Competition for jobs has increased in spite of the growth of scientific and medical research and the increased development and production of technical products. Job opportunities are expected to be very good for applicants who acquire good career preparation through 2-year formal training programs such as Jefferson's A.A.S. degree program. Their occupational title often reflects a specific scientific discipline. Biological technicians work with biologists studying living organisms, or work in pharmaceutical companies to develop and manufacture medicinal and pharmaceutical products. Chemical technicians work with chemists and chemical engineers, developing and using chemical products, researching, and testing.
Some chemical technicians monitor pollution by collecting and analyzing samples of air and water.
This program is designed to prepare students to work as technicians in a laboratory setting. Graduates have preparation that allows them to perform research analysis, quality control procedures, microbe identification and other laboratory skills required for employment in medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial laboratory settings. Applicants for this program should have high school biology, chemistry, and three years of high school mathematics. All certificate requirements and courses listed are effective Fall of 2000 and are subject to change. The curricula offered by the College require certain Liberal Arts core courses in the area of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science or Mathematics.