Biotechnology
Modern research in cellular and molecular biology and its resultant technology offers unparalleled opportunities to provide solutions to our society's most urgent problems in human and animal health, agriculture, and environmental quality. The emerging biotechnology industries are involved in developing products to maintain biodiversity, restore soil and water quality, develop new pharmaceuticals to combat disease, decrease our dependence on nonrenewable resources, and improve food and fiber production. Students interested in microbiology, animal or plant science, biochemistry, and animal or human medicine will find challenging careers in the diverse areas of biotechnology in either an academic or industrial setting. Students successfully completing a biotechnology curriculum will also be prepared to enter graduate or medical professional schools for further study.
The Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary degree offered by the College of Agriculture. Students will pursue a basic science curriculum the first two years and then choose an area of emphasis in plant, animal or microbial systems for the junior/senior years. Depending on the option chosen, students will be advised by participating faculty in the Colleges of Agriculture and Letters and Science.
Curricula in Biotechnology
ALL BIOTECHNOLOGY OPTIONS
| Freshman Year | F | S | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101--Biology of Organisms | 4 | |||
| BIOL 102--Molec & Cellular Biol | 4 | |||
| CHEM 131--General Chemistry I | 4 | |||
| CHEM 132--General Chemistry II | 4 | |||
| WRIT 101W--College Writing I | 3 | |||
| Take the following Math grouping: | ||||
| MATH 170--Survey of Calculus | 4 | |||
| AND one of the following: | ||||
| PS 318--Biometry | 3 | |||
| STAT 216--Elementary Statistics | 3 | |||
| OR take the following two courses: | ||||
| MATH 175--Calculus Technol I | 3 | |||
| MATH 176--Calculus Technol II | 3 | |||
| VTMB 101/PS 101/MB 110--Intro to Biotech | 3 | |||
| University Core and Electives | 3 | |||
| 16 | 14 | |||
| Sophomore Year | F | S | ||
| BIOL 301--Principles of Genetics | 3 | |||
| Take one of the following: | ||||
| CHEM 215--Elements Organic Chem or | 5 | |||
| CHEM 311--Organic Chemistry I and | 4 | |||
| CHEM 312--Organic Chemistry II | 4 | |||
| ECON 101--Econ Way of Think | 3 | |||
| MB 301--Genrl Microbiology I | 4 | |||
| Take one of the following: | ||||
| AGED 105--Microcomp in Ag | 3 | |||
| CS 150--Computer Literacy | 3 | |||
| University Core and Electives | 4 | 8 | ||
| 16 | 14 |
ANIMAL SYSTEMS OPTION
| Junior Year | F | S |
|---|---|---|
| Take one of the following: | ||
| BIOL 411--Animal Physiology | 3 | |
| VTMB 406 --Animal Diseases | 4 | |
| BCHM 340--General Biochemistry | 5 | |
| VTMB 410 Series Anim Cell Mth- Immun | ||
| VTMB 411--Hybridomas | 2 | |
| VTMB 412--Adv Immunol | 1 | |
| VTMB 413--Flow Cytometry | 1 | |
| VTMB 414--Adv Microscopy | 1 | |
| VTMB 420 Series Anim Cell Meth- Molec | ||
| VTMB 421--Genome Science | 3 | |
| VTMB 422--Funct Gene Express | 2 | |
| Take one of the following: | ||
| VTMB 271--Funct Anatomy Dom Anml | 4 | |
| BIOL 207--Anatomy & Physiol I | 3 | |
| BIOL 208--Anatomy & Physiol II | 4 | |
| University Core and Electives | 0-6 | 3-10 |
| 16 | 15 | |
| Senior Year | F | S |
| PHYS 205--College Physics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 206--College Physics II | 4 | |
| VTMB 424--Ethic Pract of Science | 3 | |
| VTMB 476--Internship | 4 | |
| VTMB 477--Biotech Capstone Sem | 2 | |
| University Core and Electives | 7 | 4 |
| 18 | 14 | |
| Recommended Electives | Credits | |
| ARNR 321--Physiology of Reprod | 4 | |
| ARNR 421--Assisted Reproduct Tech | 4 | |
| BCHM 441--Biochem of Macromolec | 3 | |
| BCHM 442--Metabolic Regulation | 3 | |
| BCHM 444--Biochem Mthds Molec Biol | 2 | |
| BIOL 402--Adv Cell & Molec Biology | 3 | |
| MB 401--Immunology | 3 | |
| MB 402--Immunology Laboratory | 1 | |
| MB 420--Micro Physiology | 3 | |
| MB 450--Resrch Meth in Microbiol | 4 | |
| VTMB 451--Virology | 1 | |
| VTMB 452--Protein Biochemistry | 1 |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 43 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
*CHEM 215N "Elements of Organic Chemistry" serves as the prerequisite for additional chemistry courses, which are required in the Biotechnology Degree, Animal Systems Option. Graduate departments at some universities require that students have one year of organic chemistry. Therefore, students potentially interested in graduate school can take the CHEM 300 series of organic chemistry during their sophomore year.
PLANT SYSTEMS OPTION
| Junior Year | F | S |
|---|---|---|
| BCHM 340--General Biochemistry | 5 | |
| PS 450--Plant Physiology | 3 | |
| PS 457--Plant Development | 3 | |
| PS426--Plant Biotechnology | 3 | |
| PHYS 205--College Physics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 206--College Phys II | 4 | |
| University Core and Electives | 3 | 7 |
| 15 | 17 | |
| Senior Year | F | S |
| PS 429C--Plant Biotech Capstone Seminar | 2 | |
| PS 452--Plant Anatomy | 3 | |
| PS 460-- Plant Metabolism | 3 | |
| PS 476--Internship | 3 | 3 |
| University Core and Electives | 9 | 7 |
| 15 | 15 |
| Restricted Electives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Choose Five Of The Following Courses: | Credits | |
| BCHM 441--Biochemistry of Macromolecules | 3 | |
| BCHM 442--Metabolic Regulation | 3 | |
| BIOL 402--Adv Cell & Molec Biology | 3 | |
| MB 420--Micro Physiology | 3 | |
| MB 433--Applied & Env Microbiology | 3 | |
| MB 449--Microbial Genetics | 3 | |
| PS 421--Concepts in Plant Pathology | 3 | |
| PS 422--Plant Disease Control | 3 | |
| PS 423--Mycology | 2 | |
| PS 441--Crop Breeding | 3 | |
| PS 458--Plant Cell Physiology | 3 | |
| PS 460--Plant Metabolism | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following courses: | ||
| BCHM 444--Biochem Mthds Molec Biol | 2 | |
| MB 450--Resrch Meth in Microbiol | 4 |
MICROBIAL SYSTEMS OPTION
| Junior Year | F | S |
|---|---|---|
| BCHM 340--General Biochemistry | 5 | |
| BCHM 442--Metabolic Regulation | 3 | |
| PHYS 205N--College Physics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 206N--College Phys II | 4 | |
| MB 401--Immunology | 3 | |
| MB 402--Immunolgy Laboratory | 1 | |
| University Core and Electives | 2 | 8 |
| 16 | 15 | |
| Senior Year | F | S |
| BCHM 441--Biochem of Macromolec | 3 | |
| MB 420--Micro Physiology | 3 | |
| MB 433--Applied and Env Microbiology | 4 | |
| MB 450--Resrch Meth in Microbiol or | 4 | |
| BCHM 444--Biochem Mthds Molec Biol | 2 | |
| LRES 452--Soil & Envir Micro or | 3 | |
| LRES 415--Microbial Divers, Ecology & Evol | 2 | |
| MB 449--Microbial Genetics | 3 | |
| MB 400C--Seminar, Capstone | 1 | 1 |
| MB 489/490--UG Research/Creative Activity | 3 | |
| UniversityCore and Electives | 0-2 | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15 |
Take at least one of the following electives:
BIOL 207--Anatomy & Physiology (5cr.)
CE 445--Hazardous Waste Treatment (3cr.)
MB 403--Virology (4cr.)
MB 440--Medical Mycology (4cr.)
MB 525--Advanced Immunology (3cr.)
MB 528--Advanced Genetics (3cr.)
LRES 355--Environ Chemistry (3cr.)
LRES 453--Soil & Envir Physics (3cr.)
CH E 213--Materials Science (3cr.)
CH E 438--Bioprocess Engineering (3cr.)
A 3.25 GPA is required for a senior to be allowed to take a graduate course. There are probably other requirements such as instructor permission.
Engineering courses will be important for those students contemplating entering the biotechnology industry at some level of development higher than the test tube!
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above and 32 of those credits must be in the distributed University Core.
