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Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary field based on a combination of biology and technology. It includes the application of science and technology to the design of new plants, animals, and microorganisms that have improved characteristics. The methodologies include the use of recombinant DNA for gene cloning and gene transfers between organisms, culture of plant and animal cells and tissues, fusion of animal cells or plant protoplasts, and the regeneration of whole plants from single cells.

Biotechnology also is concerned with the large-scale fermentation processes that utilize some of these novel organisms for the production of pharmaceuticals, diagnostic tests for diseases, feed additives, enzymes, and hormones.

Biotechnology offers seemingly unlimited opportunities to combine genes from related or unrelated species to produce useful organisms with desirable properties that were not previously found in nature. The development of crop plants that are resistant to herbicides or insects, the production of human growth hormone and insulin by genetically engineered bacteria, and the development of unique vaccines are all examples of successful biotechnology.

The Biotechnology program is offered in either the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources or the College of Science and Mathematics and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree or Bachelor of Arts degree (College of Science and Mathematics only). The curriculum is designed to provide students with knowledge and experience in both basic and applied sciences. Students have an opportunity to work with scientists in various areas including, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, chemistry, horticulture, microbiology, pharmaceutical sciences, plant pathology, plant science, and zoology. Faculty in each of the cooperating life-science departments has been identified to serve as advisers and research mentors for students who select the biotechnology major. Graduates of this program have excellent opportunities for employment in the biotechnology industry or for graduate education.

Students majoring in biotechnology are required to perform a research project in the laboratory of a faculty member/scientist, and to prepare a senior thesis describing their research project. A 2.50 institutional grade-point average is required to graduate from the program.

Biotechnology Minor

A minor in biotechnology requires satisfactory completion of 21 credits in the following courses. A minimum of eight credits must be taken at NDSU.

Major Requirements

Major: Biotechnology

Degree Type: B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 128

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

Major requirements

Biotechnology Requirements
BIOC 460
460L
Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
and Foundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory
4
BIOC 461Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II3
BIOC 465Survey of Physical Chemistry4
BIOC 474Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology3
MICR 350
350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
5
MICR 470Basic Immunology3
MICR 471Immunology and Serology Laboratory2
MICR 482Bacterial Genetics & Phage3
MICR 491Seminar (Biotechnology)1-5
MICR 494Individual Study (Senior Research)2-4
MICR 494Individual Study (Senior Thesis)1
Supporting Requirements
AGRI 150Agriculture Orientation (Applies only to students earning this degree out of the College of AFSNR;Not required for students transferring in 24 or more credits )1
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 151
151L
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
4
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 122
122L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 341
341L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II3
CSCI 114Microcomputer Packages3
or CSCI 122 Visual BASIC
Select one from the following: (May satisfy general education category R)8
Applied Calculus I
and Applied Calculus II
Calculus I
and Calculus II
Select one from the following: (May satisfy general education category S)4 or 5
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory
University Physics I
and University Physics I Laboratory
Select one from the following: (May satisfy general education category S)4 or 5
College Physics II
and College Physics II Laboratory
University Physics II
and University Physics II Laboratory
PLSC 315
315L
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general edcuation category R)3
Major Elective in Physiology: Select 3 credits from the following:3
Plant Physiology
Animal Physiology
Bacterial Physiology
Major Elective in Biotechnology Technique: Select 4-6 credits from the following:4-6
Methods of Biochemical Research
Molecular Biology of Gene Expression
Animal Cell Culture Techniques
Genomics
Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology
Additional Humanities & Fine Arts or Social & Behavioral Sciences Credits6
An additional 6 credits from these General Education categories is required for earning a B.S. degree from either the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources or the College of Science and Mathematics.
Total Credits94-104

Degree Notes:

  • A 2.50 institutional grade-point average is required to graduate from this program.
  • The Bachelors of Science degree is the default degree type for this program of study.  However, a Bachelor of Arts degree is available if the degree is being earned from the College of Science & Mathematics.
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree Requirements: An additional 12 credits of Humanities and/or Social Sciences courses and proficiency of a modern foreign language at the second year level (example: SPAN 201 & 202).  Courses for the Humanities and/or Social Sciences may be fulfilled by any course having the following prefix: ADHM, ANTH, ARCH, ART, CJ, CLAS, COMM, ECON, ENGL, FREN GEOG, GERM, HDFS, HIST, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the current Humanities & Fine Arts (A) and/or Social & Behavioral Sciences (B) General Education list.

Minor Requirements

Biotechnology Minor

Required Credits: 21

BIOC 460
460L
Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
and Foundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory
4
BIOC 461Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II3
PLSC 315
315L
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory
4
Biotechnology Technique Electives: Select 4 credits from the following:4
Methods of Biochemical Research
Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology
Animal Cell Culture Techniques
Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology
Specialized Electives: Select 6 credits form the following:6
Plant Physiology
Basic Immunology
Immunology and Serology Laboratory
Bacterial Genetics & Phage
Introductory Plant Pathology
Cell Biology
Animal Physiology
Total Credits21

 Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.