Biology BS, Biology MS (Biotechnology concentration): combined degree

The combined accelerated program B.S./M.S. in Biology with allows students to earn both degrees for a total of 142 credits, instead of 161. Students are required to take 22 graduate credits and 120 undergraduate credits. Students must decide to be in this program by the end of their sophomore year and arrange their program for their junior and senior years in close consultation with their academic advisers.
The concentration in biotechnology is designed to provide the student with a thorough background in molecular and cellular biology, with emphasis on current developments in areas including genetics, immunology, microbiology, cell physiology, recombinant DNA techniques and cell and tissue culture. This program prepares students for careers in research or the health care professions, as well as careers in business, law and scientific writing.
Degree Plan
NOTE: All students are required to complete the General Education Requirements of their campus in fulfillment of their Bachelor degree requirements.
Candidates for a concentration in biotechnology must complete the courses required for the major in biology and include the following courses: BIOL3225, BIOL3226 General Microbiology; BIOL3345 Molecular Genetics; BIOL5306 Immunology; and BIOL6840 Cell Culture
Semesters 1 and 2
- BIOL1221, BIOL1222 Biological Diversity and Laboratory
- BIOL1223 Biological Diversity Recitation
- BIOL1233, BIOL1234 Introduction to Molecules, Cells and Genes and Laboratory
- BIOL1235 Molecules, Cells & Genes Recitation
Semester 3 and 4
- BIOL2200, BIOL2201 Ecology & Field Biology and Laboratory (or)
- MBIO2209, MBIO2219 Introduction to Marine Biology and Laboratory
- BIOL2300 Experimental Design
Semesters 5 and 6
- BIOL3100, BIOL3101 Genetics and Laboratory
- BIOL3238/BIOL3239 Human Structure & Function I and Laboratory
- BIOL3225/BIOL3226 General Microbiology and Laboratory
- BIOL3345 Molecular Genetics
Semesters 7 and 8
- BIOL4855/BIOL4856 Molecular Biology Techniques and Laboratory
- BIOL6240, BIOL6241 Molecular Cell Biology and Laboratory
- BIOL4950 Biology Seminar
- BIOL4405 Ethics in Science
- BIOL4950 Biology Seminar II
- BIOL5306 Immunology
- BIOL6840 Cell Culture
Semesters 9 and 10 (22 credits)
- BIOL6720 Molecular Biotechnology (3 credits)
- Graduate Biology Electives (19 credits) [Students may take any BIOL course at or above the “5000” level]
Cognate Requirements
Semesters 1 and 2
- CHEM1201, CHEM1203 General Chemistry I and Laboratory
- CHEM1202, CHEM1204 General Chemistry II and Laboratory
Semesters 3 and 4
- CHEM2261, CHEM2263 Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory
- CHEM2262, CHEM2264 Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory
Semesters 5 and 6
- PHYS2203 / PHYS2201 University Physics I Lecture and Laboratory
- PHYS2204 / PHYS2202 University Physics II Lecture and Laboratory
Major Requirements:
- Free Electives: May be chosen from any courses offered at the University after consultation with an advisor, but may include no more than six credits of “1000” level Biology courses. Physical Education is recommended for students to go on to schools of Veterinary Medicine.
- The Program is designed for students who plan to attend Graduate school or who wish to prepare for admission to a School of Medicine, Dentistry, Chiropractic, Optometry, etc., as well as those interested in entering directly into the workforce.
A minimum of 120 credits is required for the BS degree, and a minimum of an additional 22 credits for the MS degree.
Course Descriptions
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BIOL1221 The study of modern biological principles and processes such as organizational diversity, evolution, ecology, and behavior.
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BIOL1222 Laboratory associated with BIOL 1221, Biological Diversity.
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BIOL1223 Recitation associated with BIOL 1221, Biological Diversity.
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BIOL1233 Includes a study of biomolecules; cell structure, function and communication; enzymes and metabolism; respiration and photosynthesis; cell division, heredity, chromosomes and human genetics; gene replication, expression and regulation; and biotechnology.
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BIOL1234 Laboratory associated with BIOL 1233, Molecules, Cells abd Genes.
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BIOL1235 Recitation: Recitation associated with BIOL 1233, Molecules, Cells & Genes.
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BIOL2300 Experimental Design examines the scientific research process; with hands-on exercises in statistical data analysis and the analysis of original research procedure using EXCEL, SAS and SPSS technologies. The analysis of experimental design in original research papers is through the identification of experimental variables, graphical representations, statistical techniques, data interpretation, and research theses.
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BIOL3100 This course includes a study of the laws of heredity and transmission of genetic material. The structure, replication, recombination and expression of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genetic material will be studied. Population genetics will also be covered along with how society has been impacted by advancements in the study of genetics.
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BIOL3101 Lab associated with BIOL 3100, Genetics.
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BIOL3225 Introduction to microorganisms' structure, biochemistry, genetics and physiology and their interactions with animals other organisms.
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BIOL3226 Isolation and identification of common pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms utilizing staining, culturing, biochemical analysis and microscopic inspection.
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BIOL3238 Study of the structure and adaptive homeostatic control of organ systems. Contemporary problems in the environment and health sciences are related to the human body.
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BIOL3239 Includes organ dissection. Open to sophomore and junior biology majors.
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BIOL3345 Structure and function of genomes and proteomes. Experimental manipulation of macromolecules including restriction mapping, cloning and identification of recombinant molecules. Application in research, medicine, agriculture and forensics. Gene mining for pharmacogenomics and gene therapy. Use of internet data bases. Ethical, legal and social issues.
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BIOL4405 Studies relating the ethical application of advances in sciences to humans, other living organisims, ecosystems, and the planet.
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BIOL4855 Theory and applications of interpretive spectroscopy, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, physical methods, and separation techniques. General biological lab techniques such as staining, ring tests, agglutination, immunodiffusion, ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) Electrophoresis.
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BIOL4856 Experiments illustrating the topics discussed in BIOL 4855 Lecture: Techniques:Theories & Applications
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BIOL4950 This course reviews current research and methods in the biological sciences through a series of invited lectures by research scientists. In addition, the course will expose students to research developments and techniques through the discussion and analysis of peer reviewed published research.
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BIOL5306 Study of the structure and function of the molecular and cellar components of the immune system, genetic bases of immune responses, normal and pathological responses, tumor immunology, transplantation, and immunological techniques. Open to qualified undergraduates with permission of instructor or advisor.
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BIOL6240 Modern Cell Biology investigates the central concept for cellular functioning, DNA to RNA to Protein, by integrating biomolecules, biotechnology, regulating mechanisms, signals and signaling pathways and aberrations that result in pathology, such as cancer.
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BIOL6241 The laboratory encompasses sequential experiments using tissueculture:cell toxicity; apoptosis; oxidative stress; immunocytochemistry, ELISA, SiRNA, or promoter-reporter transfection, mRNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis; Northern blotting.
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BIOL6720 Purification of DNA. Manipulation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA. Vectors, cloning, gene expression and in vitro mutagenesis. Production of proteins from cloned genes. Applications of recombinant DNA technology in basic research, medicine, agriculture and industry.
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BIOL6840 Biology, characteristics and requirements of cells in culture. Aseptic cell culture methods and applications of the techniques to specify types of cell lines. Evaluation of cultured cell function. Scale-up of cell cultures. Cell-based assays and drug discovery. Applications in recombinant DNA technology.
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CHEM1201 The fundamental laws, theories and principles of chemistry, with emphasis on atomic structure, chemical bonding, periodic classification of the elements, solutions, equilibrium, reaction kinetics and the theory and practice of the qualitative chemistry of the common ions.
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CHEM1202 Fundamental principles of chemistry, with emphasis on atomic and molecular structure, physical, chemical and periodic properties, stoichiometry, energetics, kinetics and equilibria of reactions, and descriptive chemistry of elements, including theory of qualitative analysis of common ions.
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CHEM1203 Practical applications of the fundamental laws, theories and principles of chemistry through problem solving and laboratory experiments.
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CHEM1204 Laboratory experiments emphasizing representative physical and chemical properties, synthetic and analytical techniques, and including an introduction to the qualitative analysis of the common ions.
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CHEM2261 Structure and chemical properties of aliphatic and aromatic compounds of carbon, with emphasis on electronic theory, mechanisms of reaction and principles of synthesis.
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CHEM2262 Structure and chemical properties of aliphatic and aromatic compounds of carbon, with emphasis on electronic theory, mechanisms of reaction and principles of synthesis.
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CHEM2263 A laboratory course taken concurrently with CHEM 2261- Organic Chemistry I, which illustrates important principles of structure and reactivity, synthesis and analysis and structure determination of organic compounds.
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CHEM2264 A laboratory course taken simultaneously with CHEM 2262 Organic Chemistry II that illustrates important principles of structure and reactivity, synthesis and analysis and structure determination of organic compounds.
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MBIO2209 Basic study of the marine environment, with emphasis on the ecological aspects of the ocean. Types and characteristics of marine organisms and their interactions with one another as well as with the physical, chemical and geological sectors of the ocean.
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MBIO2219 Experiments illustrating the topics discussed in MBIO 2209 Introduction to Marine Biology
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PHYS2201 Applications of PHYS2101 General Physics I. Experiments from mechanics, heat, sound and fluids. Measurement and data analysis.
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PHYS2202 Applications of PHYS2102 General Physics II. Experiments from electricity, magnetism, circuits, waves, optics, light, modern physics. Measurement and data analysis.
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PHYS2203 The first half of a two-semester calculus based physics course for science and engineering majors. Topics normally covered include: units and dimensions, forces and motion in one and two dimensions, vectors, momentum and center of mass, work, kinetic energy and the work-energy theorem, potential energy and the conservation of energy, rotation and moment of inertia, torque and angular momentum, gravitation, oscillations, elasticity, fluids, heat, kinetic theory of gases, thermodynamics. Co-requisite: Physics Laboratory I and Calculus I. Lecture: 3 credits, 4 hours.
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PHYS2204 The second half of a two-semester, calculus based physics course. Topics normally covered include: waves and sound, geometrical and physical optics, electrical forces and fields, electric potential, current and resistance, circuits, capacitance, magnetic forces and fields, force on a moving charge, magnetic field of a current, electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic oscillations and waves, alternating currents, special relativity, quantization and modern physics. Prerequisite: University Physics I Corequisite: Physics Laboratory II Recommended: Calculus II. Lecture 3 credits, 4 hours.