Laboratory Science Technology Biology Track - Associate Degree
Are you ready for a fast-paced, hands-on career that will maximize your analytical skills and challenge you every day? The Laboratory Science Technology Associate of Applied Sciences Degree program blends key theoretical concepts with practical laboratory skills needed for success in a broad range of science careers, including biological, chemical, and environmental industries as well as academic research laboratories. This program has been designed not only to prepare you for immediate employment, but also to transfer smoothly to local universities, allowing you to start your science education at NWTC and continue toward a bachelor’s degree and beyond. Courses will focus on experimental design, application of scientific principles in analysis of results, accurate documentation processes, fundamentals of quality measurement, and use of industry-standard instrumentation and protocols.
Delivery
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Program Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition: $13,145, Books: $758, Supplies: $0
This program is fully eligible for financial aid.
Estimates based on in-state residency. Please visit the following URL to learn more about tuition and fees for this program. https://www.nwtc.edu/admissions-and-aid/paying-for-college/tuition-and-fees?ProgramCode=105065
Requirements for Program Entry
- Completed Application
- High School Transcripts or Equivalents (For equivalents, go to www.nwtc.edu/gettingstarted.)
- To be admitted to this program, learners must achieve a prior cumulative high school or college grade point average of 2.6 or higher OR a satisfactory academic skills assessment score. College grade point average must be based on 15 credits or more. To learn more about starting this program, please contact an academic advisor at (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.
Program Outcomes
- Synthesize theoretical knowledge and empirical results to build understanding of complex scientific processes.
- Apply the steps of the scientific method to solve problems.
- Design sound laboratory protocols and experiments.
- Execute common laboratory procedures and measurements with precision, repeatability, and validity.
- Collect, document, and analyze data from laboratory procedures and report results and conclusions.
- Model safe, hygienic laboratory practices.
Curriculum
Students following the study plan below will complete the Laboratory Science Technology associate degree in the number of semesters shown.
First Semester
8 Week 1
Full Semester
Second Semester
8 Week 2
Full Semester
Summer Before Third Semester
Third Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Full Semester
Fourth Semester
Full Semester
- Curriculum Note: Students must earn a "C" or higher in all 10-506-XXX and 10-806-XXX courses to successfully graduate the Laboratory Science Technology Program. A student must repeat the particular course with a "C" or better final grade to continue in or graduate from this program. If the course is sequential, the successful retake must occur before continuing the sequence.
- Courses with 10-806-XXX and 10-506-XXX require a final grade "C" or better to transfer credit to 4-year institutions. For transfer purposes, students must also meet the accepting 4-year institution requirements to earn the Bachelor degree with the accepting institution’s major(s). Requirements may include:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- Satisfactory completion of the degree credit requirements listed in the Transfer Guide.
- Completion of the last 30 credits in residence at the accepting institution. Number of credits may differ depending on the accepting institution.
- In addition, the following courses must also be passed with a grade "C" or better:
- 10-801-136, English Comp 1
- 10-804-197, College Alg and Trig w Apps
Course Descriptions
Students gain skills that lead to success in college, employment, and life. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringCovers measurement, chemical nomenclature, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, atomic structure, gas laws, thermochemistry, chemical bonding and solution chemistry. (Prereq: 2.6 GPA AND Alg 2 or equiv w/C or better; OR Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 263 AND Next Gen Arithmetic score greater/equal to 250 AND QRAS score greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 17 AND ACT Math score greater/equal to 24; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringIntroduces general biological concepts/principles. Emphasis is on cell structure/function, genetics, evolution, and taxonomical relationships. Consideration is also given to diversity among the various kingdoms. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 263; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 17; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringLearners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: High school GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 18; OR Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 260; OR "preparatory course(s)", contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringHistory, morphology, physiology, nutritional growth requirements, metabolism, methods of identification. Focus on disease-causing microorganisms, appropriate prevention, treatment, control mechanisms. Specific/non-specific host defense mechanisms, applications of immunology examined. (Prerequisite: 10-806-177, General Anatomy & Physiology OR 10-806-114, General Biology with a "C" or better. Health programs may require a higher grade; refer to your plan for details)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringApplications/theory of basic physics principles: problem-solving, laboratory investigation, and applications including unit conversion and analysis, vectors, translational and rotational kinematics/dynamics, heat/temperature, and harmonic motion and waves. (Prereq: 2.6 GPA & Alg 2 or equiv w/C or better; OR Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 263, Arith greater/equal to 250, & QRAS greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading greater/equal to 17 & Math greater/equal to 24; OR Coll Tech Math 1A OR Int Alg w/C or better)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringCovers chemical kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, buffers, titration, ionic equilibria of aqueous solutions, redox reactions, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. (Prerequisite: 10-806-135, College Chemistry 1 with a "C" or better)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringProvides learners the opportunity to practice skills in a true laboratory setting. Emphases include successful execution of operating procedures and protocols, accurate and complete data collection and documentation, and relation of routine tasks to larger context of major project objectives and/or elements of research goals. (Prerequisites: 10-806-135, College Chemistry 1 AND 10-806-154, General Physics 1 AND 10-806-114, General Biology with a "C" or better)
Course Typically Offered: SummerBasic understanding of theoretical foundations of ethical thought; analyze/compare relevant issues using diverse ethical perspectives; critically evaluate individual, social/professional standards of behavior--applying a systematic decision-making process. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis course introduces the study of diversity from a local to a global perspective using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that encourages exploration and prepares students to work in a diverse environment. The course introduces basic diversity concepts, examines the impact of bias and power differentials among groups, explores the use of culturally responsive communication strategies, and compares forces that shape diversity in an international context. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development.. (Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 2.6 or greater OR satisfactory reading and writing assessment scores OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing 1 with "B" or better OR Corequisite: 10-831-102, English Comp Prep).
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringStudents taking Introductory Statistics display data with graphs, describe distributions with numbers, perform correlation and regression analyses, and design experiments. They use probability and distributions to make predictions, estimate parameters, and test hypotheses. They draw inferences about relationships including ANOVA. (Prerequisite: Next Gen QRAS greater/equal to 250 AND Rdg greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Math greater/equal to 24 AND ACT Rdg greater/equal to 16; OR C or better in Inter Alg or higher-contact academic advisor 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringAn enhancement transforming Introductory Statistics (3 cr) into Applied Statistics (4 cr). Learners will relate descriptive statistics and concepts of probability, correlation, regression, and hypothesis testing to data analysis in scientific research. (Prerequisite: Next Gen QRAS greater/equal to 250 AND Rdg greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Math greater/equal to 24 AND ACT Rdg greater/equal to 16; AND C or better in Inter Alg or higher and Corequisite: 10-804-189, Introductory Statistics-contact academic advisor 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringProvides learners the opportunity to analyze the principles of successful experimental design and execution. Learners will apply the steps of the scientific method to design sound experiments based on scenarios from research and industrial settings.(Pre-requisite: Student must complete at least 3 science courses within the Lab Science Technician curriculum with a "C" or better).
Course Typically Offered: FallCovers chemical bonding, nomenclature of organic molecules, physical and chemical properties of organic molecules and functional groups, reactivity, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, and oxidation and reduction of organic molecules. (Prerequisite: 10-506-136, College Chemistry 2 with a "C" or better)
Course Typically Offered: FallIntroduces cell and molecular biology concepts and principles. Emphasis is on cell structure and function, genetics control and function, membrane transport and trafficking, cell division, evolution, and cellular energetics. Special consideration is given to research applications. (Prerequisite: 10-806-197, Microbiology with a "C" or better)
Course Typically Offered: FallProvides learners the opportunity to apply knowledge of sound experimental design and scientific inquiry to create and execute laboratory procedure(s) designed to answer a research question. Learners will collect, document, analyze, and report data generated from a set of experiments and report major conclusions. (Prerequisite: 10-506-138, Experimental Design with a "C" or better)
Course Typically Offered: SpringPrinciples of report writing and correspondence, proposals, feasibility reports, progress reports, investigation reports, evaluation reports, meeting reports, memos, and correspondence. (Prerequisite: 10-801-136, English Composition I OR 10-801-195, Written Communication with “C” or better)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringA second semester course in organic chemistry that is a continuation of concepts learned in 10-506-160, Organic Chemistry 1, including reactions, mechanisms, synthesis, and spectroscopy of organic compounds. (Prerequisite: 10-506-160, Organic Chemistry 1 with a "C" or better)
Course Typically Offered: SpringApplications/theory of basic physics principles: problem-solving, laboratory investigation, and applications including unit conversion and analysis, mechanical waves, harmonic motion, wave and ray optics, electricity, and magnetism. (Prereq: 2.6 GPA & Alg 2 or equiv w/C or better; OR Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 263, Arith greater/equal to 250, & QRAS greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading greater/equal to 17 & Math greater/equal to 24; OR Coll Tech Math 1A OR Int Alg w/C or better)
Course Typically Offered: Fall Spring