Purpose: This Career Studies Certificate is designed for persons wishing to enhance their employment options or retrain for a career as a laboratory technician in various biotechnology disciplines. Students interested in this certificate may include: a) career changers who already have a bachelor’s degree, b) scientists who were trained in foreign countries who need updated training, c) current A.S. in Science students who want to obtain a core of biotech courses and/or find a job in local industry while they complete their undergraduate degrees, and d) high school teachers who wish to refine their own biotechnology skills and obtain the required re-training necessary for continued teacher certification.
Prerequisites: Because jobs in biotechnology generally require at least an associate’s degree, students must already have a 2 or 4 year college degree, be enrolled in the Science A.S., or obtain permission from the Biotechnology Program Coordinator in order to be placed into this program. BIO 101 General Biology I is a prerequisite of all of the biotechnology courses in this program.
All first-time students must take a one-credit Student Development (SDV) course prior to enrolling in their 16th credit at NOVA.
1 Students can choose from the following courses: CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking. CST 110 Introduction to Communication, CST 227 Business and Professional Communication, ENG 115 Technical Writing, ENG 131 Technical Report Writing 1.
2Students must be approved by the biotechnology program coordinator for an internship. Criteria for approval include successful completion of biotechnology courses (including a demonstrated proficiency of basic lab skills), a professional work ethic, and an ability to work well with others. Please see your biotech faculty advisor for assistance in determining eligibility and placement.