This instructional program is designed to prepare students for careers in the biotechnology industry as well as careers in basic biological research. A B.S. degree in Biology with the Biotechnology Emphasis also is appropriate for those students who wish to pursue advanced degrees in cell and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology or biochemistry.

A. Biology course requirements

1. Core courses (17 credit hours):

                                                Hours
BIOLOGY 108       General Biology I                 3
BIOLOGY 108L      General Biology I Laboratory      1
BIOLOGY 109       General Biology II                3
BIOLOGY 109L      General Biology II Laboratory     1
BIOLOGY 202       Cell Biology                      3
BIOLOGY 206       Genetics                          3
LS-BIOC 341       Basic Biochemistry                3

2. Emphasis course requirements (12 credit hours):

                                                Hours
LS-MCRB 313       Introduction to Microbiology      3
BIOLOGY 409       Developmental Biology             3
LS-BIOC 425     Bioinformatics                      3
LS-BIOC 430     Molecular Biology and Genetic
                 Engineering                        3

3. Laboratory course requirements (9 credit hours; 6 of these must be WI):

                                                Hours
LS-MCRB 313L or  Laboratory in Microbiology         3LS-MCRB 313WL
BIOLOGY 312WL    Lab in Developmental Biology,
                  Genetics & Cell Biology           3
LS-BIOC 360L or  Lab in Biochemistry and
LS-BIOC 360WL     Molecular Biology                 3

4. Biology synthesis requirement (Choose a total of 3 credit hours):

                                                Hours
BIOLOGY 498WI     Critical Analysis of
                   Biological Issues (WI)           3
LIFE-SCI 490WI    Senior Seminar (WI)               3
LIFE-SCI 499      Undergraduate Research          1-3
LIFE-SCI 497      Special Topics                  1-3

5. Students must complete additional biology majors coursework to total at least 42 credit hours of biology courses with grades of C- or better. At least 26 of these must be at the 300- or 400-level. A minimum of 21 credit hours of biology courses must be taken from the School of Biological Sciences. The UM Biology GPA must be at least 2.0.

B. Physical sciences and mathematics requirements

All of the following courses are required. A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to fulfill these requirements.

                                                Hours
COMP-SCI 101      Problem Solving and Programming I 3
STAT 235          Statistics                        3
MATH 216 or MATH 210   Biomath I or Calculus  I          4
MATH 226 or MATH 220   Biomath II or Calculus II         4
PHYSICS 210 or    General Physics I orPHYSICS 240       Physics for Science and
                   Engineering I                  4-5
PHYSICS 220 or    General Physics II orPHYSICS 250*      Physics for Science and
                   Engineering II*                4-5
CHEM 211          General Chemistry I               4
CHEM 211L     Experimental General Chemistry I      1
CHEM 212R     General Chemistry II                  4
CHEM 212LR    Experimental General Chemistry II     1
CHEM 321      Organic Chemistry I                   3
CHEM 321L     Organic Chemistry Laboratory I        1
CHEM 322R     Organic Chemistry II                  3
CHEM 322L     Organic Chemistry Laboratory II       1

*Students may choose LIFE-SCI 401, Biophysical Principles (3 credit hours), as an alternative to PHYSICS 250. A minimum of 120 credit hours is required, and 36 of these must be at the junior/senior level. Electives may be taken from any area once other degree requirements have been met.