Animal Cell Culture

Microcredential Part-time School of Health Sciences

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Student Testimonial

Eman Dapat sitting surrounded by green plants and smiling “As a Quality Control Analyst with the Prescreened Raw Materials team at STEMCELL Technologies, my work primarily revolves around the qualification of “critical raw materials” for the myriad of cell culture products that STEMCELL carries. All the skills I use on a regular basis at work such as good aseptic technique, determining cell confluency and split ratios, making media, and good documentation practices I learned during the animal cell culture microcredential. Despite being only 2 weeks long, the rigour of the course gave me a strong foundation such that I was able to hit the ground running even without any co-op background or prior experience in the biotech industry. I truly believe that the course is a huge asset to anyone interested in lab-based work in biotech.”

– Eman Nuellito Dapat
Completed Animal Cell Culture Microcredential May 2023

Overview

Bio-health is the fastest growing sector of BC’s bio-economy and there is a growing shortage of qualified job applicants. Although life sciences students graduate with a theoretical understanding of the biological sciences, many do not obtain the specialized, hands-on laboratory training that is required for jobs in the bio-health sector.

Animal cell culture is an essential process in all life sciences disciplines, including basic and applied research, vaccine development and the biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, and biomanufacturing sectors. However, most undergraduate labs are not able to offer training in animal cell culture, due to large class sizes and the need for specialized labs and equipment.

The BCIT Biotechnology Program is now offering their expert training in animal cell culture as an Animal Cell Culture microcredential. This microcredential consists of two one-week long courses (XBIO 4010 and XBIO 4020). A maximum of 12 trainees will receive about 4.5 hours per day of hands-on skills training led by two instructors (45 hours total), five hours of classroom learning (in-person and/or online) and five hours of independent study. Upon completion of the microcredential, trainees will have acquired the individual practice needed to achieve competency in animal cell culture, which is needed for many types of jobs in the bio-health sector.

Entrance Requirements

Application processing

This program accepts and processes requests for enrollment ahead of the scheduled intakes of XBIO 4010 and XBIO 4020 , the two courses that comprise this microcredential.

View the courses for information on how to request enrollment in XBIO 4010 and XBIO 4020 .

Entrance requirements

This microcredential is targeted to individuals pursuing a career in the life sciences with a strong academic background in one or more of the following disciplines: biological sciences, health sciences, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, neurobiology, physiology, and pharmacology.

This hands-on skills training is intended to complement a theoretical background in animal cell biology. Therefore, those interested in enrolling in this microcredential must have already successfully completed a Cell Biology course equivalent* to a second year undergraduate level.

*Equivalent Cell Biology courses:

You are a suitable candidate if you fall into one of the following categories:

A recent Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences graduate within the past five years.
Currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences program and completed third year or above.
A recent Associate or Diploma in Life Sciences graduate within the past five years.
Currently enrolled in the second year or above of an Associate or Diploma in Life Sciences program.
Currently working in a life sciences laboratory and interested in adding animal cell culture to your skill set.
Recently worked in a life sciences laboratory (in the past five years) and would like to add or refresh animal cell culture skills for re-entry into the job market.
Individuals who currently work (or have previously worked) in non-life sciences laboratories may also be considered but must successfully complete a second-year Animal Cell Biology course (see the eligible courses above) prior to enrolling in this microcredential.

International applicants

This program is not available to international students. View available programs

Apply to program

This program accepts and processes requests for enrollment ahead of the scheduled intakes of XBIO 4010 and XBIO 4020 , the two courses that comprise this microcredential.

View the courses for information on how to request enrollment in XBIO 4010 and XBIO 4020 .

Scheduled Intakes

Currently only offered in Spring/Summer term.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information.

Books & supplies

Trainees must provide a clean, knee length (or just above the knee), long-sleeve lab coat for use in the cell culture lab.

Courses

Program matrix

Check current availability of courses for this program.

Required Courses:			Credits
	XBIO 4010	Animal Cell Culture 1 The 1st week of the Animal Cell Culture microcredential introduces you to the animal cell culture lab and operation of equipment, including biological safety cabinets and the biosafety regulations for working with different types of cells. You will immediately begin sub-culturing both adherent and suspension cells with an emphasis on good aseptic technique. You will also learn how to count cells to determine cell density and viability, thaw and cryo-preserve cell stocks and perform a gene transfer (transfection) experiment. Classroom time (~5 hours in-person or online) will be scheduled in between lab activities (~25 hours) to review procedures and build your knowledge base. Topics will include: the various types of animal cells, growth media and supplements used in research, biopharmaceutical and biomanufacturing applications; how to prevent and detect microbial contamination (e.g. mycoplasma testing); gene transfer and analysis techniques. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	2.5
	XBIO 4020	Animal Cell Culture 2 During the 2nd week of the Animal Cell Culture microcredential, you will continue sub-culturing cells to acquire the repetition and practice needed to master good aseptic technique. You will also learn how to prepare cells (aseptically) in 96-well plates and perform an ELISA and cell proliferation assay. Classroom time (~5 hours in-person or online) will be scheduled in between lab activities (~20 hours) to review procedures and further expand your knowledge base. Topics will include the types of cell-based assays and molecular analyses used to measure gene expression and recombinant protein or virus production. The course will end with a practical exam to assess your competency in animal cell culture with good aseptic technique. Prerequisite(s): 70% in XBIO 4010 course outline	2.0

Total Credits:			4.5

Check current availability of courses for this program.

Digital badge information

For information on how to obtain your course and/or microcredential digital badge, please review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

The Animal Cell Culture microcredential is designed so that you can achieve the practice and repetition needed to improve your animal cell culture skills and develop competency. The low trainee to instructor ratio (6:1 or less) will enable instructors to provide you with ongoing feedback and ensure that you have full access to a biological safety cabinet (or laminar flow hood) within the dedicated cell culture lab in the BCIT Biotechnology Department.

BCIT biotechnology student looking at cell culture sample under microscope
The first week (XBIO 4010) will introduce you to the core foundations of animal cell culture including biosafety, good aseptic technique and the various types of animal cells used in research, biotechnology and biomanufacturing. You will gain competency in performing cell culture and carry out a transfection (gene transfer) experiment. In the second week (XBIO 4020), you will continue to culture cells and practice your aseptic technique, while also learning how to prepare and analyze cells using job-relevant techniques. Both XBIO 4010 and XBIO 4020 must be completed for you to receive the microcredential.

BCIT Biotech Animal Cell Culture MC 360 May 2023

360° Viewing Instructions:
On desktop PC click & drag the mouse to look around. View full screen (f), or change quality in ‘Settings‘. On mobile device use a finger to look around, or move the device. Can also use a VR headset. PAUSE the 360° video for more viewing time.

Program delivery

In person: This program is delivered on campus.

This microcredential will be primarily composed of hands-on laboratory-based learning which will take place in the BCIT Biotechnology Department’s dedicated cell culture lab. A small portion of the course will cover theoretical concepts and will be delivered as a mix of classroom and online learning.

Program location

Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC

Contact Us

Sarah McLeod
Program Head
Tel: 604-432-8955
Email: Sarah_McLeod@bcit.ca

Questions or comments?

Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.