Intensive Postbaccalaureate Program in Biotechnology

This project seeks to increase the number of well-prepared individuals entering the biotechnology work force. By developing and delivering an intensive and practical one-semester certificate program for unemployed/underemployed individuals with baccalaureate degrees (or equivalent), this program offers these students a bridge to the regulated biotechnology workplace. It is not unusual for individuals with baccalaureate degrees to attend two-year colleges in order to develop practical work place skills to supplement the theoretical understanding gained from a four-year program. However, two-year biotechnology programs have not had the resources to create instructional materials and to provide separate programming for these post-baccalaureate individuals and so have placed them in pre-existing associate degree courses. While this approach has successfully helped some baccalaureate graduates transition into the work place, the length of time required to complete various associate degree courses, and the pace of instruction in these classes, is not suitable for graduates of four-year institutions. The project will develop, deliver, and disseminate up-to-date and accurate instructional materials for post-baccalaureate students, relating underlying science concepts to the modern biotechnology workplace. Partnerships with industry and university collaborators infuse the project with cutting-edge molecular biology content, including exposure to microarray analysis methods and bioinformatics tools.