What is Biotechnology?Biotechnology is applied biology. Biotechnologists use organisms to make useful products. Traditional biotechnology products include cheese, bread, wine, and beer. Modern biotechnology products include medicines produced in bacteria, DNA typing, gene therapies to treat illness, crops that are modified to be more productive or nutritious, and organisms that can degrade environmental contaminants. Click here to see more about what biotechnologists do Click here for an article about biotechnology http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/NCR483.pdf What Is The Biotechnology Program At MATC?There are actually four Biotechnology Programs at MATC:
What Do Biotechnology Graduates Do?Graduates work in many different places and do many types of interesting and challenging jobs. There are Biotechnology graduates who work in universities; government laboratories; molecular biology, pharmaceutical, food processing, and agricultural companies. Some graduates work on research projects, some test samples, and still others make products. Click here to meet some Biotechnology graduates. Click here to see a list of local employers of Biotechnology graduates What Are Biotechnology Courses?The Biotechnology classes at MATC emphasize proficiency in laboratory skills and technologies, and effective communication and employment skills. Every student has many opportunities to work with state-of-the-art equipment. Advanced topics include fermentation technology, cell culturing, protein purification, and molecular biology. Every associate degree student also interns in a local laboratory before graduation. What Are Prerequisites For The Biotechnology Associate Degree Program?The Associate Degree Biotechnology Program has these prerequisites:
*Students who have not taken chemistry or algebra may do so at MATC before beginning the program. All incoming Biotechnology students must take COMPASS college placement exams. Based on the results of the Compass exams some students may need to complete additional course-work at MATC to prepare for the Biotechnology program. Can I Get Credit For Previous College Work?Individuals who have completed college courses comparable to those required in the program may receive credit for those classes. Transcripts must indicate a comparable course with a minimum final grade of “C” and must meet the minimum number of credits for the particular requirement. What Is The Employment Outlook?Very good! The staff at MATC receives continual requests for graduates from the program. Statistics for recent graduates indicate average annual starting salaries at about $28,000 with graduates obtaining steady increases with experience. Data from 2001 shows that graduates with 8-11 years of experience had more than doubled their starting salaries. Estimates show there are 100+ biotechnology and related companies in Wisconsin employing over 9,000 people. Many Madison area companies are interested in direct recruitment of students while the students are enrolled in the second year of the program. Some students are employed in laboratories part-time while taking classes and their jobs become full-time upon completion of the program. I Want To Go Get A Bachelor's Degree. Should I Come To MATC?An MATC Associate Degree can be a stepping stone to a Bachelor's Degree. Students can take advantage of MATC's low costs and small classes. After graduation from MATC, there are articulation agreements that allow students to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in about two additional years full-time. Presently, the institutions that articulate specifically with our program are:
At UW-Madison, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) will accept 28 credits from the MATC Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Program. In addition, Biotechnology Lab Technician graduates will be in an excellent position to compete for student research jobs on the UW campus. How Much Does It Cost To Attend MATC?Current information about tuition and fees at MATC can be obtained from the MATC website. http://matcmadison.edu/matc/getstarted/tuition/ Note that Wisconsin has reciprocity agreements with Minnesota. Minnesota residents will pay the same fees as Wisconsin residents. What About Financial Aid?Many MATC students receive financial aid. There are several sources of financial assistance available to students. Students can receive funding through:
How Do I Apply To The Biotechnology Programs?
Compass Tests Are Required For The Biotechnology Program– What Are These Tests?
What Other MATC Resources Should I Know About?
I Don't Live In Wisconsin. Are There Biotechnology Programs In My Region?Check out Bio-Link, a national consortium of biotechnology programs, at www.Bio-Link.org.
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