The Division of Natural Sciences is committed to promoting intellectual, spiritual and professional development, striving to enhance the quality of life through the advancement of knowledge in the natural sciences. The Natural Sciences Division provides curricula fulfilling general education and degree requirements. The Natural Sciences include the areas of: Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
For more information about the Biotechnology Program that is housed within the Division of Natural Sciences contact Dr. Lydia Thebeau at (314) 392-2285 or by e-mail.
BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION
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Mission Statement: The biotechnology program is designed to serve those students interested in pursuing a career in research science or higher academic degrees. Majors will be well-equipped to compete for employment in major pharmaceutical or industrial laboratories, governmental laboratories, or not-for-profit research institutions and will be competitive for academic placement in graduate degree programs. In accord with the general mission of the University, courses are taught from a Christian worldview.
The biotechnology program provides students with scientific background and laboratory experience necessary for employment with biotech and pharmaceutical industries, for advanced studies in applications of biotechnology such as biochemistry or molecular biology, or to pursue advanced professional degrees (MD, MBA, law) with emphasis in biotechnological issues. Career opportunities in the field of biotechnology include university teaching and research or biomedical research in hospital, academic, governmental, or industrial research laboratory settings. Students taking business courses, along with their biotechnology training, would also represent ideal candidates for jobs in management, sales, or marketing in biotechnological or pharmaceutical industries. The biotechnology program is an ideal preparatory tool for students planning to go to graduate school or other professional degree program, or those students interested in pursuing a career as a research associate.
B.S. in Biotechnology
Required Biotechnology (BIOT) Courses: 14-17 hours
BIOT 213 Introduction to Biotechnology
BIOT 211 Biotechnology Laboratory
BIOT 223 Bioethics
BIOT 301 Biotechnology Seminar
BIOT 313 Experimental Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology
BIOT 483-486 Biotechnology Internship or Independent Research
Required Biology (BIOL) Courses: 18-19 hours
BIOL 113 & 111 General Biology I*
BIOL 123 & 121 General Biology II**
BIOL 343 & 341 Genetics
BIOL 423 Cell Biology
One course from the following:
BIOL 373 & 371 Microbiology
BIOL 353 Embryology
BIOL 363 Pathophysiology
BIOL 443 Advanced Human Physiology
Required Chemistry (CHEM) Courses: 24 hours
CHEM 133 & 132 General Chemistry I*
CHEM 143 & 142 General Chemistry II**
CHEM 313 & 312 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 323 & 322 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 443 & 441 Biochemistry
Required Mathematics (MATH) Courses: 6 hours
MATH 164 Calculus I*
MATH 243 Probability and Statistics
OR
MATH 343 Statistical Methods**
Required Physics (PHYS) Courses: 8 hours
PHYS 213 & 211 General Physics I
PHYS 223 & 221 General Physics II
Required Business Division Course: 3 hours
MGMT 303 Management Concepts and Practices
OR
MRKT 313 Introduction to Marketing
*Also satisfies general education requirements
**Also satisfies B.S. degree requirements
Note: All Biotechnology (BIOT) courses may be used as electives for the Biology major or minor.
BIOT 211 BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
This laboratory course is co-requisite to “Introduction to
Biotechnology” and will provide students with hands-on practice
of major techniques used in isolation and characterization of
biologically important macromolecules with emphasis on
centrifugation, electrophoresis, nucleic acid isolation, purification,
hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, protein analysis and
quantitation. Co-requisite: BIOT 213 Introduction to Biotechnology.
One hour, Fall
BIOT 213 INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY
This course will introduce principles and applications of major
techniques used in isolation and characterization of biologically
important macromolecules with emphasis on centrifugation,
electrophoresis, nucleic acid isolation, purification, hybridization,
polymerase chain reaction, protein analysis and quantitation.
Prerequisites: BIOL 113, 123; CHEM 133, 143. Co-requisite:
BIOT 211 Biotechnology Lab.
Three hours, Fall
BIOT 223 BIOETHICS
This course will involve analysis of current and potential ethical and
legal issues surrounding applications of biotechnology that impact
our society. Topics include but are not limited to: agricultural
genetic engineering, gene therapy, stem cell research, and human
cloning. Students will also be introduced to the need for Institutional
Review Boards, protocols for animal and human research projects or
drug studies, and statements of risk disclosure.
Three hours, Spring
BIOT 301 BIOTECHNOLOGY SEMINAR
Students will learn the basics of scientific writing, how to critically
evaluate a scientific journal article, and how to present a scientific
journal article to an audience. Prerequisites: BIOL 113, 123;
ENGL 113, 123, COMM 103.
One hour, Fall (beginning FA-07)
BIOT 313 EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY
AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
This course is designed as an in-depth study on the scientific
principles of techniques in biotechnology. This combined lecture/lab
course will take student through a small-scale laboratory project that
will reinforce all aspects of the scientific method and critical analysis
of experimental design and research practices as they apply their
knowledge of the principles of laboratory techniques to experimental
settings. Prerequisites: BIOL 343 or BIOL 423.
Three Hours, Spring (beginning SP-08)
BIOT 483-486: BIOTECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP OR
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
Through collaborations [anticipated to be] established with
companies such as Monsanto, Pfizer, Danforth Center,
Sigma-Aldrich, students will be actively engaged in a research project
involving bench work or clinical studies in the area of biotechnology.
Upon completion of the research, students will present a poster or
oral presentation of their work for students and faculty in the
biotechnology program. Three to six credit hours can be earned.
Prerequisite: Junior class standing or permission of instructor.
Three to Six Hours, On Demand
