Southeast Community College

Laboratory Science Technology

The Laboratory Science Technology Program on the Lincoln Campus has a 30-year proven track record in training laboratory technicians for a variety of positions in government and private laboratories. As a program in modern science, it truly is “where science becomes a career”.

Overview

The Laboratory Science Technology program may be completed in six academic quarters (18 months). Students may enter in any quarter (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) and may graduate any quarter after completing the program. Graduates may be awarded either an Associate of Applied Science Degree by completing a total of 104.0 quarter credit hours, or a Diploma, which requires 69.0 quarter credit hours for graduation. Students may be either full-time or part-time.

Graduates are in high-demand, and work in a variety of laboratories including quality assurance, analytical chemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and bioprocessing and bio-fuel including ethanol production. Starting salaries are typically in the $27,000-$32,000 range. Hands-on laboratory experience and on-site practicums offer ample opportunities to perfect lab skills. The program is highly regarded in the industry and has been approved by the American Chemical Society through the Chemical Technology Program Approval Service.

Examples of employers of graduates include:

• Pfizer Animal Health
• MDS Pharma Services
• USDA Soil Survey Laboratory
• Rieke Metals
• Nature Technologies
• Novartis Consumer Health
• City of Lincoln Water System and Wastewater System

Mission

Program Mission Statement:

To train students for occupational positions in government and private laboratories. Laboratory analysis of food, water, soils, and wastewater samples are common examples of work performed by graduates of the program.

Program Goals:

• Graduation of technicians who, as students, have demonstrated technical competence.
• Graduation of Lab Technicians who have demonstrated knowledge of laboratory safety.
• Training of students who, upon graduation, are employable as lab technicians.
• Graduation of lab technicians who demonstrate mastery of modern laboratory instruments and computers.
  

Practicum Study

Graduation from the program requires 6.0 credit hours in Practicum courses.   These are hands-on training courses which meet on-site at various laboratories in the Lincoln area.  The two Practicum courses, I and II, are a part of the curriculum in the student's last three quarters in the program.  Practicum sites are assigned by the student advisor, in conjunction with the student.

Student Responsibilities

Students in the Laboratory Science Technology program are expected to demonstrate a professional attitude in all of their activities as students.  Graduation requires a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 overall, and 2.25 in the core program courses.  Students are also expected to maintain attendance standards as set by college policy, and to display proper safety measures in the laboratory.