CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN OPTICAL MICROSCOPY

The Optical Microscopy certificate program prepares students for entry- and mid-level jobs in biomedical imaging, research and microscopy, including in the biotech industry. A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the courses specified below.

Career opportunities include employment as an research associate of an imaging core, research lab technician, imaging specialist in research lab or biotech company, imaging equipment sales consultant, imaging product management, software development and sales, microscopy training, and research consultant.

Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s).

Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the certificate will be able to:

  • Acquire digital images on a variety of research-level digital optical microscopes, including motorized widefield fluorescence systems, a spectral imaging confocal and a spinning disk confocal.
  • Master diverse microscopy software programs for all four main brands of research optical microscopes.
  • Perform morphometric analysis.
  • Prepare specimens for live cell imaging.
  • Design experiments, critically analyze data, and report results.
  • Troubleshoot problems with the optics, hardware and software of the microscopes.
  • Assess and utilize new microscopy technologies.
  • Access employment in biotech, high tech and other growth fields.

Certificate of Achievement Requirements:

Dept/No. Title Units
BIOSC 101 Theory and Practice of Microscopy 6
BIOSC 102 Fluorescence Microscopy and Specimen Prep 6
Total Required Units for Certificate of Achievement: 12

 

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN FLUORESCENCE BIOSCIENCE MICROSCOPY

The Fluorescence Bioscience Microscopy certificate program prepares students for entry-level jobs in bioscience microscopy and imaging, including in the biotech industry. A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the courses specified below.

Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s).

Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the certificate will be able to:

  • Confidently acquire digital images on a variety of research-level optical microscopes, including phase, DIC, and widefield epifluorescence.
  • Operate diverse microscopy software programs.
  • Prepare brightfield specimens for optical microscopy.
  • Execute basic cell and molecular biology lab techniques, including aseptic technique, following good lab practices.
  • Identify areas of the biotech industry that are relevant to their chosen career pathways.

Certificate of Achievement in Fluorescence Bioscience Microscopy Requirements:

Dept/No. Title Units
BIOSC 101 Theory and Practice of Microscopy 6
BIOSC 102 Fluorescence Microscopy and Specimen Prep 6
BIOSC 103 Confocal Microscopy and Research Design 6
BIOSC 104 Bioscience Practicum Research 6
Total Required Units for Certificate of Achievement:
24

Click here to learn more about the microscopy certificates

 

HISTOTECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT

The Histotechnician program provides on-campus and on-site technical training, focusing on routine tissue sample preparation, special stains and techniques such as immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, fluorescence microscopy and genomics. Training on campus will utilize samples routinely prepared in both clinical and research facilities. As part of their formal training, histotechnician students will work through study guides provided by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) for its certification examination. Partnerships with local facilities will allow for work experience and clinical rotation sites, required for histotechnician certification students, and will provide further training for those interested in research and/or careers in the private sector.

In order to take the ASCP certification exam, and complete the NAACLS accredited Histotechnician Certificate of Achievement, the following 19 units of courses are required pre- or co-requisites and can be taken at any college as long as they they are transferable and equivalent*.

  • Chemistry 30A, Introductory General Chemistry (4 Units) a higher level chemistry course is acceptable
  • Biology 2, Human Anatomy (5 units) AND Biology 4, Human Physiology (5 units)
    OR
    Biology 20A, Human Anatomy & Physiology (5 units)
    AND
    Biology 20B, Human Anatomy & Physiology (5 units)
  • Biology 3, Microbiology (5 units)

*Please speak to a Merritt College counselor.

Histotechnician Certificate of Achievement Program Specific Courses offered only at Merritt:

Dept/No. Title Units
BIOSC 101 Theory and Practice of Microscopy 6
BIOSC 102 Fluorescence Microscopy and Specimen Prep 6
BIOSC 9 General Histology 5
BIOSC 55 Beginning Histotechniques 5
BIOSC 56 Advanced Histotechniques 5
BIOSC 58 Cytopreparation for the Histotechnician 2
BIOSC 30 Genomics Theory 4
COPED 476G Occupational Work Experience in Histotechnology 4
Total number of Merritt Histotechnician specific course units
37

The total number of units to complete the Certificate of Achievement is 56 units.

Click here to learn more about the histotechnology certificate