BioScience Technology

Program Overview

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The Bioscience Technology program is a two-year diploma program that emphasizes hands-on learning in laboratory skills for careers in the biosciences, biomedical research, and applied research fields. Graduates can pursue additional study at the University of Saskatchewan or transfer to other universities, and are eligible for membership with the Saskatchewan Applied Science Technologists and Technicians.

Program Outline

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Outline:

The Bioscience Technology program is a two-year diploma program that emphasizes a hands-on style of learning. It combines classroom time with practical exercises and labs, culminating in a four-week practicum experience where students gain valuable on-the-ground experience in a laboratory setting.

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Program Content:

• The program emphasizes developing students' lab skills in preparation for careers in the biosciences, biomedical research, and applied research fields.
• They learn to record, process, and report data, use analytical instruments, and work with plants and animals in a research setting.
• The program provides students with a strong foundation in scientific principles and analytic practices.

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Program Structure:

• The program accepts 24 students each year.
• Students experience a combination of laboratory work, lectures, and a practicum work term.
• Class hours are 25-27 hours per week, with an additional 30-40 hours of homework expected outside of class time.
• Description: Students study the structure and function of the vertebrate body, including animal cell and tissue types, organ systems, and the classification of animals.

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Module:

Botany (BOTA-183, BOTA-184)

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Module:

Analytical Chemistry (CHEM-173, CHEM-174)

• Description: Students study chemical analysis techniques, including quality assurance methods to evaluate and standardize acids, bases, and buffers, and learn to use statistics to validate experimental data.

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Module:

Organic Chemistry (CHEM-287)

• Description: Students explore the chemical and physical properties of organic compounds and their applications in industrial bioscience, focusing on functional groups of organic molecules, organic chemical reactions, and laboratory techniques to extract and characterize organic compounds.

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Module:

Plant Physiology (PYSL-180, PYSL-181)

• Description: Students examine plant function and interactions with the environment, identifying plant tissue and cellular function, and studying plant metabolism including cellular respiration and photosynthesis reactions.

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Module:

Quality Assurance and Control (QC-179)

• Description: Students learn about quality management in the context of bioscience, examining quality control practices in research, development, testing, and food production, and studying professional ethics and conduct.

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Module:

Introductory Statistics and Computer Applications 1 (STAT-181)

• Description: Students are introduced to elementary probability theory, studying frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, and variability, and exploring sampling theory and statistical applications in bioscience.
• Description: Students learn and practice written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills for the workplace, applying these skills as team members and in short presentations, and developing effective job search strategies.

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Module:

Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (ANIM-182)

• Description: Students study animal production, diets, research protocols, care, and management, practicing handling, injections, and sample collection in small laboratory species.

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Module:

Biochemistry (BIOC-281) The module covers molecular biology techniques and applications of synthetic biology.

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Module:

Histotechniques (HSTC-183)

• Description: Students gain expertise in microtechniques, including preparing plant and animal tissues for permanent slides, learning how to use and care for tissue processing equipment, microtomes, and related slide preparation equipment.
They demonstrate the use of tissue fixatives and stains, embedding, mounting, and storing of paraffin sections, and perform tissue sectioning, staining, and production of permanent slides.

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Module:

Laboratory Preparation Techniques 1 (LABT-182)

• Description: Students gain technical experience by preparing materials for teaching laboratories, learning how to prepare chemical solutions, stains, reagents, and various types of culture media, and studying the operation and care of laboratory equipment, as well as inventory procedures and ordering supplies along with general housekeeping duties required in a laboratory.

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Module:

Introductory Analytical Instrumentation (LABT-200)

• Description: Students explore the use of spectrophotometry and electroanalysis instruments in the biosciences, learning basic maintenance and operating techniques for using electrodes and spectrophotometers, and performing analysis of samples using analytical instruments to produce data.
They prepare analytical solutions and use statistics to evaluate data.

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Module:

Plant Tissue Culture Lab (LABT-290)

• Description: Students examine plant tissue culture techniques, performing sterilization techniques, preparing plant tissue culture media, and producing plant cultures.

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Module:

Animal Cell Culture Lab (LABT-291)

• Description: Students prepare animal cell culture media and materials, learn safe handling and disposal of cell culture materials, and maintain and subculture cell lines and prepare a primary cell culture.

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Module:

General Microbiology 1 (MICR-282, MICR-283)

• Description: Students study the diversity of microorganisms, examining their characteristics, including anatomy, nutrition, growth, and control, and learning methods, techniques, and equipment such as microscopes.
They apply laboratory methods for the culture, examination, and identification of microbes.

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Module:

Communications 2 (COMM-289) They learn about gene editing techniques such as clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR).

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Module:

Immunology (IMMU-179)

• Description: Students receive an introduction to hematology and immunity, exploring how the immune system interacts with health and disease, and studying immunological laboratory techniques and medical applications.

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Module:

Advanced Analytical Instrumentation (LABT-201)

• Description: Students learn about the principles of analytical separation using gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) instrumentation, studying detection methods including mass spectrometry (MS), and examining the applications of GC and LC in the biosciences.
They demonstrate basic supervisory and leadership skills, operate and maintain laboratory equipment, assist with inventory, and perform general laboratory duties.

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Module:

Applied Microbiology (MICR-284, MICR-285)

• Description: Students study the application of microbiology in bioscience-related areas, including the environment, food production and preservation, and industrial settings, examining several ecosystems and the roles of microbes within them.
They explore the preparation and maintenance of microbe culture collections and the role of microbes in plant pathology.

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Module:

Laboratory Practicum (PRAC-285)

• Description: Students participate in a four-week practicum experience in a selected laboratory site, applying acquired skills and participating in an ongoing or novel project.
Placements may be outside of Saskatoon, and students may incur extra expenses.

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Careers:

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Agriculture Bioscience:

• Graduates are involved in research and development of agricultural crops such as wheat, canola, and specialty crops.
• Work focuses on plant breeding, molecular biology, and plant tissue culture.
• Other aspects may include testing of plant and animal samples using instrumentation, working with animals in the area of animal disease, testing for microbial or contaminants in animals or animal products, feed analysis, and cell culture.

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Biomedicine:

• Graduates are involved in research into diseases such as Alzheimer's and types of cancer.
• Work includes microbiology, molecular biology, cell culture, and may include instrumentation.
• Other aspects of research may involve working with animals or animal products.

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Bioproduct:

• Graduates are involved in processing and production of bioproducts such as specialty oils, proteins, and foods.
• Work includes aspects of quality control and quality assurance.
• It involves testing food and other products for quality, and may include standard tests for microbial contamination and other impurities.
• This may require basic microbial techniques or the use of analytical instruments.

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Environment:

• Graduates conduct analysis of environmental samples and environmental remediation.
• Work includes aspects of microbiology, chemistry, molecular biology, and analytical instrumentation.
• It involves testing environmental samples from the mining, chemical, and oil and gas industries, as well as development of new techniques or solutions for environmental remediation.

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Potential Career Titles:

• Agronomy Technologist
• Biological Technologists & Technicians
• Biological Laboratory Technologist
• Food Bacteriological Technologist

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Other:

• Graduates of this program can pursue up to two years of additional study at the University of Saskatchewan to earn a university degree.
• Program graduates are eligible to apply for membership with the Saskatchewan Applied Science Technologists and Technicians (SASTT).
• Students can gain global learning experiences through study and learning abroad opportunities.