This article speaks to Centennial College's Biotechnology program, which takes two years to complete and consists of a practical approach that sees students spend an extensive amount of time in labs and on projects to ensure that they are fully prepared for the field.

1. Biotechnology Program Takes Lab and Project
Approach to its Lessons
Two ways to judge the validity of a college program are by student
satisfaction indicators and by the accreditations it holds. The first proves
that past students have found the offering beneficial. The second,
meanwhile, shows that the industry respects the type of learning that it
offers to students, supports program quality and provides mobility for
graduates.
Centennial College’s Biotechnology college program is a repeat recipient
of the Centennial College President’s Academic Program Recognition Award
for outstanding student satisfaction. Additionally, it has met the national
technology accreditation requirements established by the Canadian Council
of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) and, as such, has received national
accreditation status by the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board
(CTAB). Lastly, the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians
and Technologists (OACETT) recognizes the Biotechnology program as
meeting all the academic requirements for certification in the Technician
category. As such, graduates may apply for certification through the
OACETT to use the professional Certified Technician designation.
The curriculum takes two years to complete and consists of practical
learning that sees students apply everything they learn in their theoretical
courses into labs to prepare for careers as bench technicians (in quality
control and quality assurance) in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic
industries. Due to the range of industry options available to them, students
must learn a number of topics. The offering covers industrial microbiology
as well as chemistry (analytical), organic and biochemistry.
Meanwhile, lab work includes appropriate safety procedures in carrying out:
aseptic material handling, preparing specimen for staining, preparing
microbiological media and reagents and culture pathogenic microbes, using
microorganisms to examine pharmaceutical products; isolating,
enumerating and identifying microorganisms from various types of samples;
accurately regulating and using instruments that include pH and BOD
meters, Gas Chromatographs, spectrophotometers (regular/IR/UV), HPLC’s
etc; and designing and performing personalized microbiology experiments.
Performing personalized experiments compliments the Biotechnology
technician program’s project approach, which employs independently
designed microbiology projects that enhance problem solving and research
skills. During the first of the two major Project courses, students learn to

2. locate, collect and interpret scientific information for the purpose of
designing laboratory procedures. Students work individually under the
supervision of an experienced professor in a lab setting to perform the
laboratory procedures and record the results.
The project offers opportunities to consolidate the skills and techniques
learned in first year Microbiology courses. Students use word processing
and spreadsheet programs to record and interpret their data, and to write
formal reports. The second Project course, meanwhile, sees students choose
a project topic, gather information through literature search, select a
protocol and perform a microbiology experiment of six weeks duration.
Students submit several written reports as well as a final project thesis
upon conclusion of the laboratory component.