Biotechnology Programs

Prepare for a Rewarding Career in Biotechnology at STLCC

The field of biotechnology encompasses many unique specialties: from cloning and DNA sequencing to forensics and pharmacy. When you earn an associate of applied science (AAS) in biotechnology at St. Louis Community College, you’ll receive hands-on training in state-of-the-art labs that will help you build a strong foundation in these special skills within biotech and associate fields.

We worked with industry experts to design an AAS degree program in biotechnology that provides the essential skills that companies look for when hiring. Whether you want to continue to an undergraduate program or begin a career right away, our relevant and engaging courses and outstanding faculty will prepare you to succeed both academically and professionally.

What is Biotechnology at St. Louis Community College?

For over two decades, we’ve been training biotechnology students to push the field of biotech further into the future through careful and thorough research. At STLCC, biotechnology is more than just a degree. It’s an entry into some of the most exciting scientific fields in the world. As a biotechnology student at STLCC, you’ll study multiple sciences — including biology, chemistry, physics and math — to find ways to improve the daily lives of individuals everywhere. You’ll learn about topics such as cloning, bioprocessing and forensics — all essential tools for answering many of the most important questions being asked by science today.

Thanks to the small class sizes in our AAS biotechnology program, you’ll have many chances to work one-on-one with faculty mentors who have more than 30 years of industry and academic experience and maintain close ties to local bioscience companies and startups.

You’ll complete much of your required biotech coursework within the world-class Bio Research and Development Growth (BRDG) Park, which is outfitted with industry-leading equipment commonly used by industry and academic laboratories. BRDG Park is located on the campus of the prestigious Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur, MO.

What Can You Do with a Biotechnology Associate Degree?

If you want to be on the front line of cutting-edge biotech research, there’s no better way to start your journey than earning an associate of applied science in biotechnology from STLCC. Our AAS program will prepare you for a broad range of specialties throughout the biotech field — including cloning, agriculture and forensics.

Each of our biotechnology students benefits from a workplace learning internship in the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center or at an industry partner’s location. Your internship will not only give you even more hands-on training but also will introduce you to professionals in your field so that you can start creating a strong professional network while you earn your AAS.

Some of the valuable laboratory skills you’ll gain here that can help you as you enter your career include:

Cloning
Protein purification
Proper documentation of experiments
Forensics
Plant transformation
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technologies
Bioprocessing

Because our program is focused on the skills that employers need, more than 90% of our graduates of the biotechnology program are employed in the biotech industry or related field.

Interested in learning more about how our associate of applied science degree in biotechnology can help you find your dream career? We invite you to visit and learn about the equipment, the type of training we do and where our biotechnology students might end up at the end of the program.

AAS in Biotechnology

Degrees offered: Associate in applied science and certificate of specialization (CS)
Locations: BRDG Park
AAS Hours to complete: 60
CS Hours to complete: 19
Program contact: James Rauschendorfer
Program contact email: jrauschendorfer@stlcc.edu

Tuition for district residents is $122 per credit hour for in-district students. Find out more about our straightforward and low-cost tuition structure.