Biotechnology: AS

Associate of Science | 60 credits

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Program Description

The SLCC Biotechnology AS Program prepares students for employment in Utah’s growing biotech industry, while also preparing them for transfer to higher education. Most SLCC Biotech students get an industry job well before or soon after they earn their AS, and most biotech employers offer tuition reimbursement as a benefit. Utah Valley University (UVU) accepts the SLCC Biotech AS as transfer credit. Biotechnology courses are offered for credit, in a competency-based education (CBE) format. Classes are not scheduled in the traditional way; instead, students work online and attend the open learning lab as their schedules permit. Students work at their own pace, and have the opportunity to accelerate completion. Students must achieve a B or better in all aspects of biotechnology courses in order to move on to the next course.

Career Opportunities

Biotechnology is a growing industry in Utah, and employers offer good pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. According to jobs.utah.gov (May 2023), the median salary for Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians in the Salt Lake metro area is $77.880.

Transfer/Articulation Information

Please refer to the Student Resources section of the SLCC University Transfer webpage.

Estimated Cost for Students

Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx

Books: Biotechnology courses do not require textbooks. Costs for non-BTEC textbooks will vary depending on the courses chosen. Supplies: $10 Course Fees: $20

General Education Requirements

Complete all General Education courses. Refer to Notes for program specific requirements and recommendations.

Associate of Science (AS) / Associate of Arts (AA) Degree General Education Requirements

Program General Education Notes

REQUIRED:

Quantitative Literacy (QL): MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL)

Life Sciences (LS): BIOL 1610 - College Biology I (LS) /BIOL 1615 - College Biology I Lab

Program Requirements

Required Courses (29 credits)

General Electives (2 credits)

Students require at least 2 credit hours of electives to complete the Biotechnology AS. The following list indicates some additional courses required at the lower division level to earn a BS Biotechnology degree from UVU and are possible recommendations.

Time to Completion & Graduation Map

Biotechnology AS: Full-time
Time to completion is 4-5 semesters based on a full-time minimum of 15 credits per semester. Less than 15 credits per semester will increase time to completion.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcome alignment with Student Learning Outcomes in brackets.

Describe applications of biotechnology, and the role of regulations and quality in the biotechnology industry. [1,6]
Describe how genetic information is transmitted and expressed. [1]
Show competency in hands-on experiments in biotechnology. [1,7]
Apply laboratory research techniques to collect, interpret, and analyze data. [1,4]
Present scientific data and biotechnology-related concepts clearly and effectively through written and visual formats. [2,4]