Shape the Future of Science, Right Here in St. Louis

Biotechnology is transforming medicine, agriculture and diagnostics. At STLCC, you'll train for the jobs driving that change. Our program was built with industry partners to make sure graduates have the skills St. Louis employers are hiring for today, including bioinformatics, AI-assisted lab techniques and biomanufacturing.

Choose a certificate of proficiency (CP) or an associate of applied science (AAS) and start building your biotech career.

What is Biotechnology at St. Louis Community College?

For more than 20 years, STLCC has prepared students for careers in scientific research and innovation. Our biotechnology programs cover biology, chemistry, physics and math, with real-world applications in cloning, bioprocessing, forensics and more.

Small class sizes mean you get direct access to faculty with both industry and academic backgrounds. Many have active connections to local bioscience companies and research organizations.

Lab skills you'll develop include:

Cloning and plant transformation.
Protein purification.
Quantitative PCR technologies.
Bioprocessing.
Forensics.
Experiment documentation and data management.

You'll complete much of your coursework at the Bio Research and Development Growth (BRDG) Park, located on the campus of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur, MO. The facility gives you access to research-grade greenhouses, wet lab space and cutting-edge technologies used by agtech companies and academic researchers. You'll train on the same equipment found in professional labs — including tools for DNA sequencing, cell culture and bioinformatics.

What Can You Do with a Biotechnology Degree?

The biotech field is growing fast. Employers today are looking for technicians who understand gene editing, biomanufacturing and regulatory compliance alongside core lab skills. STLCC's curriculum is built with that in mind, so you graduate with skills that are relevant right now.

Every STLCC biotechnology student completes a workplace learning internship at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center or an industry partner location. You'll build skills and start growing your professional network before you graduate.

The results speak for themselves. More than 90% of STLCC biotechnology graduates are employed in biotech or a related field.

Biotechnology Programs

Degrees offered: Associate in applied science (AAS), certificate of proficiency (CP)
Locations: BRDG Park
AAS Hours to complete: 60
CP Hours to complete: 32
Program contact: James Rauschendorfer
Program contact email: jrauschendorfer@stlcc.edu

Tuition for district residents is $127 per credit hour for in-district students. Find out more about our straightforward and low-cost tuition structure.

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