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Biotechnology

Biotechnology

  • Degree Type Degree
  • Program outcomesTransferEnter the workforce
  • Area of StudyScience & Math
  • Total Credit Hours64-66

Looking to leap into a bioscience career right after graduation? Our Biotechnology A.A.S. program can be your springboard. Upon graduating, you can work as a skilled technician in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, biomedical research or the pharmaceutical industry. Our alumni have successfully transitioned to careers at top companies such as GSK, Merck, Rockland Immunochemicals, Resilience, Integral Molecular and Eurofins.

If you plan on pursuing advanced degrees in bioscience, you can start your academic career economically with our Biotechnology associate degree. Your Montco credits will seamlessly transfer to partner institutions such as Thomas Jefferson University, West Chester University and more.

Your curriculum is matched with your career path and provides you with the coursework needed to succeed at work or in transferring to another college.

High school graduates and first year community college students (with fewer than 30 credits) may apply to GSK’s apprenticeship program and works as a full-time employee while pursuing their AAS in Biotechnology degree. Details and application information can be found at .

Program outcomes
  • Demonstrate a theoretical and practical (i.e., hands-on) knowledge of state-of-the-art tools used in biotechnology laboratories, including molecular and cellular biological techniques and use of various laboratory instrumentation;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the biotechnology process, from identification of a molecule involved in a disease process to the end-stage marketing of a product;
  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the biotechnology manufacturing process;
  • Demonstrate potential for teamwork, and good oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrate familiarity with the types of career opportunities available in the biotechnology industry.
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Program Curriculum

Transfer Pathway

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General Education Requirements

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101 English Composition II,W 3
ENG 102  English Composition III,W  3
MAT 161 Pre-Calculus IQ 4
CMS 120 Public SpeakingI,O 3
MAT 130 or MAT 131 Probability and Statistics or Introduction to Statistics IQ 3 - 4
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3

Major Requirements

COURSE ID TITLE CREDITS
BIO 151 Principles of Biology I 4
BIO 152 Principles of Biology II 4
BIT 120 Introduction to BiotechnologyE,I 4
BIT 123 Basic Techniques and Instrumentation for BiotechnologyE,I 4
BIT 220 Biotechnology ResearchE,I 4
BIT 232 BiomanufacturingI 4
CHE 151 Principles of Chemistry IS 4
CHE 152 Principles of Chemistry IIS 4
CHE 261 Organic Chemistry I 4
CHE 262` Organic Chemistry II or Lab Science Elective 4

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Full-time sample course schedule

Semester 1

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101  English Composition I 3
MAT 161 Pre-Calculus I 4
BIT 120 Introduction to Biotechnology  4
CHE 151 Principles of Chemistry I 4

Semester 2

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
BIT 123 Basic Techniques and Instrumentation for Biotechnology 4
CMS 120 Public Speaking 3
CHE 152 Principles of Chemistry II 4
BIO 151 Principles of Biology I 4

Semester 3

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Laboratory Science1 4
BIT 220 Biotechnology Research 4
MAT 131 or MAT 130 Introduction to Statistics I or Probability and Statistics 3-4
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3

Semester 4

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 232 Biomanufacturing 4
BIT 298 or Elective Biotechnology Internship or Laboratory Science2 4-6
BIO 140 or BIO 152 Microbiology and Immunology or Principles of Biology II 4
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3

1 Students intending to transfer should take CHE-261 Organic Chemistry I. Students may also choose one of the following: BIO-122 General Biology II, BIO-130 Introductory Anatomy and Physiology, BIO-131 or BIO-132 Human Anatomy and Physiology I or II, BIO-260 Genetics, PHY-121 or PHY-122 General Physics I or II.

Students may choose the 6 credit Biotechnology Internship course or choose one of the above 4 credit Laboratory science electives. Students intending to transfer should take CHE-262 Organic Chemistry II.

Part-time sample course schedule

Semester 1

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101  English Composition I 3
BIT 120 Introduction to Biotechnology  4
CHE 151 Principles of Chemistry I 4

Semester 2

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
BIT 123 Basic Techniques and Instrumentation for Biotechnology 4
CHE 152 Principles of Chemistry II 4

Semester 3

Course ID Title Credits
CMS 120 Public Speaking 3
MAT 161 Pre-Calculus I 4

Semester 4

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 220 Biotechnology Research 4
BIO 151 Principles of Biology I 4

Semester 5

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 232 Biomanufacturing 4
BIO 140 or BIO 152 Microbiology and Immunology or Principles of Biology II 4

Semester 6

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3
MAT 131 or MAT 130 Introduction to Statistics I or Probability and Statistics 3-4

Semester 7

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Laboratory Science1 4
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3

Semester 8

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 298 or Elective Biotechnology Internship or Laboratory Science2 4-6

1 Students intending to transfer should take CHE-261 Organic Chemistry I. Students may also choose one of the following: BIO-122 General Biology II, BIO-130 Introductory Anatomy and Physiology, BIO-131 or BIO-132 Human Anatomy and Physiology I or II, BIO-260 Genetics, PHY-121 or PHY-122 General Physics I or II.

2 Students may choose the 6 credit Biotechnology Internship course or choose one of the above 4 credit Laboratory science electives. Students intending to transfer should take CHE-262 Organic Chemistry II.


Career-Ready Pathway

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General Education Requirements

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101 English Composition II,W 3
ENG 115 Writing for Technical CommunicationI,W 3
MAT 100 Intermediate Algebra 3
CMS 120 Public SpeakingI,O 3
MAT 130 or MAT 131 Probability and Statistics or Introduction to Statistics IQ 3 - 4
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3

Major Requirements

COURSE ID TITLE CREDITS
BIO 121 General Biology I 4
BIO 140 Microbiology and ImmunologyS 4
BIT 120 Introduction to BiotechnologyE,I 4
BIT 123 Basic Techniques and Instrumentation for BiotechnologyE,I 4
BIT 220 Biotechnology ResearchE,I 4
BIT 232 BiomanufacturingI 4
CHE 131 Chemistry for Technology I 4
CHE 132 Chemistry for Technology II 4

Electives

COURSE ID TITLE CREDITS
Elective Biotechnology Internship or Laboratory Science Elective2 4-6
Elective Laboratory Science Elective1 4

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Full-time sample course schedule

Semester 1

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101  English Composition I 3
MAT 100 or MAT 161 Intermediate Algebra or Pre-Calculus I 3-4
BIT 120 Introduction to Biotechnology  4
CHE 131 Chemistry for Technology I  4

Semester 2

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 115 Writing for Technical Communications 3
BIT 123 Techniques and Instrumentation for Biotechnology 4
CMS 120 Public Speaking 3
CHE 132 Chemistry for Technology II 4
BIO 121 General Biology 4

Semester 3

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Laboratory Science1 4
BIT 220 Biotechnology Research 4
MAT 131 or MAT 130 Introduction to Statistics I or Probability and Statistics 3-4
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3

Semester 4

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 232 Biomanufacturing 4
BIT 298 or Elective Biotechnology Internship or Laboratory Science2 4-6
BIO 140 Microbiology and Immunology 4
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3

Part-time sample course schedule

Semester 1

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101  English Composition I 3
BIT 120 Introduction to Biotechnology  4
CHE 131 Chemistry for Technology I  4

Semester 2

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 115 Writing for Technical Communication 3
BIT 123 Basic Techniques and Instrumentation for Biotechnology 4
CHE 132 Chemistry for Technology II 4

Semester 3

Course ID Title Credits
CMS 120 Public Speaking 3
MAT 100 or MAT 161 Intermediate Algebra or Pre-Calculus I 3-4

Semester 4

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 220 Biotechnology Research 4
BIO 151 Principles of Biology I 4

Semester 5

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 232 Biomanufacturing 4
BIO 140 Microbiology and Immunology 4

Semester 6

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3
MAT 131 or MAT 130 Introduction to Statistics I or Probability and Statistics 3-4

Semester 7

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Laboratory Science1 4
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3

Semester 8

Course ID Title Credits
BIT 298 or Elective Biotechnology Internship or Laboratory Science2 4-6

  • A Satisfies Aesthetic Sensibility
  • C Satisfies Cultural Awareness & Diversity
  • E Satisfies Ethical Perspectives
  • I Information Literacy is Reinforced
  • O Satisfies Oral Communication
  • Q Satisfies Quantitative Reasoning
  • S Satisfies Scientific Reasoning
  • T Satisfies Technological Fluency
  • W Satisfies Written Communication

1 Choose one of the following: BIO-122 General Biology II, BIO-130 Introductory Anatomy and Physiology, BIO-131 or BIO-132 Human Anatomy and Physiology I or II, BIO-260 Genetics, PHY-121 or PHY-122 General Physics I or II.

2 Students may choose the 6 credit Biotechnology Internship course, or choose one of the above 4 credit Laboratory science electives.