noted in Item 4, there is a large gap of about 1,100 between employment demand for middle skills workers (1,233openings per year) and the supply from regional colleges (61 graduates annually) in San Diego County.  This supports the adequate demand for the certificate.  The reports referenced above are included in the Supporting Documentation.

The modified Certificate of Achievement (CoA) in bioprocess technology is aligned with MiraCosta’s mission as a career and technical education program and as aneffort to support the economic and educational well-being of the communities served. This modified bioprocess technology certificate acts as an intermediary step in a stackable sequence of certificates at MiraCosta.  The modified certificate serves as a steppingstone towards completion of pre-requisites and transfer into our bachelor’s degree program, which will better prepare them for entry-level positions in biotechnology within the region and beyond.

The modified bioprocess technology certificate will serve the needs of the growing biotechnology economic sector in San Diego County. There will be significant growth in biomanufacturing positions in coming years, and MiraCosta College’s Certificate of Achievement is well-positioned to serve this need.

The MiraCosta Community College Educational Plan 2016-2020 (addendum to the college’s Comprehensive Master Plan 2011-2020) contains 14 institutional objectives that describe strategies for achieving the College’s five institutional goals. The modified certificate in bioprocess technology is aligned with Institutional Goal I, as an innovative practice that will broaden access to higher education for students, Institutional Goal II, as an institution that maximizes student success, and Institutional Goal V, as a conscientious community partner in serving to provide students with the needed skills to participate in the growing biotechnology sector.

The modified certificate of achievement will prepare students for careers a manufacturing technician/associate, environmental monitoring technician/associate, or documentation specialist within the biotechnology industry.  The modification adds elective coursework exploring the biological foundations of biomanufacturing, the impact of biotechnology and the workforce skills needed for this growing industry.  These modifications were proposed after discussions with the advisory board and local companies during individual site visits.

This modified certificate further ensures that the student will complete some of the key preparation needed to be eligible to apply to the bachelor’s degree program in Biomanufacturing at MiraCosta.  Upon completion of this program, students will be able to successfully perform a technical laboratory task common to the biomanufacturing environment by employing the appropriate equipment and tools, safely and effectively.

Also included in the attached narrative.

Required Major Total                                                                                   13-15 units

TOTAL UNITS                                                                                                   13-15units

Proposed Sequence: 

Year 1, Fall = 8-11 units 

Year 1, Spring = 4-5 units

TOTAL UNITS: 13-15 units