"From the beginning, we have been preparing our neighbors for careers in the biosciences," says Dr. Kathleen Norris, LSI director. "We are not only one of the country’s largest community college biotech programs, we are uniquely located at a downtown university campus."

BCCC Life Sciences Institute at UM BioPark

Developing Maryland's Biotechnology Workforce

The Life Sciences Institute (LSI) is an additional location of Baltimore City Community College (BCCC). Started in 1987, it is one of the nation's oldest and foremost community college biotechnology training programs. In 2009, it was moved to one of the nation's top research campuses, the University of Maryland BioPark, Baltimore.

Strategically located at the heart of the UM BioPark, the Life Sciences Institute is a pipeline to the state's growing need for skilled biomedical and health science workers.

Renowned for integrating academic and technical education, LSI offers two-year associate degrees, one-year certificates, and non-credit health care and industry-specific training programs in these areas of study:

Biotechnology

Arts and Science Transfer (pre-dental, pre-medical, pre-pharmacy, and nursing)

Students at LSI participate in the campus life of one of the nation's leading graduate and professional school campuses, surrounded by its schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, law and social work—and a burgeoning community of biotechnology companies. LSI is the only community college biotechnology training program integrated with the employers it serves.

LSI occupies a complete floor of BioPark Building 2, where students learn in a beautiful, sophisticated environment that includes 11 laboratories, 10 classrooms and lecture hall. From remedial tutoring to hands-on practice of the industry's most advanced laboratory protocols, all course work is accomplished at this one location. The UM library and UM student center offer additional resources and services.

The capstone course for the associate degree in biotechnology is a required 250-hour research internship. Students are an elevator's ride away from research companies looking for interns and employees.