Biotechnology Major

The Bachelor of Science Program in Biotechnology is intended to provide students with strong core science concepts and an application-oriented undergraduate education. Strongly interdisciplinary, this innovative program strives to help students develop critical-thinking skills and increased interest and /or persistence in STEM related courses. The program's objective is to prepare students for employment opportunities in the critically important and dynamic biotechnology industry. In addition, the curriculum will provide students with knowledge and core set of skills that span across basic sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. With an emphasis on environmental biotechnology, this is the first program in the state of Texas that integrates bioprocessing, nanobiotechnology, bioinformatics and environmental biotechnology into the undergraduate curriculum.

The program recognizes the need for cross-disciplinary training and fosters collaborative interactions that will strengthen undergraduate education.

The program is specifically designed to:

  • Develop adaptable students with a strong foundation in skills that are relevant to the changing world of biotechnology.
  • Provide students with practical training in the skills and techniques of biotechnology.
  • Integrate the laboratory and lecture components of the program through the use of an experimental approach to learning.
  • Uniquely combine practical, hands-on biotechnology training with cutting-edge biotechnology research and teaching.

Two curriculum tracks: 1) Bioprocessing, and 2) Bioinformatics give students the flexibility to tailor their degree based on their interest, educational background and career goals. These tracks, in combination with core courses, will provide our students with a broad exposure to the field of biotechnology. The presence of the Texas Medical Center in the greater Houston area and a growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, places this program at the forefront of Biotechnology Education.

Students pursuing the Biotechnology major must complete the following requirements in addition to the university core and general college requirements.

Biotechnology Major Requirements

BCHS 3304, 3201. General Biochemistry I, Laboratory
BIOL 1362, 1162. Introduction to Biological Science, Laboratory
BIOL 3301. Genetics
BIOL 3332, 3132. Elementary Microbiology, Laboratory
BIOL 4320. Molecular Biology
BTEC 1322. Introduction to Biotechnology
BTEC 2320. Biotechnology Regulatory Environment
BTEC 3100. Biotechnology Research Methods and Applications
BTEC 3301. Principles of Genomics/Proteomics and Bioinformatics
BTEC 3321. Good Manufacturing Practices in Biotechnology
BTEC 4350. Biotechnology Capstone Experience
CHEM 1332, 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry, Laboratory
CHEM 3331, 3321. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry, Laboratory

GPA for major will be calculated upon the following major requirements including Biomanufacturing or Bioinformatics track.

Biomanufacturing Track (13 SH Minimum)

BTEC 3320. Introduction to Quality Control/Quality Assurance
BTEC 4101. Principles of Bioprocessing Laboratory
BTEC 4301. Principles of Bioprocessing
BTEC 4319. Microbial Biotechnology
Approved Electives (3 SH)

Bioinformatics Track (12 SH Minimum)

BTEC 4300. Principles of Bioinformatics
CIS 3343. Information Systems Analysis and Design
CIS 3365. Database Management
Approved Elective (3 SH):
Approved Elective List:

BCHS 4306: Nucleic Acid, BCHS 4324: Bioinformatics for Biologists, BCHS 4325: Molecular Biology

BIOL 3306: Evolutionary Biology, BIOL 4310: Biostatistics, BIOL 4323: Immunology, BIOL 4365: Applied Evolution, BIOL 4366: Molecular Evolution, BIOL 4367: Evolutionary Ecology, BIOL 4374: Cell Biology

BTEC 3399/4399: Senior Honors Thesis

TELS 4350: Industrial & Environmental Safety

College and Departmental Requirements

ELET 2300. Introduction to C++ Language Programming
CIS 2334. Information Systems Applications
PHYS 1301, 1101. Introductory General Physics I, Laboratory
TELS 3340. Organizational Decisions in Technology
or
HDCS 3300. Organizational Decisions in Technology

College Requirements and University Core


Communications
(6 semester hours which includes university core)
ENGL 1303. First Year Writing I
ENGL 1304. First Year Writing II
Writing in the Discipline
(3 semester hours which includes university core)
TELS 3363. Technical Communication
US History/American Government
(12 semester hours which includes university core)
HIST 1377. The United States to 1877
HIST 1379. The United States Since 1877
POLS 1336. U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics
POLS 1337. U.S. Government: Congress, President, and Courts
Humanities
(3 semester hours which includes university core)
PHIL 1305. Ethics (recommended)
Visual & Performing Arts
(3 semester hours which includes university core)
Choose from approved list
Social Sciences
(3 semester hours which includes university core)
Choose from approved list
Mathematics

(10 semester hours which includes university core)

Students are required to have credit for College Algebra through Math Placement Exam, CLEP, or completion of course.

MATH 1330. Precalculus
MATH 1431. Calculus I
TMTH 3360. Applied Technical Statistics or PSYC 3301. Introduction to Psychological Statistics
Natural Sciences

(12 semester hours which includes university core)

BIOL 1361, 1161. Introduction to Biological Science, Laboratory
CHEM 1331, 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry, Laboratory
Free Elective (3 Semester Hours)

Degree awarded: Bachelor of Science
Major: Biotechnology

Catalog Publish Date: August 22, 2012
This Page Last Updated: August 1, 2012