Biological Technology - Computational Biology

Courses that are part of the Biological Technology - Computational Biology curriculum are designed to prepare students to work in the biotechnology industry by providing training in basic data acquisition, management, and analysis in laboratory environments. This is an interdisciplinary program including courses and practical training in statistics, basic concepts of molecular biology, bioinformatics programming, and use of bioinformatics applications and resources.

A Certificate of Achievement is awarded upon completion of all required courses with a grade of C or better.

Program Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts of molecular biology, including DNA, genes, proteins, and genomes.
2. Use online resources such as NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) and bioinformatics applications to research and analyze biological data.
3. Understand and use computer programs to perform customized analyses of biological data, using statistical measures to determine the significance of results.

Certificate of Completion: Computational Biology	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020
Number of Certificates	0	0	2	0	0

The Introduction to Bioinformatics course that is required to earn a Certificate of Achievement in Computational Biology has not been offered regularly for the past few years so estimating the number of projected students or annual completers to be awarded the Biological Technology - Computational Biology Certificate of Achievement is difficult. The course has recently been updated and a faculty member will now provide course instruction on a regular basis so the number of certificates is expected to increase. 

Pasadena City College provides career and technical education in a variety of programs, including Biological Technology since 1997.  A certificate of Achievement in Computational Biology was added in2005.

The goals of the Biological Technology Certificate Programs are to:

• prepare students for careers in research, both in academia and in industry;
•  ensure that students are competitive when applying to institutions of higher education;
• offer enhanced educational activities to regional high schools;
•  include individuals who are from underrepresented and diverse student populations;
• facilitate internships and advanced training opportunities in a variety of research fields, including stem cell biology and bioinformatics;
• and provide a well trained workforce to the local research community, at various educational and technical levels.

The Biological Technology Computational Biology Program student learning objectives(SLOs) are as follows:

Students will be assessed on their ability to

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts of molecular biology, including DNA, genes, proteins, and genomes.

2. Use online resources such as NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) and bioinformatics applications to research and analyze biological data.

3. Understand and use computer programs to perform customized analyses of biological data, using statistical measures to determine the significance of results.

Employment opportunities upon earning a Certificate of Achievement – Computational Biology are available in the following areas: biomedical industry, academic research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural and food science laboratories, and genetic engineering facilities, specifically performing computations for biology.

Occupations include: bioinformatics technicians.

 

This program proposal is to request a modification of the Biological Technology Computational Biology Certificate of Achievement. Specifically, update of the program curriculum includes the replacement of CIS 036 (archived) with CIS 012 and the addition of Biology 110 – Introduction to Biotechnology as a required “OR” option to replace BIOL 102B Biological Technology - Advanced Techniques.  The addition of Biology 110 provides students with the option of completing a training course that is unique to the Biological Technology Program.  Biology 110 complements the learning outcomes required for the certificate capstone course, Biology 028 – Introduction to Bioinformatics, by including an introduction to molecular biology and bioinformatics.

The Biological Technology - Computational Biology certificate requires completion of the courses in computer information, biotechnology or genetics, statistics, introduction to programming, and introduction to bioinformatics to complete the educational requirements for the Biological Technology - Computational Biology Certificate of Achievement. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
CIS 010	Introduction to Information Systems	3	Y1, Fall
BIOL 110  OR	Introduction to Biotechnology	3	Y1, Fall
BIOL 102A  OR	Biological Technology - Basic Techniques	3	Y1, Fall
BIOL 039	Modern Human Genetics	4	Y1, Fall
STAT 018 OR	Statistics for Behavioral and Social Sciences	4	Y1, Spring
STAT 050  OR	Elementary Statistics	4	Y1, Spring
STAT 050H	Honors Elementary Statistics	4	Y1, Spring
CIS 012	Introduction to Programming using Python	3	Y1, Spring
BIOL 028	Introduction to Bioinformatics	3	Y1, Spring

Natural Sciences, alongside Biological Technology Certificates of Achievement including a low unit CoA

Regional colleges near the PACCD service area offer biotechnology programs but do not offer a computational biology program.

54 non-duplicative enrollments in academic year 2018