Return to main Academic Units page
This site is best viewed in Internet Explorer Version 4 or above.
Biotechnology
|
Dr. Robert McKown
Phone: (540) 568-2776
E-mail: mckownrl@jmu.edu
Dr. Louise Temple, Director
Phone: (540) 568-6225
E-mail: templelm@jmu.edu
Mission Statement
In cooperation with the Department of Integrated Science and Technology, the Department of Biology offers a four-year, interdisciplinary B.S. degree program for a major in biotechnology.
Biotechnology majors must complete 47-53 credit hours of science foundation courses, 17 credit hours of biotechnology transition and core courses, and 15 credit hours of concentration courses including a capstone experience. With the advice and approval of a concentration adviser, each student selects the courses for his or her concentration area. Three broad areas of concentrations are suggested to serve a spectrum of student needs and desires. A research concentration would prepare students for graduate school or entry into a research laboratory. An industry concentration would prepare students for entry into the biotechnology industry. A custom concentration can be assembled for a specialized area of study such as bioinformatics, genomics or agricultural biotechnology.
Major and Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology
Degree Requirements
Credit Hours |
|
General Education1 |
41 |
Quantitative requirement2 |
3 |
|
Scientific literacy requirement2 |
3-4 |
Major requirements (listed below) and electives |
79 |
126 |
|
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements
each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill
these requirements may vary.
2 In addition to General Education.
Major Requirements
Science Foundation Courses |
Credit Hours |
|
Complete all of the following |
|
|
|
|
Choose one of the following sets of courses: |
|
|
|
Choose one of the following sets of courses: |
|
|
|
|
Choose one of the following sets of courses: |
|
|
4
4 |
|
Biotechnology Transition and Core Courses |
|
|
Complete all of the following: |
|
|
|
Biotechnology Area Concentrations
Students must complete 12 credit hours of courses in one of the biotechnology concentration areas listed below.
Research Concentration
Preparation for graduate school research program or employment in research laboratory.
Industry Concentration
Preparation for entry-level positions in the biotechnology industry.
Custom Concentration
Specialized in specific areas of biotechnology, including bioinformatics, genomics and agricultural biotechnology.
Capstone Experience
To meet the requirement for a capstone experience, students must complete three credit hours of one of the following:
ISAT 493. Senior Thesis
OR
BIO or ISAT 499. Honors Research
Three credit hours of BIO 497. Biological Research may be substituted to meet the capstone requirement, provided that the experience includes a presentation or paper as a requirement for completing the BIO 497 experience.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
First semester, freshmen biotechnology majors are encouraged to start with a 14-15 hour course load. This will generally include a biology course (four credit hours), CHEM 131 and CHEM 131L, and/or a math course, plus General Education. The workload will then be increased in the second semester based on the level of success during the first semester.
|
First Year |
Credit Hours |
|
BIO 114. Organisms 1 |
4 |
|
BIO 124. Ecology and Evolution |
4 |
|
CHEM 131& CHEM 131L. General Chemistry I 1 |
4 |
|
CHEM 132 & CHEM 132L. General Chemistry II |
4 |
|
Quantitative course1 |
4-8 |
|
GenEd Cluster One |
9 |
|
|
|
|
29-33 |
|
|
1Fulfill GenEd: Cluster Three (Package D: Basic Science and Mathematics) |
|
|
|
|
|
Second Year |
Credit Hours |
|
BIO 260. Biotechnology Seminar |
4 |
|
ISAT 305. Biotechnology Lab |
4 |
|
BIO 214. Cell and Molecular Biology |
4 |
|
BIO 224. Genetics and Development |
4 |
|
CHEM 341-342. Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
6 |
|
CHEM 346L. Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
3-4 |
|
Quantitative course |
3-4 |
|
GenEd: from Clusters Two, Four, and Five |
12 |
|
|
|
|
30-31 |
|
|
Third Year |
Credit Hours |
|
CHEM/BIO 361 and CHEM 366L. Biochemistry Lab |
5 |
|
BIO 480. Advanced Molecular Biology |
4 |
|
Concentration electives |
4 |
|
Physics courses |
8 |
|
GenEd: from Clusters Two, Four, and Five |
7 |
|
Electives |
4 |
|
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
Fourth Year |
Credit Hours |
|
BIO 325. Topics or ISAT 456. Social and Ethical Issues |
3 |
|
ISAT 451. Biotechnology in Industry |
3 |
|
Concentration electives |
8 |
|
Capstone course |
3 |
|
GenEd: from Clusters Two, Four, and Five |
6 |
|
Electives |
6 |
|
|
|
|
29 |
|
Back to top |
Back to top |
Back to top |
Back to top |
Back to top |
Back to top |
Back to top |
Back to top |
Back to top |
Publisher:
JMU
Academic Affairs
MSC 8002, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
For more information contact:
JMU Catalog Office at
ug-catalog@jmu.edu
Copyright © 2004 James Madison University. All rights reserved.
Privacy
Statement
