Biotechnology (B.S.)

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Program Coordinator/Contact

Heike Bücking, Department Head
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Alfred Dairy Science Hall 228
605-688-6141

Program Information

This interdisciplinary program helps prepare students in fundamental sciences so that they may successfully compete for career opportunities in the growing life sciences industries. Graduates with expertise in biotechnology fill increasing demand from employers utilizing technologies such as molecular biology, genetic engineering, tissue culture, reproductive intervention, and biomass conversion in a variety of applications, such as vaccine and pharmaceutical development, agronomic seed production, livestock breeding, genetic diagnostic testing, identity and parentage verification, criminal forensics, biorenewable product development, or biomedical research.

Students may choose this major for preparation for admission to professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The program provides an excellent background for students entering graduate school in a life sciences discipline.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of fundamental concepts in biology and microbiology. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
Graduates will demonstrate scientific reasoning and problem solving. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
Graduates will demonstrate technical laboratory proficiency in applying fundamental knowledge of biology and microbiology. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
Tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science. (Cross-curricular Skill: Integrative Learning)
Graduates will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

Academic Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained in the major courses.

Course Delivery Format

Program coursework is on-campus, in classroom and laboratories, as well as field-based settings. Additional coursework is available at off-campus attendance centers. Limited coursework is available online.

Requirements for Biotechnology Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
and
ENGL 201 - Composition II (COM) [SGR #1] Credits: 3
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity:
SGR #3 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity:
SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics: MATH 115 - Precalculus (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 5 or higher SGR #5 MATH course Credits: 3-5
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151-151L - General Biology I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4
and
BIOL 153-153L - General Biology II and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 4

Department of Biology and Microbiology Requirements

25 semester credits must be upper division (300 and above), with the exception that MATH 125 and 225, Calculus II and III, may be counted as five credits toward the total.
Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits from the natural sciences. Refer to departments offering the degree for specific course listings.

Major Requirements

ABS 205 - Biotechnology in Agriculture and Medicine Credits: 2
BIOL 119 - First Year Seminar Credits: 2
BIOL 202-202L - Genetics and Organismal Biology and Lab Credits: 3, 1
BIOL 204-204L - Genetics and Cellular Biology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3, 1
BIOL 235-235L - Introduction to Biotechnology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
BIOL 383 - Bioethics (COM) Credits: 4
CHEM 112-112L - General Chemistry I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 114-114L - General Chemistry II and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 326-326L - Organic Chemistry I and Lab (COM) Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 328-328L - Organic Chemistry II and Lab (COM) Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 464 - Biochemistry I (COM) Credits: 3
CHEM 466 - Laboratory Methods- Biochemistry Credits: 1
MICR 233-233L - Introductory Microbiology and Lab Credits: 4
MICR 448-548 - Molecular and Microbial Genetics Credits: 4
MICR 450 - Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Credits: 3
MICR 438L - Techniques in Molecular Biology Laboratory Credits: 2
PHYS Electives Credits: 4
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 3
STAT 435-535 - Applied Bioinformatics Credits: 3

Advanced Fundamentals Requirement

Select at least three credits from the following courses.

BIOL 483-583 - Developmental Biology (COM) Credits: 3
MICR 332 - Microbial Physiology Credits: 2
MICR 332L - Microbial Physiology Lab Credits: 2
MICR 439-539 - Medical and Veterinary Immunology Credits: 3
MICR 424-524 - Medical and Veterinary Virology Credits: 3
VET 223-223L - Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals and Lab Credits: 4

Applications Requirement

Select at least three credits from the following courses.

ABE 343-343L - Engineering Properties of Biological Materials and Lab Credits: 3
AS 332 - Livestock Breeding and Genetics Credits: 4
AS 333-333L - Livestock Reproduction and Lab Credits: 3
DS 301-301L - Dairy Microbiology and Lab Credits: 4
DS 312-312L - Dairy Cattle Breeding and Evaluation and Lab Credits: 4
HO 414-414L/514-514L - Plant Propagation and Lab Credits: 3
HO / PS 383-383L - Principles of Crop Improvement and Lab Credits: 3
MICR 440L - Infectious Disease Lab Credits: 3

Capstone Requirement

BIOL 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1-3 (2 credits required)
ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) Credits: 3 (Section: Biology & Microbiology)

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences
System General Education Requirements	32-34 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	73-75 Credit Hours
Electives**	11-15 Credit Hours

**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.