Advanced Diploma in Biotechnology - Advanced (Formerly Biotechnology Technologist - Forensics)

Fleming College

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

With a career in the field of biotechnology, students have diverse employment opportunities in a variety of areas including research, quality assurance and control, medical or health-related fields, DNA extraction and analysis. Laboratory related occupations are among the fastest growing occupations in the economy. With a unique combination of courses, our biotechnology program graduates are in demand across a variety of fields. This advanced diploma program would traditionally take six semesters to complete. However, the program has been designed in an accelerated, compressed format, to provide six semesters of course work over five semesters.

Courses taking place in Semesters 1-4 in the program integrate theory and practice opportunities in labs and experiential learning. This prepares students for their final, fifth semester, where they must complete their placement (this can occur from May-August, September-December, or January-April). Resulting graduates will be critical thinkers with problem-solving abilities, strong interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills and a solid, hands-on skillset in a lab setting.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

Program graduates will be qualified to work in various biotechnology related settings (i.e. private versus public), in a variety of roles. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Research technician/technologist (in areas such as cancer, disease, environmental, etc.)
• Microbiology testing (food, water, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics).
• Quality assurance/quality control (food, pharmaceutical, manufacturing).
• Forensic labs.
• Hospital and clinical settings.
• Pharmaceutical companies.
• Government agencies such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian, Centre for Forensic Science, and Public Health.
• Municipal wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities.
• Pathogen and toxicology testing (plant and animals).
• Wildlife management and restoration (environmental DNA).
• Cannabis labs.
• COVID19 testing and medical related fields (may require additional qualifications)./li>
• Chemical analysis and instrumentation.
• Nuclear power generation