Biotechnology – Science Transfer A.S. Degree
Biotechnology is a branch of science in which we use living organisms to make useful products. Ever since we learned to manipulate DNA, the field has exploded in importance. We can diagnose and treat diseases, and create new and better crops to feed people; biotechnologists are developing oil-eating bacteria to combat oil spills and other environmental problems. We can make vaccines, antibiotics, antibodies, organs for transplantation, improved crops and biodegradable plastics. Biotechnology is essential to medicine, medical diagnoses, drug production, genetic testing, gene therapy, agriculture, crop protection, genetic engineering, forensics and environmental protection. It’s a fascinating field that is tremendously important to our nation’s future.
The Biotechnology curriculum prepares the students for biotechnology/biosciences programs at four-year institutions and for a future career in biotechnology. The students in this program acquire knowledge in general biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, genetics, microbiology, cell biology and molecular biology. The students will acquire competence in laboratory techniques and instrumentation that are relevant to the biotechnology industry. This degree transfers seamlessly (without loss of credit) to the Biotechnology B.S. degree at Rutgers University and to other universities.
Semester I
Short Title : English Composition I
Course Code : ENG-121
Department Description : English
Course Description :
Through a variety of writing projects requiring competence in clear, correct, and effective English, students use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing documented essays. Extensive reading materials serve as structural models and as the bases for discussion and for the writing of essays involving response, analysis, and synthesis.
Prerequisites :
A passing score on the College Placement Test; or a grade of "C" or better in ENG-010 and RDG-011 (RDG-011 can be a co-requisite; or a grade of "C" or better in ESL-097 and ESL-098.
Co requisites :
RDG-011 may be taken as a co-requisite if not previously completed with a grade of "C" or better.
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 3
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : General Chemistry I - Lecture
Course Code : CHM-121
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : A theoretical treatment of principles and laws underlying atomic structure, chemical reactions, enthalpy changes, bonding and states of matter integrated with descriptive material and quantitative calculations.
Prerequisites :
Two years of high school algebra and geometry or MAT-014 and one year of high school chemistry or CHM-020
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 4
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : General Chemistry I - Lab
Course Code : CHM-125
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : Introduction to the general chemistry laboratory: includes the conduct of inorganic reactions and general laboratory techniques. An appreciation and understanding of safety and environmental aspects of the general chemistry laboratory is developed. General chemistry laboratory techniques such as separation and titration and inorganic multistep synthesis are carried out. A variety of chemical reactions are performed, redox reactions and titrations are carried out, a stock solution and a series of dilute solutions are prepared from the stock, the enthalpy of reaction using Hess’ Law is determined, and the MW of a volatile liquid is determined using the Ideal Gas Law.
Prerequisites :
Two years of high school algebra and geometry or MAT-014 and one year of high school chemistry or CHM-020
Co requisites :
CHM 121
- Credit : 1 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
- Lab Hours : 3
Short Title : Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
Course Code : MAT-131
Department Description : Mathematics
Course Description : Presents fundamental ideas of calculus such as the derivative, integral and their applications. Topics include fundamentals of analytic geometry. The first course in a sequence of calculus courses intended for the student interested in mathematics, engineering and the natural, physical and social sciences. TI83/84 graphing calculator required.
Prerequisites :
MAT-129, MAT-129A/MAT-129B or equivalent, or appropriate score on the College placement test or satisfactory score on the diagnostic examination, or departmental approval
- Credit : 4 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 4
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : General Biology I
Course Code : BIO-123
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : A study of the basic principles and origins of life; the chemistry of living things; cell structure, function and reproduction; cell metabolic process including cellular respiration and photosynthesis; Mendelian genetics and modern genetics principles. Required for science transfer students in the biology option and biology pre-professional option and biotechnology.
Prerequisites :
One year of high school laboratory biology or BIO-010 and one year of high school laboratory chemistry or CHM-020 passed with a “C” or higher. Also, appropriate score on the College placement test or MAT-013.
- Credit : 4 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 3
- Lab Hours : 3
Semester II
Short Title : English Composition II
Course Code : ENG-122
Department Description : English
Course Description : Through a variety of writing projects requiring competence in clear, correct, and effective English, students use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing argument synthesis essays. Students engage in formal written argumentation based on extensive reading and analysis of complex texts. Through the research process, students will locate, analyze, and synthesize scholarly sources to advance their own informed positions on relevant issues in the composition of a formal research paper.
Prerequisites :
A grade of “C” or better in ENG-121
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 3
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : General Chemistry II - Lecture
Course Code : CHM-122
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : A continuation of CHM 121, concentrating on properties of liquids, solids and solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, properties of acids and bases, acid-base and solubility equilibria, thermodynamics and electrochemistry.
Prerequisites :
CHM-121 with a grade of “C” or better
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 4
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : General Chemistry II - Lab
Course Code : CHM-126
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : The laboratory course associated with CHM 122, General Chemistry II. The labs are related to the lecture topics and are meant to reinforce them. Computers are used for data acquisition and data handling using Microsoft EXCEL.
Prerequisites :
CHM-121, CHM-125 with a grade of “C” or better
Co requisites :
CHM 122
- Credit : 1 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
- Lab Hours : 3
Short Title : General Biology II
Course Code : BIO-124
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description :
A survey of plant and animal taxonomy, anatomy and physiology; evolutionary theory and principles of ecology. Laboratory sessions include dissections.
Prerequisites :
BIO-123 with a grade of "C" or higher.
- Credit : 4 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 3
- Lab Hours : 3
Short Title : Introduction to Biotechnology: Concepts and Issues
Course Code : BIO-132
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : This course is a seminar survey of biotechnology methods and techniques that raise ethical or moral questions. Topics include issues pertaining to basic and applied research in human health, agriculture, and the environment. Students will research, present and lead weekly roundtable discussions on bioethical topics.
Prerequisites :
- Credit : 1 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 2
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : GE Humanities Elective
Course Code : HUM-EL2
Department Description : Humanities
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).
Semester III
Short Title : GE Social Science Elective
Course Code : GE SS
Department Description : GE Social Science Elective
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Social Science (GE SS).
Short Title : Organic Chemistry I - Lecture
Course Code : CHM-221
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : A mechanistic study of the preparation and chemical reactivity of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. Conformational analysis and stereochemistry of organic compounds.
Prerequisites :
CHM-122 with a grade of “C” or better
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 4
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : Organic Chemistry I - Lab
Course Code : CHM-227
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : Introduction to the organic chemistry laboratory, performing organic reactions and notebook keeping. An appreciation and understanding of safety and environmental aspects of the organic laboratory. Introduction to organic chemistry laboratory techniques for the purification, isolation and identification of organic compounds - melting point, boiling point, recrystallization, distillation, IR spectroscopy and aspects of chromatography.
Prerequisites :
CHM-122, CHM-126 with a grade of “C” or better
Co requisites :
CHM 221
- Credit : 1 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
- Lab Hours : 3
Short Title : Biology Elective
Course Code : Biology Elective
Department Description : Biology Elective
- Credit : 4 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
Take the following Biology Electives (all three must be taken in year 2):
BIO-221 - Microbiology
BIO-228 - Genetics
BIO-229 - Cellular Biology
Short Title : Biology Elective
Course Code : Biology Elective
Department Description : Biology Elective
- Credit : 4 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
Take the following Biology Electives (all three must be taken in year 2):
BIO-221 - Microbiology
BIO-228 - Genetics
BIO-229 - Cellular Biology
Semester IV
Short Title : GE Social Science Elective
Course Code : GE SS
Department Description : GE Social Science Elective
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Social Science (GE SS).
OR
Short Title : GE Humanities Elective
Course Code : HUM-EL2
Department Description : Humanities
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).
Short Title : Biology Elective
Course Code : Biology Elective
Department Description : Biology Elective
- Credit : 4 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
Take the following Biology Electives (all three must be taken in year 2):
BIO-221 - Microbiology
BIO-228 - Genetics
BIO-229 - Cellular Biology
Short Title : Introduction to Biomolecules and Molecular Biology - Lecture
Course Code : BIO-251
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : This course introduces the students to structure, functions, synthesis and degradation of biologically important macromolecules of the cell such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Bioenergetics and regulation of metabolic pathways will be discussed. The interrelationship between the metabolic pathways and genetic defects will be emphasized. The course will focus on molecular biology, including the metabolism of DNA and RNA and regulation of gene expression.
Prerequisites :
CHM-221, CHM-227, BIO-123 and BIO-124
Co requisites :
CHM 222, CHM 228 and BIO 252
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 3
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : Introduction to Biomolecules and Molecular Biology - Lab
Course Code : BIO-252
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : This course introduces the students to biochemical and molecular techniques used for studying carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acid. Students will gain hands-on experience on a variety of experimental techniques used in biological research.
Co requisites :
BIO 251
- Credit : 1 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 0
- Lab Hours : 3
Short Title : Organic Chemistry II - Lecture
Course Code : CHM-222
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : A mechanistic study of the preparation and chemical reactivity of aromatic compounds, alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, amines, carboxylic acids, and carboxylic acid derivatives.
Prerequisites :
CHM-221 Lecture with a grade of “C” or better, CHM-227 Lab
- Credit : 3 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 4
- Lab Hours : 0
Short Title : Organic Chemistry II - Lab
Course Code : CHM-228
Department Description : Natural Sciences
Course Description : Laboratory experience includes the characterization and identification of organic compounds using modern spectroscopic techniques: IR, 1H-NMR-, 13C-NMR, and Mass Spectrometry (MS). Introduction to basic techniques of chromatography (GC, HPLC) are also included.
Prerequisites :
CHM-221, CHM-227 with a grade of “C” or better
Co requisites :
CHM 222
- Credit : 1 - 0
- Lecture Hours : 3
- Lab Hours : 0
Contact Information
Contact Name: Donna Howell, department chair
Contact Phone: 732.906.2592
Contact Email: dhowell@middlesexcc.edu
Department Web: https://www.middlesexcc.edu/natural-sciences/
Frequently Asked Questions
Why major in Biotechnology?
Biotechnology offers multiple opportunities for work and research. Employment opportunities include: environmental, medical/ pharmaceutical companies; diagnostic and research products; food products; US government laboratories; police and forensic science departments; US Customs; patent law; and, science writing.
What will students learn if they study Biotechnology?
Students in this program acquire knowledge in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, genetics, cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry. Students will demonstrate proficiency in chemical, biological, cellular, immunological and molecular techniques and lab instrumentation.
Are there any requirements that must be satisfied before taking courses in the major?
A passing score on the College’s mathematics placement test for both Algebra I and Algebra II or MAT-013 and MAT-014 is required for biotechnology majors. In addition, a high school laboratory biology course with a minimum grade of “C” or BIO-010 and a high school laboratory chemistry or CHM-020 with a minimum grade of “C” are also required.
Can Biotechnology majors transfer to a four-year college or university?
The Statewide Transfer Agreement for New Jersey ensures that students who earn an A.A. or A.S. degree at a community college will have those credits fully transferable to a New Jersey public four-year institution, will have completed half of the credits required for a basic four-year degree, and will have completed all lower division general education requirements. In addition, articulation agreements with a number of public and private institutions provide guaranteed transfer into several Biotechnology programs, provided students meet specific GPA requirements. Students should discuss the transfer process with an advisor.
How long will it take to complete this degree?
Once students complete developmental coursework (if needed), the A.S. degree can be completed in two years of full-time study. Students may shorten the amount of time by taking courses in the summer sessions at the College.
Transfer Information
Our students transfer to 4-year colleges and universities around the globe. We’ve had students transfer to every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.
The Statewide Transfer Agreement for New Jersey ensures that students who earn an A.A. or A.S. degree at a community college will have those credits fully transferable to a New Jersey public four-year institution, will have completed half of the credits required for a basic four-year degree and will have completed all lower division general education requirements. This degree transfers seamlessly (without loss of credit) to the Biotechnology B.S. degree at Rutgers University and to other universities. Students should discuss the transfer process with an advisor.
Are you interested in transferring to a school in New Jersey? You can use the tools at NJTransfer.org to see which of your MCC courses will transfer to a specific college.
