BIT – Bioscience Technology Instructor Qualifications
General Requirements
- Master’s degree in subject area and the equivalent of 3 years full-time, non-teaching experience in the field OR
- Master’s degree in related area plus 30 quarter hours credit in upper division coursework in subject area, and the equivalent of 3 years full-time, non-teaching experience in the field OR
- Bachelor’s degree in subject area, and the equivalent of 4 years full-time, non-teaching experience in the field OR
- Bachelor’s degree in related area, plus 30 quarter hours upper division course work in subject area, and the equivalent of 4 years full-time, non-teaching experience in the field OR
- AAS degree in subject area or professional education and the equivalent of 5 years full-time, non-teaching experience in the field.
Definitions (except for BIT 125 and 181, as noted below):
- Subject Area: Molecular Biology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Microbiology or Immunology or Biology or Chemistry where 30 credit hours of upper division credits are in the subject areas specified above. (Note, there are exceptions for specialized courses as outlined below.)
- Related Area: Chemistry or Biology or related subfield of Biology with fewer than 30 upper division credits in the subject area.
- Upper Division: 300-level or above, or 200-level PCC BIT laboratory courses.
- Experience: may be as a laboratory technician, research assistant, manufacturing associate, process development technician, research associate, Post-doctoral associate, quality assurance or quality control technician or scientist. This work may be carried out at a bioscience technology company, research laboratory, or testing facility. Work performed as a graduate student (PhD candidate) will be considered half time equivalent prior to completion of the qualifying exams, and full time following qualification.
Instructors assigned to specific courses must meet the following requirements:
BIT 105 – Bioscience Workplace Safety.
In addition to general requirement, experience must include at least one year in a position of responsibility for laboratory safety.
BIT 107 – Bioscience Lab Math.
In addition to general requirement, instructor must show evidence2 of knowledge and proficiency in one or more of the following: upper-level (300+) math coursework, teaching of mathematics, formal or informal teaching of applied mathematics (eg. as part of a chemistry or biotechnology course or training of laboratory personnel).
BIT 109 Basic Lab Techniques and Instruments
General Requirement
BIT 110 – Bioscience Technology Basics
General Requirement
BIT 201 Immunochemical Methods
In addition to general requirement, instructor must show evidence* of knowledge and proficiency in the immunochemical methods covered in the course. .
BIT 165 Biotechniques: Recombinant DNA,
BIT 203 Recombinant DNA
BIT 223 Advanced DNA Techniques
In addition to general requirement, instructor must show evidence* of knowledge and proficiency in recombinant DNA technology.
BIT 175 Biotechniques: Proteins,
BIT 205 Bioseparations,
BIT 215 Protein Purification,
In addition to general requirement, instructor must show evidence* of knowledge and proficiency in protein chemistry and protein purification.
BIT 207 Cell Culture
In addition to general requirement, instructor must show evidence* of knowledge and proficiency in cell culture technology.
* Because these topics are dynamic in nature and specific to the discipline, acceptable course-specific evidence should be evaluated upon consultation with the department chair. This evidence may include graduate coursework, publication or other formal documentation, personal reference, or interview responses that indicate an acceptable level of proficiency and knowledge needed to teach the course(s) in question.
BIT 125 –Quality Systems in Bioscience Technology
BIT 126 – Applied Quality Practice
- The General Requirement does not apply.
- Four (4) years or more of recent, full-time, non-teaching work as a Quality Assurance professional or otherwise in a position that includes responsibility for cGMP compliance in a bioscience company. Equivalent experience as a consultant to a bioscience company will also be considered acceptable provided that the candidate can provide descriptions and documentation (references OK) of the work done.
- Certification from the American Society of Quality (ASQ) is preferred. Other certifications, professional referral and compelling experience will be considered in lieu of ASQ certification.
BIT 181 – Exploring Bioscience.
- The General Requirement applies, but key parameters are defined as described below..
- The key qualifications for this course are knowledge of the bioscience industry, ability to plan and carry out site visits at companies, and hosting of industry guest speakers. Also, the instructor must be able to guide students as they gather information and prepare for employment by developing industry-appropriate resumes and interview skills.
- For this course, the PCC Instructor Approval Form parameters will be defined as follows:
- Subject Area – Human Relations, Psychology, Counseling, Education, Adult Education, or any field of Science.
- Experience – may be as a career counselor or specialist, employment case-worker, HR professional, training manager, career technical instructor, bioscience company employee, or combination of the above or similar related experience.
Revised and Approved: October 2015