Biological Technology - Laboratory Skills Certificate of Achievement

The Biological Technology Program at Pasadena City College prepares students to work in entry level positions in the field of biotechnology.  Emphasis is placed on program participants developing competencies for working in a laboratory environment, including; performing basic and advanced laboratory techniques; collecting, documenting, and analyzing data; and participating in short-term independent projects. This is an interdisciplinary program including courses and practical training in math, chemistry, biology, computer skills, and English. The core curriculum comprises instruction and hands-on training in general laboratory skills, advanced DNA and protein techniques, and mammalian cell culture procedures.  Courses are taught in a working laboratory setting which allows students to also learn employability skills as they work. Performance evaluations include assessment of documentation and laboratory skills as well as workplace competencies. 

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

1. Understand, interpret and write laboratory documents, SOPs, protocols and notebook documentation.
2. Be able to use, maintain, calibrate and/or validate standard laboratory equipment.
3. Be prepared for entry level technician positions in the biological technology industry and in research laboratories.

Potential career opportunities available after earning a low unit Certificate of Achievement -Laboratory Skills are available in the following areas: biomedical industry, academic research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural and food science laboratories, and genetic engineering facilities.  Occupations include: chemical technicians;instrumentation/calibration technicians; inspectors, testers, sorters,samplers, and weighers.

A Certificate of Achievement in Laboratory Skills will be awarded upon completion of the course requirements, as well the required GE units.  A Certificate of Achievement is awarded upon completion of all required courses with a grade of C or better.

Biotechnology courses are taught in a working laboratory setting and include hands-on laboratory activities that require extensive oversight by the instructor; therefore class is limited in size to provide the appropriate level of instruction and a safe working environment for students.  Recommended class size ranges from 12 to 16.

Certificate of Completion: Laboratory Skills	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019
Number of Certificates	12	9	5	9	7

Based on the average number of students who earn a Certificate of Completion – Laboratory Skills, the number of projected students or annual completers to be awarded the Certificate of Achievement – Laboratory Skills each year is 8.  

Pasadena City College provides career and technical education in a variety of programs, including Biological Technology since 1997. 

The goals of the Biological Technology Certificate Program 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 Program achieves these goals by providing program participants an opportunity to develop occupational skills required for working in a laboratory environment, including;

•  performing basic and advanced laboratory techniques;
• collecting, documenting, and analyzing data;
• and participating in short-term independent projects. 

The core curriculum comprises instruction and hands-on training in general laboratory skills, advanced DNA and protein techniques, computational methods, and mammalian cell culture procedures.  

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

1. Understand, interpret and write laboratory documents, SOPs, protocols and notebook documentation.
2. Be able to use, maintain, calibrate and/or validate standard laboratory equipment.
3. Be prepared for entry level technician positions in the biological technology industry and in research laboratories.

Employment opportunities upon earning a low unit Certificate of Achievement – Laboratory Skills are available in the following areas: biomedical industry, academic research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural and food science laboratories, and genetic engineering facilities. 

Occupations include: chemical technicians; manufacturing production technicians; instrumentation/calibration technicians; inspectors, testers, sorters,samplers, and weighers.·      

This program proposal is to request approval to reclassify the Biological Technology Laboratory Skills - Occupational Skills Certificate (16 units) to a low unit Certificate of Achievement.  The Biological Technology - Laboratory Skills certificate requires completion of the core biotechnology courses that provide basic and advanced laboratory skills as well as specialized techniques to prepare students to work in the biotechnology industry and academic research facilities.  Reclassification of the certificate so that it is chaptered by the Chancellor’s Office and transcriptable will benefit the students participating in the Biological Technology Program at Pasadena City College as well as better align the program metrics with comparable curriculum at other regional colleges.  

The Biological Technology - Laboratory Skills certificate requires completion of the core biotechnology courses that provide basic and advanced laboratory skills as well as specialized cell culture techniques to prepare students to work in the biotechnology industry and academic research facilities.  After completion of the laboratory techniques training courses, participation in an internship in the biotechnology industry or an academic research laboratory to gain practical experience is required.  In addition, one course in genetics or general biology is needed to complete the educational requirements for the Biological Technology - Laboratory Skills Certificate of Achievement. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
BIOL 102A	Biological Technology - Basic Techniques	3	Y1, Fall
BIOL 102B	Biological Technology - Advanced Techniques	3	Y1, Spring
BIOL 102C	Biological Technology - Cell Culture Techniques	3	Y1, Spring
BIOL 102D	Biological Technology - Laboratory Internship	3	Y2, Summer
BIOL 039  or BIOL 011 or BIOL 011H	Modern Human Genetics or General Biology or  Honors General Biology	4 4 4	Y1, Fall

Certificate Total:  16 units

Proposed Sequence: 

Year 1, Fall = 7 units: BIOL 102A (3 units), BIOL 039 (4 units) or BIOL 011 (4 units) or BIOL 011H (4 units)

Year 1, Spring = 6 units: BIOL 102B (3 units), BIOL 102C (3 units)

Year 2, Summer = 3 units: BIOL 102D (3 units)                                                               

 

The Biological Technology - Laboratory Skills Certificate of Achievement will replace the Biological Technology - Laboratory Skills Occupational Skills Certificate (16 units) after reclassification.

Regional colleges near the PACCD service area offering similar programs: Citrus College, East Los Angeles College, and Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Additional regional community colleges offering similar programs: Los Angeles Mission College, Fullerton College, Irvine Valley College, Santa Ana College, Santiago Canyon College.

54 non-duplicative enrollments in academic year 2018