Biotechnology Program

This program option is currently under development with an anticipated start date of fall 2009.

Biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms or their products to modify human health and the human environment. In its simplest forms, biotechnology can described the use of yeast to raise bread or ferment alcohol or the use of molds and bacteria to create cheeses.

Biotechnology program will train individuals in the basic sciences and laboratory instrumentation utilized by this industry segment in the development and manufacturing of a variety of different products. Biotechnology will support biologists, chemists and biotechnologists in research, government and industrial laboratory settings. Instruction in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, molecular biology, microbiology, laboratory instrumentation use and maintenance, cell culturing, chromatography and other bioseparation techniques, nucleic acid purification and characterization techniques, clean room protocols, quality control, good laboratory practices (GLP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP) protocols, record-keeping and report-writing, laboratory and hazardous materials safety and computer applications.

Biotechnology is one of the oldest and strongest of all of the high-technology segments of the U.S. and global economy. A well-established infrastructure already exists in a number of cluster areas within the U.S. Since 1990, biotechnology revenues have jumped from $8 billion to $39.2 billion in 2003. Projected employment is expected to be at 814,900 people by next year.

Currently, new growth of the biotech field is occurring within the central regions of the United States and promises to be a major component of the regional economic engines. The Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation has identified “biotechnology” as one of the three main areas of future emphasis and growth — the other two being nanotechnology and computer information systems.

Course descriptions for this program are under development. Please contact us with questions.