Biotechnology - Advanced

Program Overview

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Biotechnology – Advanced

Overview

Biotechnology touches a broad range of industries including health, environmental, textiles, mining, chemical and materials manufacturing, energy, cannabis, food processing, and agriculture. In the Biotechnology program, students will:

• Learn how living organisms and parts of living organisms can provide new methods of production and facilitate the development of new products.
• Work in state-of-the-art labs using industry-grade equipment on real-world applications gaining in-person, hands-on experience.
• Learn the regulations which govern the use of biotechnology.
• Graduate with a strong base of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to draw from in their future careers.

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2025	Open	Open

Program Highlights

• Testimonials
• Success Stories
• Resources

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 12 Mathematics (C, M or U)
• Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C, M or U)

Recommended

• Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C, M or U)

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
• Year one international: $15,309 (CAD)

Semester 1 Courses

• Biology (BIOL 1131)
• Chemistry 1 (CHEM 1131)
• Analytical Techniques (CHEM 1200)
• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Indigenous Elective (INDG 0000)
• Mathematics (MATH 1132)

Career Options

Graduates of the Biotechnology program can pursue a variety of career paths in this innovative field. Equipped with a strong foundation in biochemistry, chemistry, and microbiology courses, they are ready to excel in many different roles within the biotech sector and beyond.

What You Could Be:

• Biotechnology technologist
• Quality assurance technologist
• Immunology technologist
• Microbiology technologist
• Quality control technologist
• Clinical study technologist
• Food technologist
• Instrumentation technologist
• Research technologist

Program Details

Our Biotechnology program is designed to equip students with both the theoretical foundations and practical skills needed to excel in this multifaceted field. The well-equipped biotechnology, microbiology, and chemical analysis facilities provide our students with in-person, hands-on experience using industry-standard methods and analytical instrumentation.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Perform laboratory duties independently and in compliance with pertinent legislation and regulations, as well as biotechnology standards and guidelines.
2. Collaborate in implementing and evaluating quality control and quality assurance procedures to meet organizational standards and requirements.
3. Select and implement best practices for sustainability.
4. Complete complex biotechnological applications using advanced principles of chemistry, biology, and biostatistics as well as basic principles of physics.
5. Co-ordinate, implement, and validate laboratory procedures to carry out quantitative and qualitative tests and analyses.
6. Co-ordinate, implement, and validate standard cell culture procedures under aseptic conditions.
7. Co-ordinate, implement, and validate molecular biology procedures.
8. Manage biological data to support biological scientists and researchers in capturing, organizing/summarizing, and storing their data.
9. Prepare, analyze, interpret, maintain, and communicate scientific data effectively.
10. Develop and present a strategic plan for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance.
11. Apply basic business principles to biotechnology practices.

Biotechnology Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 12 Mathematics (C, M or U)
• Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C, M or U)

Recommended

• Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C, M or U)

Biotechnology Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program.

Semester 1

• Biology (BIOL 1131)
• Chemistry 1 (CHEM 1131)
• Analytical Techniques (CHEM 1200)
• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Indigenous Elective (INDG 0000)
• Mathematics (MATH 1132)

Semester 2

• Introduction to Biotechnology (BIOT 1131)
• Organic Chemistry 1 (CHEM 1202)
• Chemistry 2 (CHEM 2131)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• Mathematics 2 (MATH 2132)

Semester 3

• Biochemistry I (BIOC 3131)
• Introductory Microbiology (BIOL 2100)
• Career Planning & Development (CARR 2130)
• Analytical Chemistry 1 (CHEM 3131)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)

Semester 4

• Biochemistry II (BIOC 4131)
• Food Microbiology (BIOL 2205)
• DNA Techniques (BIOT 3131)
• Analytical Instrumentation (CHEM 2206)
• Analytical Chemistry 2 (CHEM 4131)

Semester 5

• Diagnostic Microbiology (BIOL 3105)
• Protein Techniques (BIOT 4133)
• Cell Biology (BIOT 5131)
• Spectroscopy 1 (CHEM 3105)
• Chromatography 1 (CHEM 3106)
• Field Placement (PLAC 1100)

Semester 6

• Industrial Microbiology (BIOL 3201)
• Bio-Regulations (BIOT 4131)
• Quality Control & Quality Assurance for Biotechnologists (BIOT 5132)
• Bio-Processing (BIOT 6131)
• Spectroscopy 2 (CHEM 3201)
• Chromatography 2 (CHEM 3202)

Course Delivery

In person

Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration.

Costs for the Biotechnology Program

The fees below are estimates only based on information available at the time of publication and do not include the cost of textbooks.

Biotechnology - Advanced Year 1 Costs

Semester 1		Tuition:	$1,361.02
	Program Fee:	$80
	Ancillary Fee:	$493.77
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$430
	Total:	$2,364.79

Biotechnology - Advanced Year 2 Costs

Semester 3		Tuition:	$1,361.02
	Program Fee:	$41
	Ancillary Fee:	$474.19
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$430
	Total:	$2,306.21

Biotechnology - Advanced Year 3 Costs

Semester 5		Tuition:	$1,360.89
	Program Fee:	$35
	Ancillary Fee:	$474.19
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$430
	Total:	$2,300.08

Career Options in Biotechnology

Graduates of the Biotechnology program are well-prepared to enter a diverse array of career paths in biotechnology and related industries.

What You Could Be:

• Biotechnology technologist
• Quality assurance technologist
• Immunology technologist
• Microbiology technologist
• Quality control technologist
• Clinical study technologist
• Food technologist
• Instrumentation technologist
• Research technologist

Where You Could Work:

• Biotechnological, agricultural, environmental, or food laboratories
• Energy sector
• Mining or chemical manufacturing organizations
• Cannabis and cannabis-related industries
• Government institutes
• Quality control laboratories
• Research laboratories
• Natural health product laboratories
• Fermentation laboratories
• Third-party laboratories

Experiential Learning

Your learning experience will be complemented by an 80-hour field placement in your third year, which will enable you to utilize your newly acquired skills and gain valuable industry-related experience.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion, and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions.

Meet Your Faculty Experts

• Laura Benninger
• Christine Hand
• Dimitri Stathopoulos
• Bruce Trieselmann

See Your Space

• Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory
• Biotechnology Laboratory
• Microbiology Lab

Program Outline

Careers:

• Biotechnology technologist
• Quality assurance technologist
• Immunology technologist
• Microbiology technologist
• Quality control technologist
• Clinical study technologist
• Food technologist
• Instrumentation technologist
• Research technologist