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Program Description This program prepares graduates to work in the biotechnology industry as production technicians. A production technician operates and maintains the equipment used to manufacture protein pharmaceutical products. Students will grow bacterial, yeast, and mammalian cells and recover the proteins that they produce. They will follow good manufacturing practices by maintaining records in order to comply with quality assurance procedures and government regulations. Students in the program must be able to adjust their time to a flexible schedule. Opportunities Biotechnology companies typically manufacture pharmaceutical proteins (proteins that act as drugs) that have been synthesized by genetically engineered cells. The rapidly expanding biotechnology field will create a demand for a large number of technicians in the next decade. Recent analysis shows that companies in this field will create an additional 5,000 new jobs per year in the Bay Area alone. Solano County has become a center of biotech manufacturing with a cluster of biotech companies including Genentech, Chiron, and Alza-Skilled technician jobs in the biotech field enjoy high salaries, good benefits packages, and opportunities for continuing education. Graduates of Solano College’s Biotechnology Production Technician Training Program will be able to compete for biotechnology technician jobs. On the job, graduates may grow bacterial, yeast, or mammalian cells in bioreactors, recover the proteins that the cells produce, or monitor the quality of the protein product to assure that the finished product complies with industry and government standards of purity. To achieve the: The Associate in Science degree - can be obtained by completing a total of 60 units, including the 20-unit major with a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in each course, general education requirements and electives. Certificate of Achievement - A Certificate of Achievement can be obtained upon completion of the 22-24 unit major. Required Courses
Total of 22-24 Units NOTE: Prior knowledge and use of computers is advised including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Biotechnology Faculty |
