Biotechnology

Program Narrative
The field of biotechnology has emerged as a major contributor to the advancement of agriculture, medicine, and environmental sciences. Recent developments in biotechnology, particularly molecular biology, promise major improvements in agricultural productivity, breakthroughs in human health care, and new solutions to environmental problems. The field of biotechnology is one of the more rapidly expanding and diverse areas of employment in today's economy.

Biotechnology is one of the most exciting new sciences of this century. A career that is impacted by biotechnology is not just a job; it is an invitation to participate in the development of new products and processes that could improve the quality of human life as much as any other discovery since the Industrial Revolution. Welcome to the "Biological Revolution."

Students entering the program should be interested in science; have taken secondary school classes in biology, chemistry and algebra (or the equivalent). Students who have not taken chemistry or algebra may do so before beginning the program. Individuals who work in the biotechnology field need to be able to work as team members and with minimal supervision and to be able to communicate well with co-workers and supervisors.

Program Features
The Biotechnology program is designed to provide the students with a solid background in math and science and practical knowledge in biotechnology and also with very good laboratory skills as well as overall employability skills.

Individuals who work in the biotechnology field need to be able to work as team members and with minimal supervision and to be able to communicate well with co-workers and supervisors. The biotechnology program provides students with overall employability skills necessary for the success in a competitive work place.

Upon completion of the two-year program, students will be prepared to gain employment in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry as manufacturing or research technicians. Also as biotechnology encompasses molecular research, genomics, forensics, bioinformatics and environmental bioremediation, graduates will be positioned to compete for a wide range of positions in the chemical industry, governmental institutions such as; FDA, USDA, Department of Defense, NIH, EPA, forensics laboratories, the cosmetic industry, and biomedical research institutions. Students may also earn a specialized diploma in biotechnology in one semester.  Both programs can be completed on a part time or full time basis.

Optional Fifth Semester for Biotechnology AAS Degree
Students in the program have the option to acquire additional skills by attending a "capstone semester" at Penn State. Formerly this training was only available to students who were in the Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology program. As nanotechnology applications expand, so will the need for technicians with a strong science background. The "capstone semester" is an optional fifth semester of study and will provide students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment found in industries that apply nanotechnology. Students who are interested in pursuing this training should work closely with their advisor to ensure that they choose those electives that will best prepare them for the capstone semester.

Program Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:

• Demonstrate the ability to work in a typical biotechnology laboratory or manufacturing facility while following appropriate safety procedures and regulations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of biotechnological principles and concepts.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the practice and theory of modern biotechnology instrumentation.
• Show the ability to follow instructions and work both independently and collaboratively on a wide variety of projects.
• Demonstrate literacy in data manipulation and analysis using computerized spreadsheets and graphing programs.
• Apply statistics to analyze the credibility of scientific results.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate results both orally and through written reports in an effective and efficient manner.
• Apply all the steps of the scientific method to research, design, perform, and report on a solution to a scientific problem.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply results of previous research to new experimental applications.