Nov 07, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, B.S.


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Agricultural and medical biotechnology encompasses cellular and molecular approaches to the manipulation and improvement of agricultural plants, animals and microorganisms, and the control of agricultural pests and diseases. The primary purpose of the baccalaureate degree program in Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology is to train students in modern cellular and molecular biology and genetic engineering. Students will be provided with a firm foundation in the principles of genetics and molecular biology of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Each student will specialize in an area appropriate to his or her interest and career objectives, including: microbial, fungal, plant, insect and mammalian biotechnology.

Graduates will be prepared to assume government, university, and industry positions with research and technology applications to agriculture and food production. Employment opportunities include research scientists, laboratory technicians or managers in university, government, industrial, or clinical laboratories using biotechnological tools for research and production. Examples of research areas include: gene cloning, construction of novel pest and disease resistance genes, development of new immunological and nucleic acid types of diagnostic probes for plant and animal disease, genetic engineering of microorganisms for the production of important pharmaceutical agents, and development of new bioengineered strains of microorganisms for fermentation and food production services. Students will also be prepared to enter graduate programs in agriculture, molecular biology, and the biological sciences.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology the student must complete 125 semester hours with at least a 2.0 gradepoint standing. A minimum of 45 credit hours must be from upper division courses (300 and above). Remedial courses may not be counted toward the total hours required for the degree. In addition to the UK Core requirements, students must complete college, premajor, major, and specialty support requirements, including an independent research project relevant to the student’s interest in biotechnology.

UK Core Requirements


See the UK Core section of this Bulletin for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity


II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities


III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences


IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences


V. Composition and Communication I


VI. Composition and Communication II


VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning


IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA


X. Global Dynamics


UK Core hours: 33


Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)


Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3


Subtotal: Premajor hours: 39-42


Major Requirements


Independent Study


  • Credit(s): 1 - 4 (Variable)
  • OR

  • Credit(s): 1 - 6 (Variable)

  • All students are expected to undertake an independent study project in an area of their interest for a minimum of 3 credit hours. This requirement can be met by a research project or an internship that is agreed upon by a student’s advisor and approved by the Biotechnology Coordinating Committee prior to initiation of the project. Both written and oral reports are required when the project is completed.

Subtotal: Major hours: 34-35


Specialty Support


Students must take a minimum of 21 credit hours of specialty support courses that will be selected according to the student’s area of interest with the approval of the academic advisor. Of these 21 credits, a maximum of 9 credits may be ABT prefixed courses. Of the 21 credits, a maximum of 6 credits may be research credits. The remaining 15 credits must be in regularly scheduled courses.

Subtotal: Specialty Support hours: 21


Electives


Electives should be selected to complete the 125 hours required for graduation.

Subtotal: Electives: 7-10


TOTAL HOURS: 125


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