Certificate in Biotechnology
Why earn a Biotechnology Certificate?
Biotechnology is a rapidly growing field in Colorado, and Nationwide. Biotechnology is a broad term covering many disciplines. Agriculture, pharmaceuticals, microbiology, and medical device development are a few of the thriving areas of biotechnology in Colorado. Those wishing to pursue a career in biotechnology need to have a strong knowledge of biology and chemistry. The department of Biology offers a Certificate program in Biotechnology that allows students to acquire specialized skills in research-based biology and chemistry. Upon completion of the requirements, the student will obtain recognition in the form of a Certificate and designation on their transcript. The Certificate is designed to provide a strong background in chemistry, including organic and biochemistry, and in Biology, including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic molecular biology and gene expression. In addition, there is a laboratory course requirement where students gain hands-on experience with gene cloning, gene expression analysis, and protein purification.
Why earn a Biotechnology Certificate at the Downtown Denver Campus?
Upper division classes at the Downtown Denver Campus are small (20-40 people), allowing for interaction between the student and the faculty. The level of rigor is high in our upper division courses, and you will be challenged to critically analyze problems, just as you would be in a biotech position. There are three very important requirements for the Certificate; an emphasis on upper division chemistry, the Independent study / Internship, and the Molecular Biology Lab course. First, we require students complete six credits of upper level chemistry; either a year of Biochemistry or Biochemistry and Analytical Chemistry. A strong knowledge of chemistry is in high demand in today’s biotech job market. Secondly, we require a student to do an Independent study or Internship in a research lab. This is an incredible opportunity for students to make connections and get experience in a research lab in the Denver metro area. The Career Center on campus helps the student set up an internship in an area of the student’s interest. Finally, we require students to take an intense Molecular Biology Techniques lab. This course is designed to teach the students the basics of lab math, experimental design, troubleshooting, as well as carrying out an independent cloning project throughout the semester. The students get hands on experience with DNA and RNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, Northern blots, Western blots, PCR and RT-PCR. These are basic skills required in most molecular biology labs. This class is small in size, limited to 16 students per semester, and therefore the student has ample opportunity to work with the equipment and perform every experiment.
Important information about registration for the Biotechnology Certificate.
There are no admission requirements for the Biotechnology Certificate, per se. This is not an independent program to which students are admitted. Instead, students admitted to the University (either degree or non-degree seeking) may register for those courses required to earn a Certificate, assuming that they have the prerequisites for those courses. Students should contact Dr. Johansen during the semester in which they intend to complete the coursework for the Certificate, after which the Certificate will be transcripted, with hard copy to follow. All admission and tuition questions should be directed to the Office of Admissions and the Bursars’ office.
General Requirements
- Prerequisites: one year of General Biology and General Microbiology, both with labs.
- Pre- or co-requisites: one year of Organic Chemistry with lab.
- Cumulative GPA: 2.75 or better
- All courses (21 - 22 credits) used to satisfy the requirements for the Biotechnology Certificate must be completed with a grade of B- (2.7) or higher.
- At least 14 credit hours of those used to satisfy the requirements for the Biotechnology Certificate must be completed at UC Denver.
- All courses used to satisfy the requirements for the Biotechnology Certificate must be completed within a five year period.
Required courses (18-19 credit Hours)
- BIOL 4024/5024 Biotechnology (3 credit hours)
- BIOL 4124/5124 Molecular Biology (3 credit hours)
- BIOL 4125/5125 Molecular Biology Lab (3 credit hours)
- CHEM 4810/5810 General Biochemistry I (3 credit hours)
and CHEM 4820/5820General Biochemistry II (3 credit hours)
- OR -
CHEM 3810 Biochemistry (4 credit hours)
and CHEM 3111 Analytical Chemistry (3 credit hours) - BIOL 3939/5939 Internship - OR - BIOL 4840/5840 Independent Study (3 credit hours)
Elective Course (2-3 credit hours)
One elective course chosen from the following, or a course pre-approved by Dr. Johansen:
- BIOL 4051/5051 Advanced Topics in Microbiology: Virology (3 credit hours)
- BIOL 4144/5144 Medical Microbiology (3 credit hours)
- BIOL 4621/5621 Immunology (3 credit hours)
- CHEM 3111 Analytical Chemistry (if not applied above, 3 credit hours)
- CHEM 4121 Instrumental Analysis (3 credit hours)
- CHEM 4828/5828 Biochemistry Lab (2 credit hours)
- PHIL 4242/5242 Bioethics (3 credit hours)
- BIOL 4050 Molecular Genetics (3 credit hours)
