Associate in Science Degree

(61 Credit Hours)

Program Directors

Jane Pfeilsticker, Co-Director
941-752-5341 Bradenton
941-408-1300, ext. 65341 Venice
pfeilsj@scf.edu

Dr. Matthew Thomas, Co-Director
941-752-5624 Bradenton
941-408-1300, ext. 65624 Venice
thomasm1@scf.edu

Program Goal:

This program is designed to prepare students for employment as technicians who will work in a laboratory or industrial setting. Biotechnology is a wide-ranging field encompassing DNA/RNA and protein isolation, characterization and sequencing; cell culture; genetic modification of organisms; toxicology; vaccine sterility testing; antibody isolation and production; and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic agents. This hands-on program is designed to meet local, statewide and national needs for laboratory technicians. Graduates are grounded thoroughly in basic laboratory skills and trained in advanced molecular biology techniques. Students are acclimated to both research and industrial environments. The program emphasizes laboratory-based, universal and scalable technician skills resulting in a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the methodology.

Potential workplace environments for graduating students include laboratories specializing in: food safety; environmental quality control; the production of new medicines; forensics; alternative fuels; bio-manufacturing; and industry, academic and government research.