Program Overview

This nationally accredited program prepares you to work as a bench technician (in quality control/ quality assurance) in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. We provide thorough practical training in industrial microbiology as well as chemistry – analytical, organic and biochemistry. Laboratory techniques, including appropriate safety procedures, are extensively highlighted. A special feature of the program is our focus on the project approach, with independently designed microbiology projects that enhance your problem-solving and research skills.

You will learn to:

• Isolate, enumerate and identify microorganisms from many types of samples (water, soil, air, your body, and food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products)
• Prepare specimens for staining and become an expert light-microscopist
• Become proficient in aseptic handling of materials
• Accurately calibrate and use a range of instruments such as pH and BOD meters, Gas Chromatographs, spectrophotometers (regular/IR/UV), HPLC’s etc.
• Prepare microbiological media and reagents; culture pathogenic microbes; and design and perform your own microbiology experiments
• Use microorganisms to assay pharmaceutical products

You may graduate in two years as a biotechnology technician or continue for a third year to study specialized topics such as advanced biotechnology and microbial genetics or systematic microbiology, graduating as a biotechnology technologist.