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Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Publication: 2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog Program: Biotechnology, B.S. Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Biotechnology, B.S.

College of Technology > Department of Engineering Technology > Biotechnology, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science Program in Biotechnology is intended to provide students with strong core science concepts and an application-oriented undergraduate education. Strongly interdisciplinary, this innovative program strives to help students develop critical-thinking skills and increased interest and /or persistence in STEM-related courses. The program’s objective is to prepare students for employment opportunities in the critically important and dynamic biotechnology industry. In addition, the curriculum will provide students with knowledge and core set of skills that span across basic sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. With an emphasis on environmental biotechnology, this is the first program in the state of Texas that integrates bioprocessing, nanobiotechnology, bioinformatics and environmental biotechnology into the undergraduate curriculum.

The program recognizes the need for cross-disciplinary training and fosters collaborative interactions that will strengthen undergraduate education.

The program is specifically designed to:

  • Develop adaptable students with a strong foundation in skills that are relevant to the changing world of biotechnology.
  • Provide students with practical training in the skills and techniques of biotechnology.
  • Integrate the laboratory and lecture components of the program through the use of an experimental approach to learning.
  • Uniquely combine practical, hands-on biotechnology training with cutting-edge biotechnology research and teaching.

Two curriculum tracks: 1) Bioprocessing, and 2) Bioinformatics give students the flexibility to tailor their degree based on their interest, educational background and career goals. These tracks, in combination with core courses, will provide our students with a broad exposure to the field of biotechnology. The presence of the Texas Medical Center in the greater Houston area and a growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, places this program at the forefront of Biotechnology Education.

Students pursuing the Biotechnology major must complete the following requirements in addition to the university core and general college requirements.

Biotechnology

University Core

Core Communications (6 semester hours)

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
Core Communications -  ENGL 1301 - First Year Writing I Credit Hours: 3
Core Communications II -  ENGL 1302 - First Year Writing II Credit Hours: 3

Core Mathematics (6 semester hours)

  • Core Mathematics - this program has specified math (see below)
  • Core Math/Reasoning (IDO) - this program has specified math (see below)

Core American History (6 semester hours)

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
HIST 1377 - The U S To 1877 Credit Hours: 3.0
HIST 1379 - The United States Since 1877 Credit Hours: 3.0

Core Government/Political Science (6 semester hours)

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
GOVT 2306 - US and Texas Constitution and Politics Credit Hours: 3
GOVT 2305 - US Government: Congress, President, & Courts Credit Hours: 3

Core Language, Philosophy & Culture (3 semester hours)

  • Core Language, Philosophy & Culture - this program has recommended course (see below)

Core Creative Arts (3 semester hours)

  • Creative Arts: Approved Core Courses

Core Life & Physical Sciences (6 semester hours)

  • Core Life & Physical Sciences - this program has specified science (see below)
  • Core Life & Physical Sciences - this program has specified science (see below)

Core Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 semester hours)

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences: Approved Core Courses 

Core Writing in the Disciplines (IDO) (3 semester hours)

  • Core Writing in the Disciplines - this program has specified WID (see below)

Undergraduate Bachelor of Science Requirement

  • 6 semester hours MATH courses
  • 6 semester hours Formal Science

Courses required for program that also fulfill core categories:

Language, Philosophy & Culture

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
PHIL 1305 - Intro To Ethics (recommended) Credit Hours: 3

Mathematics and BS Special Requirements

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
Core Mathematics -  MATH 2413 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
Core Math/Reasoning -  MATH 2312 - Precalculus (students who have completed MATH 1431 may substitute higher level math for MATH 1330) Credit Hours: 3

 

Bachelor of Science -  MATH 1342 - Elementary Statistical Methods OR Credit Hours: 3
TMTH 3360 - Applied Technical Statistics OR Credit Hours: 3.0
PSYC 3301 - Introduction to Psychological Statistics OR Credit Hours: 3
MATH 3339 - Statistics for the Sciences Credit Hours: 3

 

Bachelor of Science -  ELET 2300 - Introduction To C++ Programming (student may apply previous credit for COSC 1410) Credit Hours: 3

Life & Physical Sciences

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
BIOL 1306 - Biology for Science Majors I (lecture) Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1106 - Biology for Science Majors I (Lab) Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 1311 - Fundamentals of Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1111 - Fundamentals of Chm Lab Credit Hours: 1

Writing in the Discipline

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
TLIM 3363 - Technical Communications (student may apply previous credit for ENGI 2304 Technical Communications) Credit Hours: 3

Departmental Requirements

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
ELET 2300 - Introduction To C++ Programming Credit Hours: 3
CIS 2334 - Information Systems Applications Credit Hours: 3.0
PHYS 1301 - College Physics I (lecture) Credit Hours: 3

 

TLIM 3340 - Organizational Leadership and Supervision OR Credit Hours: 3.0
HDCS 3300 - Organizational Decisions in Technology (student may apply previous credit for MANA 3335) Credit Hours: 3.0

Biotechnology Major Requirements

Majors in Biotechnology may use no grade below C- on courses to satisfy major degree requirements.

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
BCHS 3304 - General Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
BCHS 3201 - Biochemistry I Laboratory Credit Hours: 2
BIOL 1307 - Biology for Science Majors II (lecture Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1107 - Biology for Science Majors II (lab) Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 2321 - Microbiology for Science Majors (lecture) Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 2121 - Microbiology for Science Majors (lab) Credit Hours: 1
BTEC 1322 - Introduction to Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3.0
BTEC 3200 - Biotechnology Research Methods & Applications Credit Hours: 2
BTEC 3301 - Principles of Genomics/Proteomics and Bioinformatics Credit Hours: 3
BTEC 3302 - Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3
BTEC 3317 - Biotechnology Regulatory Environment Credit Hours: 3.0
BTEC 3321 - Current Good Manufacturing Practices in Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3.0
BTEC 4350 - Biotechnology Capstone Experience Credit Hours: 3.0
CHEM 1312 - Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1112 - Fundamentals of Chm Lab Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 2323 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 2123 - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credit Hours: 1

Biotechnology students must complete either the Biomanufacturing track or the Bioinformatics track

Biomanufacturing Track
Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
BTEC 3320 - Introduction to Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3.0
BTEC 4101 - Principles of Bioprocessing Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
BTEC 4301 - Principles of Bioprocessing Credit Hours: 3
BTEC 4319 - Microbial Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3.0
Bioinformatics Track
Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
BTEC 4300 - Principles of Bioinformatics Credit Hours: 3
BTEC 4100 - Principles of Bioinformatics Lab Credit Hours: 1
CIS 3343 - Information Systems Analysis & Design Credit Hours: 3
CIS 3365 - Database Management Credit Hours: 3.0
Approved Electives

3 credit hours of approved electives:

Course NameCredit Hours:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
BCHS 4306 - Nucleic Acids Credit Hours: 3
BCHS 4324 - Bioinformatics Credit Hours: 3
BCHS 4325 - Molecular Microbiology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 3306 - Evolutionary Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4310 - Biostatistics Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4323 - Immunology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4365 - Applied Evolution Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4366 - Molecular and Genome Evolution Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4367 - Evolutionary Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4374 - Cell Biology Credit Hours: 3
TLIM 4342 - Quality Improvement Methods Credit Hours: 3
TLIM 4350 - Occupational Safety & Environmental Health Credit Hours: 3.0

Free electives (6 semester hours)

Students must have minimum 2.00 in major

Major GPA will be calculated on the major requirements including Biomanufacturing or Bioinformatics track.

  • 2.00 minimum cumulative grade point average in courses attempted at the University of Houston
  • 36 of the credit hours must be advanced (junior or senior level)
  • Final Residency - The last 30 semester hours to be applied toward a bachelor’s degree must be taken in residence at UH
  • 9 advanced credit hours in department of major in residence at UH
  • 120 hours required for this degree
  • Limit of 66 credit hours of lower-level (1000 and 2000 level) transfer credit toward an undergraduate degree at the University of Houston
  • Students  may use no more than two semester hours in physical education activity courses
  • Students must satisfy TSI to graduate
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