Biotechnology Certificate Courses (20 units)
This program has a fixed curriculum of 20 semester units. The curriculum is organized such that a full-time student can complete the program in one academic year. All courses are offered once a year, during the day (with a few exceptions). If students are unable to take all 8 required courses in one academic year, you must discuss your options with the BCP coordinator (Dr. Maria Gallegos) as certain classes need to be taken in a specific order. Finally, to remain in the program all BCP students must earn a B average or higher during each semester.
Foundation Courses
Take the following three (3) courses for 5 units:
Lab Courses
The following 15 units of lab coursework is required:
- BIOL 415 - PCR, Sequencing and Fragment Analysis Units: 3
- BIOL 424 - Bioinformatics Units: 3
- BIOL 425 - Techniques in Mammalian Cell Culture Units: 3
- BIOL 622 - Advanced Molecular Techniques Units: 3
- BIOL 620 - Functional Genomics Units: 3
NOTE: As a BCP student, enrollment into BCP lab courses is guaranteed. To enroll in Biol 415, 424, 425, 622 and 620 (or any course that requires permission), please email the Natural Sci hub and CC: Natalie Granera (the office manager) and the BCP coordinator at your earliest convenience but no later than four weeks prior to the first day of the semester. Use your horizon email account and provide your net ID along with the list of courses and preferred section times. Use MyCSUEB to enroll in all other courses including Biol 601A, 616 and 601B.
Road Map
FALL:
- BIOL 601A - Foundations of Scientific Research Units: 1
- BIOL 415 - PCR, Sequencing and Fragment Analysis Units: 3
- BIOL 424 - Bioinformatics Units: 3
- BIOL 616 - Cell and Molecular Biology I Units: 3
SPRING:
Exit Exam
Completion of all required courses and a GPA of B or higher is a prerequisite for taking the Exit Exam.
The Exit Exam is administered once a year, on the Monday after finals week in the Spring. It consists of 7 sections, one for each of the six required courses (excluding 601A and 601B) and one on calculations relevant to the cell and molecular biologist. The calculations section will be offered first. This section will be graded on the spot. Any errors found can be redone. You must get 100% correct on this section in order to proceed. The grading scale for the remaining 6 sections are as follows: + (1 point), +/- (0.5 points), or – (0 points). Since finals given for Spring semester courses count towards the exit exam score, exit exam questions will primarily come from faculty that teach Fall BCP courses*. Calculation questions can come from any of the BCP faculty. A minimum of 4 points is required to pass the BCP exit exam and obtain the Biotechnology Certificate. There are no units associated with the exam.
*Faculty that teach Spring BCP courses but do not offer a Final Exam will also include questions in the Exit Exam.
