Biomanufacturing

The biomanufacturing bachelor’s degree program develops the skills, abilities, and knowledge students need to work in the unique environment of biological production. It emphasizes the applied, quantitative analysis of biomanufacturing process design and performance to prepare students for employment in technical or quality positions in the manufacturing sector of the biotechnology industry, which includes biotherapeutics, diagnostics, supplies and services, and industrial products.

The biomanufacturing bachelor’s degree program requires the completion of 120 semester units, including 45 units of upper-division coursework with a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College. All upper-division coursework must be completed with a minimum grade of "C" (or "P").

The program builds upon the college's associate degree program in biomanufacturing, allowing students who complete the associate degree or equivalent coursework from other colleges to enter as juniors and earn a baccalaureate. Students earning the college's associate degree in biomanufacturing must complete the Cal-GETC general education pattern, or have been awarded a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biomanufacturing.

Lower-Division Major Preparation

• Overall GPA of 2.0 for all coursework
• Completion of the following lower-division course requirements with no grade less than "C" or "P":
  • General biology (BIO 105 or equivalent)
  • CHEM 150
  • CHEM 151
  • BTEC 107
  • BTEC 110
  • BTEC 120
  • BTEC 210
  • BTEC 211
  • BTEC 221
  • BTEC 222
  • ENGL C1000
  • Statistics (BTEC 180 or equivalent).

Application for Admission

Students complete the standard online application to the college as well as the Application for the Bachelor of Science in Biomanufacturing, which is available in SURF (see miracosta.edu/bachelors). Applications for the fall 2026 cohort become available on August 1. Applications are due in mid-November for priority consideration and are accepted on a rolling basis after this priority deadline until the cohort is full.

Certain lower-division courses must be completed or in progress in order to submit an application for admission to the program. Please see the Biomanufacturing Bachelor’s Degree Program webpage for details.

Admission/Selection Criteria

Qualified applicants are selected for admission based on a comprehensive review process that gives additional weight to the following:

• Percentage of lower-division major preparation completed at the time of applying.
• Completion of an associate degree in biomanufacturing, research and development, or equivalent.
• Completion before entry date of BTEC 221 and BTEC 222 (or equivalent).
• Completion of additional 200-level biotechnology, biology, or chemistry courses or 100-level physics courses not listed in the program requirements.
• Completion, before entry date, of lower-division general education requirements.
• GPA in lower-division major preparation courses.
• Employment in the biotechnology/biomedical industry, including internships.
• Relevant life experiences or special circumstances, such as disabilities, low family income, first generation college student, DACA, former foster youth, veteran status, and other criteria.

For more specific information about the comprehensive review process, please see miracosta.edu/bachelors.

Upper-Division Tuition

Upper-division coursework costs $130 per unit, which is an additional $84 per unit currently charged for lower-division coursework.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to do the following:

• Design and execute a project that identifies possible options of new biomanufacturing technologies that serve as process improvements, including technical and financial benefits, and write a report evaluating those options with a final recommendation.
• Perform an investigation that requires them to analyze an Out of Specification (OOS) occurrence during a production step in the manufacture of a biological substance, perform the analysis to justify the batch disposition, and incorporate this into a CAPA (Corrective Action Preventative Action) report.

Course Requirements

* Course satisfies a general education requirement on the Cal-GETC general education pattern.