A.S. in Biotechnology

Biotechnology involves the application of biology to develop new products and technologies to combat disease, reduce our environmental impact, provide cleaner fuel sources, improve food production, and create safer industrial processes. The Citrus College Biotechnology A.S. degree includes a mix of basic science courses and hands-on laboratory classes designed to provide essential technical training and experiences necessary to thrive in this growing industry. Students will gain the conceptual knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to obtain entry-level employment as biological technicians, manufacturing production technicians, quality control technicians, and environmental monitoring technicians in bioscience laboratories and companies. The program emphasizes work readiness skills, such as resume writing, teamwork, and communication. This degree is intended for students who wish to enter the workforce upon completion.

A.S. Degree Level Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Biotechnology A.S. Degree will:
 
  1. Calibrate and safely operate standard equipment and instrumentation utilized in biotechnology.
  2. Document laboratory activities, experimental data, and procedures following Good Documentation Practice (GDP).
  3. Describe the principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), and perform tasks in accordance with these standards and established safety procedures.
  4. Explain how biotechnology tools may be applied to address societal challenges.
  5. Describe key concepts in quality and how regulatory oversight shapes the biotechnology industry.
  6. Prepare for a job interview and generate a resume appropriate for entry-level positions in biotechnology.

Some courses numbered “1000” or “1001” are temporarily showing in the catalog without a “C” in front of the number. Please use the official course number of “C1000” or “C1001” when searching the class schedule.

This degree requires meeting the Citrus College General Education and proficiency requirements combined with successful completion (grades of "C" and above) of the following major requirements:

Required courses: 1
Select either BIOT 107 or BIOT 108:
BIOT 107
Biotechnology: Transforming Society Through Biology3
BIOT 108
Intro to Biotechnology: Real World Biology Applications4
BIOT 110Biotechnology I: Basic Lab Skills and Documentation5
BIOT 125Quality and Regulatory Practices in Biotechnology3
BIOT 150Biotechnology II: Biomanufacturing and Quality Principles4
STAT 1000Introduction to Statistics 24
or STAT 1000H Introduction to Statistics - Honors
Select either chemistry sequence:
CHEM 103
& CHEM 104
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry II		10
CHEM 111
& CHEM 112
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II		10
Total Units29-30
1

Students may need to fulfill prerequisites before enrolling in required courses. Students are advised to consult the Citrus College catalog or speak with a counselor for more information.

2

STAT C1000 is degree applicable with or without STAT S1000. If taken with STAT S1000, only the units for STAT C1000 will be counted towards the degree.

Career Opportunities

There are a variety of careers you can do with this major.

 

To explore more about this major, schedule an appointment with a career counselor.