Introduction
Obtain a biotechnology degree with co-op experience
Stem cells, xenobiotics, and molecular biology are among the most in-demand fields of scientific study today. With Fanshawe's honors bachelor's degree in Biotechnology, you'll have eight semesters of academic study and at least four months of co-op experience to prepare you for work in these exciting areas.
As a biotech degree student, you'll develop skills in experimental design, statistical data analysis, bioinformatics and handling microbial, plant, and animal material for genetic analysis. Throughout the biotechnology degree program, there will be a strong focus on how biotechnology relates to regulatory affairs, quality assurance, bioethics, and biohazard management.
What you learn in this applied technology degree
Plant and animal tissue culture
Applied biotechnology methods
Microbiology
Virology
DNA, RNA, protein and lipid purification and analysis
Instrumental chemistry
Economic, ethical and environmental issues
During your four-month biotechnology degree co-op, you'll hone your research skills and develop the interpersonal and communication expertise necessary for life beyond Fanshawe. As a graduate, your career opportunities will be numerous and diverse. You may choose to join this high-growth sector with a career in medical or agricultural research, pharmaceuticals, bioremediation, the fermentation industry, or developing a biotechnology business opportunity.
Biotechnology degree features and benefits:
With honors - Fanshawe's biotechnology degree is delivered as an honors degree. This means you complete four years of study and graduate with a major in a particular discipline (in our case, Biotechnology). This is compared to general degrees, offered over three years and include the more generalized study of a broadly defined area.
Earn while you learn - a four-month paid co-op placement allows students to make employer contacts, gain work experience and apply their knowledge in a real-world biotechnology environment.
Beyond Fanshawe - graduates of the biotech program may pursue post-graduate certificates or a variety of Master's level programs.
Co-operative Education
This four-year Honours Degree program requires completion of one mandatory co-op work term.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Perform all laboratory tasks according to accepted laboratory practices.
Demonstrate theoretical and practical skills in molecular biology.
Assist in the design of good experimental and laboratory management practices and procedures.
Obtain a sound practical background in the interdisciplinary subjects that are the basis of Biotechnology.
Perform all duties in a manner that adheres to the principles of good data management.
Conduct all functions with a full understanding of and in adherence to relevant regulatory and ethical issues and requirements.
Apply procedures of bio-processing in both laboratory and industrial settings.
Apply strong interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills to course teamwork, assignments, and case situations.
Understand, value and respect the diverse social, political, cultural, and ethical context in which he or she will live and work.
Develop plans for lifelong learning that include strategies for ensuring professional and technological currency.
Courses
Core Courses
Take all of the following Mandatory (Core) Courses:
The Minimum Cumulative GPA for Core Courses is 2.5
Group 1
Level 1 In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 1 requirement below
CHEM-7002 Chemistry 1
BIOL-7002 Molecular Biology
MATH-7002 Mathematics 1
Group 2
Level 2In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 2 requirement below
CHEM-7003 Chemistry 2
PHYS-7001 Physics 1
BIOL-7003 Plant & Animal Anatomy & Physiology
COMP-7002 Computers & Applications
Group 3
Level 3In addition to the following mandatory courses please refer to the Non-Core Level 3 requirement below
CHEM-7004 Analytical Chemistry 1
PHYS-7005 Physics 2
BIOL-7001 Microbiology 1
COOP-1021 Co-Op Educ. Employment Prep
MATH-7004 Statistics & Quality Assurance
Group 4
Level 4
BIOL-7004 Genetics
PHYS-7003 Radiation Physics
MATH-7003 Mathematics 2
CHEM-7005 Organic Chemistry 1
COMP-7003 Advanced Computer Applications
SFTY-7001 Occupational Health & Safety
Group 5
Level 5In addition to the following mandatory courses please refer to the Non-Core Level 5 requirement below
CHEM-7006 Biochemistry 1
CHEM-7007 Instrumental Chemistry Analysis 1
BIOL-7005Microbiology 2- Industrial Applications
CHEM-7008 Organic Chemistry 2
Group 6
Level 6In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 6 requirement below
BIOL-7006 Applied Molecular Genetics
CHEM-7009 Instrumental Chemistry Analysis 2
PHRM-7002 Pharmacology/Toxicology & Nutraceutical
COMM-7005 Research & Technical Writing
CHEM-7001 Biochemistry 2
ZOOL-7001 Animal Care & Handling
Group 7
Level 7In addition to the following mandatory courses please refer to the Non-Core Level 7 requirement below
CHEM-7010 Analytical Chemistry 2
BIOL-7007 Applied Biotechnology 1
BIOL-7008 Bioinformatics
ENGR-7001 Bioprocess Engineering
SFTY-7002 Biosafety & Regulatory Affair
COMM-7006 Thesis
Group 8
Level 8In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 8 requirement below
BIOL-7009 Applied Biotechnology 2
BIOL-7010 Bioethics
BIOL-7011 Current Topics in Biotechnology
ENGR-7002 Manufacturing Process Engineering
BIOL-7012 Microbiology 3-Immunology & Virology
Group 9
Co-op Requirement
Students Must Complete 1 Co-op Work Term
COOP-BIO2W BIO2 Co-op Work Term
Non-Core Courses
Take all of the following Mandatory (Non-Core) Courses:
The Minimum Cumulative GPA for Non-Core courses is 2.0
Group 1
Level 1
ENVR-7004 Environmental & World Issues
COMM-7001 Introductory Communications
Group 2
Level 3
COMM-7020 Professional Writing for Applied Degrees
HIST-7003 History & Philosophy of Sciences
Group 3
Level 8
ECON-7002 Macroeconomics
Group 4
Take 6 General Education Elective Credits at either the Introductory or Upper Level - Normally taken in Levels 2, and 5
Group 5
Take 9 General Education Elective Credits at the Upper Level (Non-Introductory) - Normally taken in Levels 6, 7 and 8
Program Residency
Students must complete a minimum of 37 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the program residency requirement and graduate from this program.
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Admission Requirements
OSSD with courses from the University (U) or University/College (M) stream with:
Mathematics one of:
Grade 12 Advanced Functions (U)
Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors (U)
Grade 12 Biology (U)
Grade 12 Chemistry (U)
Plus three additional Grade 12 University (U) or University/College (M) courses
A final minimum average of 65.0% based on the highest six Grade 12 University (U) or University/College (M) courses
or
Mature Applicant with standing in the required courses stated above
or
Post-Secondary Standing* (if applicable)
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:
A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English credit from an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on the program's Admission Requirements
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test (iBT), with test results within the last two years
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test with an overall score of 7.0 with no score less than 6.5 in reading and listening and a score of 7.0 in writing and speaking, with test results within the last two years
Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with an overall score of 70, with test results within the last two years
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 65, with test results within the last two years
A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 185 with no score less than 176 in reading and listening and 185 in writing and speaking, with test results within the last two years
An English Language Evaluation (ELE) at Fanshawe College with a minimum score of 75% in all sections of the test, with test results within the last two years
Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9 or 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10
Recommended Academic Preparation
Grade 12 Physics (U)
Grade 12 English (U)
Advanced Standing
Applicants applying for individual course credits from Canadian universities must provide a detailed course content of theory and laboratory exercises (if appropriate).
International applicants may apply for course credit achieved at the post-secondary level. The detailed course content of theory and laboratory exercises from the international institution must be included with a transcript as part of the request (official documents provided to the Office of the Registrar in a sealed envelope). If the translation of the documents into English is necessary this must be performed by a recognized service.
Based on the guidelines established by the Postsecondary Quality Assessment Board for Honours Degree Programs, credits for advanced standing cannot exceed 50% of the program's total.
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario.
Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full).
Achievement in the Admission Requirements.
Achievement in Post-Secondary Studies* (if applicable).
Note:*Applicants currently enrolled in a university or who have previously attended university or other post-secondary institutions and are applying to transfer into the Honours Bachelor of Applied Technology - Biotechnology program are considered on the basis of their post-secondary standing. Specifically, applicants currently enrolled in a university or who have previously attended university must maintain a minimum average of 65.0% on the last ten full credit or full credit equivalent courses in order to be considered for admission. Applicants with less than ten full credit courses must maintain a minimum average of 65.0% on all courses in order to be considered for admission. Applicants applying from a community college must have successfully completed a diploma program with an overall GPA of 2.5 in their program. In addition, all students applying from university or college must have completed the pre-requisite courses in Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry as stated in the Admission Requirements.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this honors four-year degree program have the opportunity to pursue Post Graduate certifications and a wide variety of Masters level programs.
Employment opportunities exist in a vast number of areas associated with the Biotechnology sector. These include research and product development, laboratory management, agricultural, quality control, chemical, and microbiology analysis in the food industry, fermentation chemistry, environmental remediation, alternate energy development, pharmaceutical production and sales, downstream processing of waste products, project management, forensic analysis, risk assessment and management, intellectual property manager and technical writing.
