El Camino College Biotechnology Program

The Biotechnology AS degree program is a lab-skills based program leading to two Certificates of Achievement (Biotechnology Laboratory Assistant and Biotechnology Technician Certificate) with the option to transfer to a four-year program. This AS degree builds on foundational biotechnology lab skills acquired in the two stackable certificate programs to further advance student knowledge of concepts and practices employed in modern biotechnology industries including proteins and other biomolecules and quality and regulatory compliance. Additionally, opportunities to apply for internships with local biotechnology companies during the program will be available to qualified students. With close interactions with local biotechnology industry partners, the industry-responsive curriculum taught in this degree program will prepare students for entry-level positions and career advancement in the biotechnology sector with the option to transfer to a four-year institution. 

We anticipate awarding a comparable number of degrees and certificates to programs cited in exhibit 6 of our COE LMI report. The three-year average (2028-2021) of degrees and certificates granted for Citrus, ELAC, LA Mission, LATTC, and Pasadena ranges from 4 degrees to 25. Based on this data, we anticipate an average of 14 degrees and certificates annually. However, this number may be higher since the data from exhibit 6 partially reflects information collected during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

El Camino College makes a positive difference in people’s lives and encourages innovative educational programs that promote equity and collaboration with our diverse communities. This AS degree in Biotechnology would positively contribute to our students’ lives by providing an alternative career path for the STEM, pre-nursing, and other pre-health students who choose not to continue or are unable to continue on that path. Upon completion of the AS degree, students will earn two certificates (Biotechnology Laboratory Assistant and Biotechnology Technician) and be prepared to utilize modern biotechnology instrumentation and gain skills in the analysis of biomolecules, apply quality and regulatory compliance regulations to comply with the FDA, and be eligible to apply to entry-level positions in the burgeoning biotechnology industry of Greater Los Angeles County.

Further, this degree program would benefit the department and college in their strategic initiatives of A. Student Learning, B. Student Success and Support, C. Collaboration, D. Community Responsiveness, E. Institutional Effectiveness, and F. Modernization. Biotechnology courses in this degree program include standard C-ID courses across the California Community College biotechnology programs, and thus adding it to our offerings will keep our degree programs current with other community colleges and provide a series of transferrable courses for our students transferring to four-year colleges.  

El Camino College is committed to lowering barriers to entry and providing the training and resources for underrepresented students to thrive in the biotechnology workforce. This degree program will provide relevant industry-responsive curriculum and the hands-on biotechnology laboratory skills necessary for students to successfully and competitively enter their community’s progressing biotechnology industry.  

The certificate and AS degree curriculum will prepare out students to utilize modern biotechnology instrumentation and gain skills in the analysis of biomolecules, apply quality and regulatory compliance regulations to comply with the FDA, and be eligible to apply to entry-level positions in the burgeoning biotechnology industry of Greater Los Angeles County.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Biol-75	Introduction to Biotechnology	3	Y1
Biol-76	Introduction to Biotechnology Laboratory	1	Y1
Chem-20 or 21A or 4 or 1A	General Chemistry	4-5	Y1
Biol-77	Biotechnology A: Basic Laboratory Skills	4	Y1
Micr-33	General Microbiology	5	Y1

Biol-78	Quality and Regulatory Compliance	2	Y2
Biol-79:	Biotechnology B: Proteins and Other Biomolecules	4	Y2

El Camino College does not have an existing biotechnology program.

The schools below have biotechnology programs. 1. Cerritos College 2. Citrus College 3. Compton College 4. East Los Angeles 5. Glendale Community College 6. Long Beach City College 7. Los Angeles City College 8. Los Angeles Harbor College 9. Los Angeles Mission College 10. Los Angeles Pierce College 11. Los Angeles Southwest College 12. Los Angeles Southwest College 13. Los Angeles Trade-Technical College 14. Los Angeles Valley College 15. Mt. San Antonio College 16. Pasadena City College 17. Rio Hondo College 18. Santa Monica College 19. West Los Angeles College

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