UW-River Falls Academic Plan

Biotechnology

Biochemistry and molecular biology have led to the development of a new industry which uses modified, living organisms to produce its products. This industry, generally referred to as biotechnology, is based upon genetic engineering and related techniques. As the applications of biotechnology expand and increase, so too will the number and scope of the job opportunities available.

Biotechnology Program
261 Centennial Science Hall
(715) 425-3577

Goals and Objectives

The biotechnology program mission is to provide students with a solid foundation in the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology. The major is interdisciplinary and laboratory intensive. Our goal is to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of current theories, concepts and laboratory practices in biotechnology and an appreciation for the virtues of an open-minded approach to controversial issues.

Program and/or Curriculum

The bachelor of science degree in biotechnology can be completed in either the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The major requirements and university general education requirements for the two degrees are identical. The degrees differ only in the college requirements.

Faculty

Biotechnology is an interdepartmental major offered jointly by the departments of biology, chemistry, plant and earth science, and animal and food science. The participating departments employ more than fifty faculty who have doctoral degrees. Many of these faculty members are directly involved in the biotechnology program. Their specialties include: retroviruses, animal cell culture, micropropagation of plants, human genetics, biosensors, immunology, enzymology, protein purification and characterization, virus-induced tumors, plant tissue culture, bacterial metabolism and fermentation, plant molecular biology and the expression of mammalian genes. The departments that offer the biotechnology major are housed in modern facilities with well-equipped laboratories that include state-of-the-art equipment for laboratory teaching and research.

Career Opportunities

Program graduates enjoy an excellent placement rate in industry and in graduate and professional schools. Persons with a degree in biotechnology pursue careers in one of the following areas:

Medical Biotechnology: The diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease have all benefited from the use of biotechnology. Diagnoses of both infectious diseases and genetic disorders have been improved by assays using biotechnology. The development and production of preventative agents, such as vaccines, and medications by animals and microorganisms have been expanded to include antibiotics, anti-toxins and other medicines. New methods of treating diseases are also being explored, such as injecting active genes into individuals to replace the inherited inactive genes which cause inherited disorders.

Plant Biotechnology: Biotechnology is being used to increase crop yields by inserting genes for resistance to diseases or pests using genetic engineering techniques. Crops such as soybean and canola are being modified to increase their usefulness as industrial lubricants and to produce oils lower in saturated fat that will have a longer shelf life.

Environmental Protection and Cleanup: Genetically engineered plants and microorganisms are being used to remove toxins from the environment in a process known as bioremediation. In a process called biopulping, a fungus is used to speed the conversion of wood chips into paper pulp. The goal is to reduce both energy use and the production of water-polluting byproducts.

Industrial Biotechnology: Microorganisms are a source of biological catalysts called enzymes that are used in the food industry to produce a variety of products including amino acids which serve as sweeteners or as food additives and animal feed supplements.

Animal Biotechnology: Animals have been modified to produce drugs that can be recovered from their milk. Dairy scientists are also developing methods to produce many calves from one embryo.

Students completing a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology are well prepared for careers as research scientists in industry, government agencies, foundations, hospitals and clinics. They will also be prepared to pursue advanced degrees in master’s and doctoral programs in the variety of specialized disciplines of biology, chemistry, medicine, animal science, food science and plant science.

Bachelor of Science Degree. Biotechnology. Academic Advising Plan.

Semester 1 (Fall)

BIOL 150 Introduction to Biology ~ 3
CHEM 120 Intro to General Chemistry (6) or 121 General Chemistry I (5) ~ 5 or 6
MATH 166 Calculus I (4) or 226 Fundamentals of Statistics (3)
or ANSC 341 Biometrics (3) ~ 3 or 4
General education CW or CS ~ 3 or 4
General education HW ~ 1
Total semester credits ~ 15-17

Semester 5 (Fall)

BIOL 350 Genetics and Evolution (3)
or ANSC 257 Genetics (3) ~ 3
BIOT 380 Biotech Junior Seminar ~ .5
CHEM 361 Biochemistry I ~ 3
CHEM 355 Separations Lab ~ 1
General education SB or HF ~3
General Education EC ~ 3
College required course ~ 3 or 4
Total semester credits ~ 16.5-17.5

Semester 2 (Spring)

ANSC 222 Introduction to Biotechnology ~ 2
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II ~ 5
General education CS or CW ~ 4 or 3
General eduction HW ~ 1
General education SB or HF ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 6 (Spring)

CHEM 362 Biochemistry II (3)
and CHEM 366 Lab (1) ~ 4
Biotechnology elective or specialization course ~ 3
General education SB or HF ~ 3
College required course ~ 3 or 4
Global Perspectives course ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 16-17

Semester 3 (Fall)

BIOL 240 Cell and Molecular Biology ~ 3
BIOT 280 Biotechnology Sophomore Seminar ~ .5
CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry I (3)
and Lab 236 (1) or 246 (2) ~ 4-5
PHYS 151,156 General Physics I and Lab ~ 5
General Education CA ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15.5-16.5

Semester 7 (Fall)

BIOL 451 Molecular Biology ~ 4
Biotechnology elective or specialization course ~ 3
Biotechnology elective or specialization course ~ 3
College required course ~ 4
American Cultural Diversity course ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 16

Semester 4 (Spring)

BIOL 324 Microbiology ~ 4
CHEM 232 Organic Chemistry II (3)
and Lab 237 (1) or 247 (1) ~ 4
PHYS 152,157 General Physics II and Lab ~ 5
General education SB or HF ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 16

Semester 8 (Spring)

BIOL 463 Animal Cell Culture (3)
or HORT 369 Plant Tissue Culture (3)
or FDSC 460 Fermentation Technology (3) ~ 3
BIOT 480 Biotechnology Seminar ~ 1
Biotechnology elective or specialization course ~ 3
Biotechnology elective or specialization course ~ 3
General education MD ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 13

Summary of Biotechnology
Degree Requirements

General Education and University
Requirements ~ *29-31 or 35-37 cr.
College Requirements ~ 8-10 cr.
Biotechnology Core ~ **40-41 cr.
Biotechnology Electives ~ 6 cr.
Specialization Area ~ 9 cr.
Required Supporting Courses ~ **23-25 cr.
Credits to Degree ~ 120-128 cr.

*American Cultural Diversity and Global Perspectives Courses can double count elsewhere in the curriculum (such as for Liberal Arts/college requirements) if courses are chosen wisely.

**Does not include courses that meet the General Education Requirement.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. After consulting with their advisers students may make other course choices which would meet the program requirements and be more suitable for them.

College of Arts and Sciences:
Liberal Arts 3 courses: minimum of 8 credits
Courses must be at the 200 level or above with the exception of Modern Language courses; testout credits are excluded.

Students must take courses from at least 2 divisions. (The divisions are: Humanities/Fine Arts; Modern Language; Sciences/Mathematics; Social Sciences.) Students may take 1 course in division of either major or minor, but course cannot be in either the major or minor designator area. (e.g., a Psychology major/Sociology minor could take a History course for Liberal Arts, but could not take either a PSYC or SOCI designated course to fulfill this requirement).

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences:
ANSC 111, Introduction to Animal Science 3 cr.
FDSC 112,113 Introduction to Food Science and Lab 4 cr.
HORT 161 Introduction to Horticulture 3 cr.

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Updated September 2008