Biotechnology
Major Requirements
Major: Biotechnology
Degree Type: B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
University Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
- Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
- Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
- A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
- At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
- 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
A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning † | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology † | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts † | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences † | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness † | 2 | |
| Category D: Cultural Diversity *† | ||
| Category G: Global Perspectives *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
- *
Courses for category D & G are satisfied by completing D & G designated 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.
Major requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology Requirements | ||
| MICR 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 1 |
| CSCI 114 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| or CSCI 122 | Visual BASIC | |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I | 4 |
| 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 330 | Introductory Statistics | 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 Cross-listed as BIOL 315/L | 4 |
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 122 & 122L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 341 & 341L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| BIOC 460 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I | 3 |
| BIOC 461 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| BIOC 474 | Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology 2 | 4 |
| MICR 350 & 350L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| MICR 470 | Basic Immunology 2 | 3 |
| MICR 471 | Immunology and Serology Laboratory 2 | 2 |
| MICR 485 | Capstone Experience I: Reflecting and Planning | 1 |
| MICR 486 | Capstone Experience II: Reflection and Dissemination | 1 |
| Ethics - Select one philosophy/ethics course from the following: | 3 | |
| Professional Responsibility and Ethics | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Contemporary Moral Issues | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Ethics, Engineering, and Technology | ||
| Capstone - Select one of the following capstone experiences from the following: | 2 | |
| Undergraduate Research (Research Experience) 3 | ||
| Individual Study | ||
| FE/Coop Ed/Internship (Internship Experience) | ||
| Biotechnology Elective - Select one course from the following: | 2-3 | |
| Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Microbial Biotechnology 2 | ||
| Genetics Elective - Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Animal Genetics 2 | ||
| Microbial Genetics 2 | ||
| Intermediate Genetics 2 | ||
| Physiology Elective - Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Microbial Physiology 2 | ||
| Principles of Plant Physiology 2 | ||
| Animal Physiology 2 | ||
| Major Electives - Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Biological Materials Processing | ||
| Biobased Energy 2 | ||
| Process Engineering for Food, Biofuels and Bioproducts 2 | ||
| 3D Printing and Manufacturing | ||
| Methods of Biochemical Research 2 | ||
| Molecular Biology of Gene Expression 2 | ||
| Food Ingredient Technology 2 | ||
| Analytical Chemistry I 2 | ||
| Biopolymers and Biocomposites 2 | ||
| Microbiological Principles for Environmental Engineers | ||
| Program and Project Management | ||
| Critical Skills in Microbiology | ||
| Critical Skills in Microbiology Laboratory Research | ||
| Animal Cell Culture Techniques 2 | ||
| Microbial Genomics with Computational Laboratory 2 | ||
| Genomics 2 | ||
| Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 90-91 | |
- 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.
- 2
Courses that offer a 600 level dual course can be taken for the B.S./M.S. accelerated program. The 600 level courses have additional outcomes/requirements that students will have to complete. Students approved for accelerated programs must complete and submit the Accelerated Declaration form, which will require the student and advisor to identify which graduate courses (no more than 15 credits) will be counted toward the B.S. degree.
- 3
The research may also be completed as BIOC or PLSC.
Degree Notes:
- An accelerated undergraduate to master's degree program is available for the B.S. in Biotechnology major to the M.S. in Microbiology. Students must have a 3.00 GPA. Instructions to apply can be found in the online catalog and a sample 5-year plan can be found on the departments website. Students may complete a thesis-based or comprehensive study-based master's program.
Minor Requirements
Minor: Biotechnology
Required Credits: 20
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 460 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I | 3 |
| BIOC 461 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| 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 | ||
| Immunology and Serology Laboratory | ||
| Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology | ||
| Specialized Electives: Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Animal Biotechnology | ||
| Animal Genetics | ||
| Microbial Biotechnology | ||
| Basic Immunology | ||
| Microbial Physiology | ||
| Microbial Genetics | ||
| Principles of Plant Physiology | ||
| Intermediate Genetics | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Total Credits | 20 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.