Graduate ready to start a career in Biotechnology
The College of Natural Sciences at UT Austin has partnered with Austin Community College’s Biotechnology Program, to enable students to simultaneously earn their bachelor’s degree from UT and an ACC Biotechnology Certificate to acquire skills for biotechnology industry careers. Students will learn through advanced laboratory courses the skills for a career in biotechnology industry. Some of the topics include biomanufacturing, cell culture methods, biotech project management, as well as how the highly regulated biotechnology industry environment functions to assure quality and safe product manufacturing.
Overview of Biotechnology Pathway
UT students that want to obtain a Biotechnology certificate at ACC while enrolled at UT to prepare for a career in biotechnology industry may do so in any semester through a Memorandum of Agreement between the two institutions.
It is advisable for any UT student that is interested in entering a career in biotechnology industry to first take BITC 1340, Quality Assurance for the Biosciences after a consultation with Dr. Linnea Fletcher, the ACC Biotechnology Chair. This course will introduce you to the regulatory knowledge that is needed to work at a biotechnology company. This course is offered online in Fall, Spring and Summer and is a self-paced asynchronous course.
Once BITC 1340 is completed and are you sure you want to continue to complete a certificate by taking the advanced laboratory courses (Biomanufacturing (BITC 1491), Cell Culture Techniques (BITC 2431), Biotechnology Laboratory Instrumentation (BITC 2411 ) or Molecular Biology Techniques (BITC 2441)) and the internship (BITC 2486) then you need to apply to the ACC Biotechnology Department, by contacting Dr. Linnea Fletcher.
ACC courses (BITC 1340, 1491, 2441, 2411, 2431) can transfer back to UT as lower division, generic BIO credit hours up to 7 total (ie, BITC 1340 (3 hr) and one lab course (BITC 2441 (4 hr)). The ACC internship course (BITC 2486) provides access to placement in companies across the US.
To obtain the transcripted Level 1 certificate from ACC you will need successful completion of TWO ACC Biotechnology laboratory courses and the ACC internship course (BITC 2486), you will need arrange to get credit for BIO206L=BIOL 1414 and BCH219L=BIOL1415 by transfer of UT course credit OR taking the final exams for BIOL 1414 and/or1415 (contact Dr. Linnea Fletcher for how to schedule exams). For the Advanced Technical Certificate, credit for BIOL1414/15, all 4 laboratory courses and the internship are required.
Biochemistry majors that are using an ACC certificate for their capstone, must complete all the courses prior to graduation or in the semester of graduation and register for BCH368T.
Application Information
Attend an Information Session!
- Register to attend information session here.
- Next information session: TBA, October 2025
- Zoom link: TBA
PROCESS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE
Step 1: Assess your eligibility
- Be a rising sophomore, second-year standing or beyond.
- Be in good academic standing.
Step 2: Contact Dr. Linnea Fletcher for advising and admission to the ACC Certificate Programs.
Step 3: Apply and Register at ACC when admitted by Dr. Fletcher
Be sure you have transportation to the site of your course (Round Rock or Eastview campus).
https://admissions.austincc.edu/registration/
Step 4: START THE PROGRAM
- Make a plan of the courses you will take and when. Be sure to share this with your regular academic advisor.
- Decide on courses each semester and then register and pay for classes. Even though UT Austin is your home institution for financial aid you still will need to pay ACC directly.
- Submit a financial aid a consortium agreement form every semester you take a course(s) with ACC if you are using your UT financial aid.
FAQs about this program
Questions? Email biocert@cns.utexas.edu or Dr. Linnea Fletcher at ACC.
Hear what UT Students that Participated in this Program have to say
“I graduated with my B.S. in Biochemistry in May of 2022, and I took Biomanufacturing and Quality Assurance over the summer. I have accepted an offer at Molecular Templates as an Associate Scientist in the Research and Development department. I hope to use this position as a stepping stone for graduate school, where I want to pursue a Ph.D. in either gene therapy or biotherapeutics.
From these courses, I have gained a better understanding of how biotech companies operate, what they look for in prospective employees, and most importantly, I have a marketable skill set that is sought out by these companies. I also learned about the various departments within a biotech company, and I figured out which departments I would like to seek employment in. I want to become a researcher, and the job position that I have accepted involves active research as part of the role, which I can use this experience to boost my graduate school applications in the future. I cannot recommend the biotech program at ACC enough for UT students who want to expand their knowledge and technical skills in this field. If I had known about this program prior to my last semester of college, I definitely would have joined sooner!” - Mackenzie Chapman
“Biotech is the future, plain and simple. As technology advances and researchers keep discovering new things, our ability to manipulate biological matter improves all the time. The demand for new and better ways of fighting disease, crops that can withstand harsher environmental conditions, and even wilder applications like gene editing are going up as well. The limit of what's possible is still being explored since the industry is so new. I'm beyond excited to be here relatively close to the start, where I have a chance to participate in and possibly even shape the evolution of the industry.” Kyle Folkers, UT Biology, Class of 2023
Why Biotech?
Biotechnology has the power to improve health, agriculture, the environment and improve industrial manufacturing processes. There are biotechnology hubs all across the US and in Austin alone there are over 200 life sciences companies, working to find solutions to infectious diseases and chronic conditions. Austin and Texas continues to attract biotechnology industries and you could have a career in healthcare, agriculture, environmental industry or regulatory bioscience. You can have a career in cutting-edge research, manufacturing, and many more aspects of biotechnology that you will discover along your educational journey.
The skills that you will learn can lead you to a career in biotechnology, or gain valuable skills and real-world experience for further post-graduate studies.
FAQs about this program
Questions? Email biocert@cns.utexas.edu