About Biotechnology

The Biotechnology Program of the Department of Engineering and Technology at City College of San Francisco trains a diverse group of students for careers as technicians and lab assistants at companies and academic institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

The Biotechnology programs focus on hands-on skills need to work in the biotechnology industry. In addition to training in basic chemistry and biology, and molecular and cell biology, students are trained in a variety of current biotechnology techniques. Students have the option of doing an internship, along with career development training tailored to the biotechnology industry.

student works in a lab

Explore Potential Careers

Studying Biotechnology can lead to a variety of different positions in quality control, research and development, and biomanufacturing technicians in research labs and biotechnology companies.

Program Options 

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish. 

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals. 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 10 Research Skills for Career Opportunities 2  
Communications Major Requirement See Counselor 3  
BTEC 108A Practical Math for Lab Science 3   
ENGL 1A + AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4-6  

Total Units: 12-14 

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 14A, BTEC 12A, or BTEC 5 Biotechnology Laboratory Techniques 2  
CHEM 32 or Chem 101A Major Requirement Elective 4-6  
ET 108B Practical Mathematics II 3  
Bio 11 or 100A Major Requirement Elective 4-5  
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  

Total Units: 16-19

Semester 3 (Summer)

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area F United States History and Government 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area H Ethnic, Women's, Gender, & LGBTQ Studies 3  

Total Units: 6

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area D Social and Behavioral Sciences 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area A (See Counselor) Communication/Analytical Thinking 3  

Total Units: 15

 

Semester 5

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area E Humanities 3  
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement Elective (Technical) See Counselor 3  

Total Units: 15

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 12A  BTEC 12A  1  
BTEC 20 Mammalian Cell Culture 3  
BIO 11 Science of Living Organisms 4   
CHEM 32 Introduction to Medical Chemistry 4  

Total Units: 12 

Choose one of the following courses or course combinations:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 115 Recombinant DNA Biotechnology 5  

    or 

BTEC 24 Introduction to PCR 1  

    and

BTEC 25 Analytical PCR Technology 1  

Choose one of the following course or course combinations:

BTEC 120 Cell Biotechnology 5  

    or

BTEC 22 Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) 1  

    and

BTEC 23 Western Blotting Techniques 1  

Total Units: 2 - 5 

Choose 3 additional units from the following elective courses not completed above:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 115 Recombinant DNA Biotechnology 5  
BTEC 22 Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) 1  
BTEC 120 Cell Biotechnology 5  
BTEC 23 Western Blotting Techniques 1  
BTEC 5 Briefings in Biotechnology 1  
BTEC 24 Introduction to PCR 1  
BTEC 25 Analytical PCR Technology 1  
BTEC 21C Stem Cell Technology 3  

Total Units: 3 - 5

Overall Total Units: 19 - 27

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required Courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 93 Biotechnology Work experience 3  
BIO 11 Science of Living Organisms 4  
CHEM 32 Introduction to Medical Chemistry 4   

Total Units: 11 

Choose one of the following course combinations:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 15 Career Exploration in Bioscience 2  

    and

BTEC 14B Biotechnology Internship Support 4  

    or

BTEC 21D Introductory Stem Cell Internship Support 4  

    and

BTEC 21E Advanced Stem Cell Internship Support 4  

Total Units: 6 - 8 

Choose a minimum of 4 units from the following electives:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 14A Biotechnology Laboratory Techniques 3  
BTEC 20 Mammalian Cell Culture 3  
BTEC 21A Mammalian Cell Culture 2  
BTEC 21B Fluorescent Cell Technology 2  
BTEC 21C Stem Cell Technology 3  
BTEC 22 Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) 1  
BTEC 23 Western Blotting Techniques 1  
BTEC 24 Introduction to PCR 1  
BTEC 25 Analytical PCR Technology 1  
BTEC 115 Recombinant DNA Biotechnology 5  
BTEC 120 Cell Biotechnology 5  

Total Units: 4 - 5

Overall Total Units: 21 - 24

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required Courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 12A GLP and GMP Principles 1  
BTEC 14A Biotechnology Laboratory Techniques 3  
BTEC 15 Career Exploration in Bioscience 2  
BTEC 108A Practical Mathematics for Laboratory Science 2  
BIO 11 Science of Living Organisms 4  
CMST 1A Elements of Public Speaking 3   
CHEM 32 Introduction to Medical Chemistry 4  

Total Units: 19 

Choose one of the following courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 4  Introduction to Biotechnology 3  
BTEC 5 Briefings in Biotechnology 1  

Total Units: 1 - 3 

Choose 2 units from the following electives:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 20 Mammalian Cell Culture 3  
BTEC 22 Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) 1  
BTEC 23 Western Blotting Techniques 1  
BTEC 24 Introduction to PCR 1  
BTEC 25 Analytical PCR Technology 1  

Total Units: 2 - 3

Overall Total Units: 22 - 25

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 21A Mammalian Cell Culture 2  
BTEC 21B Fluorescent Cell Technology 2  
BTEC 21C Stem Cell Technology 3   
BTEC 12A GLP and GMP Principles 1  

Total Units: 8 

Choose at least 2 units of the following course or course combinations:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 115 Recombinant DNA Biotechnology 5  
BTEC 24 Introduction to PCR 1  

    and

BTEC 25 Analytical PCR Technology 1  

Total Units: 2 

Choose at least 2 units from the following course or course combinations:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 120 Cell Biotechnology 5  
BTEC 22 Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) 1  

    and

BTEC 23 Western Blotting Techniques 1  

Total Units: 2

Recommended additional coursework:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BTEC 5 Briefings in Biotechnology 1  

Total Units: 0

Overall Total Units: 12

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities.

  • The Biotechnology AS degree prepares you to transfer to the Bachelor of Science in Biomanufacturing programs at Solano and Mira Costa Community Colleges.
  • If you wish to transfer to a biology program at a UC or CSU, you can apply some transfer-level chemistry and biology courses toward the Biotechnology AS degree, but you will need to take additional courses after completion of the Biotechnology AS degree.
  • The Biotechnology AS degree articulates with the Biotechnology program at Northeastern University.

Have questions about transfer?

  • Contact the Biotechnology Program Coordinator for more information about transferring to UC/CSU and the articulation agreement with Northeastern University. 
  • Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.