UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Degree Requirements

Biotechnology Major

Biotechnology 

Major Requirements: 55-56 Total Credits

Core Electives Specialization Supporting Courses

Core

Biotechnology 

Biotechnology Core: 40-41 cr. hrs.
AFES 222 Introduction to Biotechnology 2 cr.
BIOL 150 General Biology 3 cr.
BIOL 240 Cell and Molecular Biology 3 cr.
BIOL 324 Microbiology 4 cr.
BIOL 350 Genetics and Evolution (writing intensive) 3 cr.
or ANSC 257 Genetics 3 cr.
BIOL 451 Molecular Biology 4 cr.
BIOT 280 Sophomore Seminar 0.5 cr.
BIOT 380 Junior Seminar 0.5 cr.
BIOT 480 Biotech Seminar 1 cr.
CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry I 3 cr.
CHEM 232 Organic Chemistry II 3 cr.
CHEM 236 Organic Chemistry Lab I 1 cr.
or CHEM 246 Synthetic & Analytical Techniques in Organic Chemistry I 2 cr.
CHEM 237 Organic Chemistry Lab II 1 cr.
or CHEM 247 Synthetic & Analytical Techniques in Organic Chemistry II 1 cr.
CHEM 355 Separation Science Laboratory 1 cr.
CHEM 361 Biochemistry I 3 cr.
CHEM 362 Biochemistry II 3 cr.
CHEM 366 Biochemistry Lab 1 cr.
FDSC 460 Fermentation Technology 3 cr.
or HORT 369 Plant Tissue Culture 3 cr.
or BIOL 463 Animal Cell Culture 3 cr.

Electives

Biotechnology 

Biotechnology Electives: 6 cr. hrs.

Choose at least six credits from the following additional courses to obtain additional training in methods and content particularly relevant to biotechnology. Fermentation Technology, Animal Cell Culture or Plant Tissue Culture may be chosen as electives after one of the courses is completed as a core course (no double counting as core and elective).
BIOL 345 Immunology 3 cr.
BIOL 453 Virology 3 cr.
BIOT 373 / CSIS 373 Bioinformatics 3 cr.
BIOT 295 Biotechnology Lab Research 1 cr.
BIOT 379 Biotechnology Internship 1-4 cr.
BIOT 495 Biotechnology Thesis 1-3 cr.
FDSC 335 Food Microbiology 4 cr.
FDSC 460 Fermentation Technology 3 cr.
HORT 369 Plant Tissue Culture 3 cr.
BIOL 463 Animal Cell Culture 3 cr.

Specialization

Biotechnology 

Specialization Area: 9 cr. hrs.

In consultation with a biotechnology faculty advisor, the student will develop a plan that includes at least 9 additional credits of specialization. Up to four credits may include an internship in the specialization area. The total number of internship credits distributed between the Biotechnology Electives and Specialization Area may not exceed 4 credits. The plan will be submitted to the Biotechnology Program Director by the end of the first semester of the junior year for recording and approval. The senior seminar should focus on a research project the student worked on or a topic intimately related to the area of specialization.

Some possible specialization areas/emphases might include:
Production Animal Biotechnology
Production Crop Biotechnology
Business/Management
Computational Biotechnology/Bioinformatics
Criminal Justice/Forensic Biotechnology
Environmental Biotechnology
Food Science Biotechnology
Industrial Biotechnology
Materials Science Biotechnology
Medical Biotechnology
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Veterinary Medical Biotechnology

Supporting Courses

Biotechnology 

Required Supporting Courses 18-20 cr. hrs.
MATH 166 Calculus I 4 cr.
or ANSC 341 Biometrics 3 cr.
or MATH 226 Fundamentals of Statistics

CHEM 120 Introduction to General Chemistry 6 cr.
or CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 5 cr.
and CHEM 122 General Chemistry II 5 cr.

Either sequence A or B below:

A. PHYS 151 Algebra-Based Physics I 4 cr.
PHYS 152 Algebra-Based Physics II 4 cr.
PHYS 156 Algebra-Based Physics Laboratory I 1 cr.
PHYS 157 Algebra-Based Physics Laboratory II 1 cr.

B. PHYS 161 Calculus-Based Physics I 4 cr.
PHYS 162 Calculus-Based Physics II 4 cr.
PHYS 166 Calculus-Based Laboratory I 1 cr.
PHYS 167 Calculus-Based Laboratory II 1 cr.

Degree Description

Interdisciplinary Program

261 Centennial Science Hall
715-425-3577
www.uwrf.edu/BIOT

Karl Peterson-Director

The Biotechnology major is an interdisciplinary program that is focused on the molecular basis of life processes and the techniques utilized to both study and control these processes under in vivo and in vitro conditions. The Biotechnology curriculum draws upon the expertise and course offerings of the participating departments: Biology, Chemistry, Animal and Food Science, and Plant and Earth Science. The Biotechnology major is designed to provide those students who are interested in pursuing careers at the interface of biology and chemistry with the academic background required to either secure entry level positions in the biotechnology industry or to continue their education in graduate or professional schools. A student may elect to complete a B.S. degree in Biotechnology in either the College of Arts and Sciences, 715-425-3777, or the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences 715-425-3841.

General Education Requirements

BA and BS Liberal Arts majors as listed.
BS Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences majors as listed.
Courses in the major or required supporting courses may be double counted to satisfy the General Education science requirements. Therefore, the total General Education credit hour requirement is reduced by the courses that can be double-counted.