Biotechnology

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.

Major Requirements

Major: Biotechnology

Degree Type: B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120

University Degree Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

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 Credits39
*

 May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

 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 major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

  •  A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

Major requirements

Biotechnology Requirements
MICR 189Skills for Academic Success 11
CSCI 114Computer Applications3
or CSCI 122 Visual BASIC
MATH 165Calculus I4
PHYS 211
211L
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory
4
PHYS 212
212L
College Physics II
and College Physics II Laboratory
4
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 151
151L
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
4
PLSC 315
315L
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) Cross-listed as BIOL 315/L
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
BIOC 460Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I3
BIOC 461Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II3
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 482Microbial Genetics3
MICR 491Seminar (Biotechnology)1-2
or BIOC 491 Seminar
Choose one of the following:3
Undergraduate Research
and Individual Study (2-4 cr. of 493 (research) and 1 cr. of 494 (thesis)) The research and thesis may also be completed as BIOC or PLSC
FE/Coop Ed/Internship
Major Elective in Physiology: Select 3 credits from the following:3
Microbial Physiology
Principles of Plant Physiology
Animal Physiology
Major Elective in Biotechnology Technique: Select 7-9 credits from the following:7-9
Methods of Biochemical Research
Molecular Biology of Gene Expression
Analytical Chemistry I
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 Credits88-91
1

MICR 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student.  Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take AGRI 189.

Degree Notes:

  • 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

Minor: Biotechnology

Required Credits: 20

Minor Requirements

BIOC 460Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I3
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 from the following:6
Basic Immunology
Immunology and Serology Laboratory
Microbial Genetics
Introductory Plant Pathology
Principles of Plant Physiology
Cell Biology
Animal Physiology
Total Credits20

 Minor Requirements and Notes

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