Biotechnology is a rapidly growing field that encompasses many areas of science. New and exciting techniques in biotechnology hold great potential for improving our lives and our environment.

Biotechnology involves the use of living organisms, cells, cellular components or cell products to provide useful services or products. This "applied biology" includes products that improve the environment, combat diseases and other medical uses, improve agricultural production, and make manufacturing more efficient and profitable. The products can be loosely subdivided into five categories:

• Biological organisms with unique traits
• DNAs and RNAs
• Proteins
• Compounds

There is a video available online about biotech careers.

Biotechnicians are vital to our present day biotechnology laboratories and play important roles. They perform many complex procedures involving various scientific disciplines. With increasing automation and the use of computer technology, the work is often less hands-on and more analytical.

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There is a high demand for qualified biotechnicians. This demand is expected to remain high well into the future as new technologies are developed. As technology advances, it becomes even more imperative to reduce the shortage of qualified biotechnology personnel.

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Job opportunities include:

Graduates of the program may seek entry-level employment in public, private, or educational laboratories that perform research in basic or applied science for positions with various titles, such as:

Specialty areas include:

The associate degree program provides graduates with the opportunity for potential career mobility and can serve as a stepping stone to a BS degree or higher.

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