Biotechnology
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The department of biological sciences’ BS in biotechnology program was the first of its kind when it was introduced in 1983. A graduate who earns this degree is prepared to immediately assume challenging positions in research, development and management in biomedical research, human genetics, agriculture, food products, pharmaceuticals and vaccine development, environment and energy, forensic science and genetic counseling.
The advanced nature of the senior-year courses and the opportunity to participate in faculty-sponsored undergraduate research provide a sound foundation to those graduates wishing to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree.
With proper scheduling of courses, biotechnology majors also can earn a master of business administration degree in as little as one year after receiving their degree in biotechnology. This combination (biotechnology BS + MBA) prepares graduates to enter rewarding management positions in a wide range of biotechnology organizations.
The program also can be designed to include the education necessary for the pursuit of a career in a medical field.
Specialized areas of emphasis include recombinant DNA, genetic engineering, mammalian and plant tissue culture, monoclonal antibody production and purification, large-scale fermentation techniques (bacterial and mammalian cell) and methods for characterization and separation of proteins and nucleic acids.
Requirements for the BS degree in biotechnology
Students must meet the minimum graduation requirements of the university, as described in this bulletin. In addition, the program requires successful completion of all of the courses listed in the following typical course schedule.
Cooperative education
The biotechnology degree provides students the option of participating in our cooperative education program. More than 65 organizations in industry, government and academia employ our students in short-term (10 to 20 weeks), full-time, paid positions directly related to students’ academic areas of interest. Co-op positions can be held during the summer and/or during the regular academic year. Tuition is not charged while a student is on co-op. If a student elects to hold a co-op position during the regular academic year, he or she will take the same number of academic quarters but may need to extend the date of graduation beyond the traditional four years.
| Biotechnology, BS degree, typical course sequence | ||
| Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | ||
| First Year | Freshman Symposium 1001-200, 259 | 2 |
| Introduction to Biology I, II, III 1001-251, 252, 253 | 12 | |
| General and Analytical Chemistry I, II, III 1011-215, 216, 217 | 10 | |
| Chemical Principles Lab I, II 1011-205, 206 | 2 | |
| General and Analytical Chemistry Lab 1011-227 | 1 | |
| Elementary Calculus I, II 1016-214, 215 | 6 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| First-Year Enrichment 1105-051, 052 | 2 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Second Year | Cell Biology 1001-311 | 4 |
| Immunology 1001-312 | 3 | |
| Tissue Culture 1001-314 | 5 | |
| Molecular Biology 1001-350 | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I, II, III 1013-231, 232, 233 | 9 | |
| Organic Chemistry Lab I, II, III 1013-235, 236, 237 | 3 | |
| Data Analysis I 1016-319 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Third and Fourth Years‡ | Introductory Microbiology 1001-404 | 5 |
| Genetics 1001-421 | 4 | |
| Analytical Chemistry: Separations 1008-312 | 3 | |
| Analytical Chemistry: Separations Lab 1008-319 | 1 | |
| Biochemistry: Conformation and Dynamics 1009-502 | 3 | |
| Biochemistry: Metabolism 1009-503 | 3 | |
| Biotechnology Electives | 24 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| General Education Courses | 9 | |
| University-wide Electives | 27 | |
| Cooperative Education 1001-499 (optional)‡ | Co-op | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 182 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information. †Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. ‡ If a student elects to participate in our co-op program, she or he may be scheduling courses in a fifth year but will be using the same number of academic quarters of classes to complete the degree. |
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| Biotechnology, bioinformatics option, BS degree, typical course sequence | ||
| Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | ||
| First Year | Freshman Symposium 1001-200, 259 | 2 |
| Introduction to Biology I, II, III 1001-251, 252, 253 | 12 | |
| General and Analytical Chemistry I, II, III 1011-215, 216, 217 | 10 | |
| Chemical Principles Lab I, II 1011-205, 206 | 2 | |
| General and Analytical Chemistry Lab 1011-227 | 1 | |
| Computer Science 1, 2 4003-231, 232 | 8 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| First-Year Enrichment 1105-051, 052 | 2 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Second Year | Elementary Calculus I, II 1016-214, 215 | 6 |
| Cell Biology 1001-311 | 4 | |
| Molecular Biology 1001-350 | 4 | |
| Immunology 1001-312 | 3 | |
| Tissue Culture 1001-314 | 5 | |
| Computer Science 3 4003-233 | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry Lecture I, II, III 1013-231, 232, 233 | 9 | |
| Organic Chemistry Lab I, II, III 1013-235, 236, 237 | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| Third and Fourth Years‡ | Introduction to Microbiology 1001-404 | 5 |
| Genetics 1001-421 | 4 | |
| Genomics 1001-492 | 4 | |
| Bioinformatics 1001-493 | 4 | |
| Genetic Engineering 1001-450 | 5 | |
| Biotechnology Electives | 12 | |
| Analytical Chemical Separations 1008-312, 319 | 4 | |
| Biochemistry: Confirmation and Dynamics 1009-502 | 3 | |
| Biochemistry: Metabolism 1009-503 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Databases and Data Modeling 4002-360 | 4 | |
| Computer Science 4 4003-334 | 4 | |
| Data Analysis 1016-319 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 16 | |
| University-wide Electives | 13 | |
| Cooperative Education 1001-499 (optional)‡ | Co-op | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 182 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information. † Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. ‡ If a student elects to participate in our co-op program, she or he may be scheduling courses in a fifth year but will be using the same number of academic quarters of classes to complete the degree. |
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