Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, B.S.

Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology is a life sciences degree for students who wish to pursue opportunities in biotechnology, human health, animal health, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability. The degree program 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.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be prepared for health care, animal health, and place science careers in addition to a variety of career opportunities in research and development in the private, government, or academic sectors. 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 to produce important pharmaceutical agents, and development of new bioengineered strains of microorganisms for fermentation and food production services. Students will also be prepared to enter professional programs focused on human health or animal health as well as graduate programs in agriculture, molecular biology, and biological sciences..

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology the student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with at least a 2.0 grade-point average. A minimum of 45 credit hours must be completed from upper division courses (300 level and above). Remedial courses may not be counted toward the total hours required for the degree.

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Catalog 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.

UK Core hours: 33-37

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

ABT 201 - Scientific Method in Biotechnology 1 Credit Hours
ABT 301 - Writing and Presentations in the Life Sciences 2 Credit Hours

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

Premajor Requirements

BIO 148 - Introductory Biology I 3 Credit Hours
BIO 152 - Introductory Biology II 3 Credit Hours
CHE 105 - General College Chemistry I 4 Credit Hours
OR
CHE 109 - General Chemistry 1A 4 Credit Hours
AND
CHE 110 - General Chemistry 1B 4 Credit Hours
CHE 107 - General College Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
CHE 111 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHE 113 - General Chemistry II Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
CHE 230 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
CHE 231 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 Credit Hours
CHE 232 - Organic Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
CHE 233 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 Credit Hours
MA 123 - Elementary Calculus and its Applications 4 Credit Hours
OR
MA 113 - Calculus I 4 Credit Hours
OR
MA 137 - Calculus I with Life Science Applications 4 Credit Hours
PHY 211 - General Physics 5 Credit Hours
OR
PHY 231 - General University Physics 4 Credit Hours AND
PHY 241 - General University Physics Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
PHY 213 - General Physics 5 Credit Hours
OR
PHY 232 - General University Physics 4 Credit Hours AND
PHY 242 - General University Physics Laboratory 1 Credit Hours

Subtotal: Premajor hours: 38-42

Major Requirements

ABT 101 - Introduction to Biotechnology 1 Credit Hours
OR
ABT 310 - Introduction to Biotechnology for New Majors and Transfer Students 1 Credit Hours
ABT 120 - Genetics and Society 3 Credit Hours
ABT 201 - Scientific Method in Biotechnology 1 Credit Hours
ABT 301 - Writing and Presentations in the Life Sciences 2 Credit Hours
ABT 360 - Genetics 3 Credit Hours
OR
ENT 360 - Genetics 3 Credit Hours
OR
BIO 304 - Principles of Genetics 4 Credit Hours
ABT 394 - Introduction to Laboratory Practices 1 Credit Hours
ABT 395 - Independent Study in Biotechnology 3 Credit Hours
OR
ABT 399 - Experiential Learning in Biotechnology 1 - 6 Credit Hours
BIO 208 - Principles of Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
OR
BIO 308 - General Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
BIO 209 - Introductory Microbiology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
OR
BIO 309 - Microbiology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
ABT 460 - Introduction to Molecular Genetics 3 Credit Hours
OR
ENT 460 - Introduction to Molecular Genetics 3 Credit Hours
ABT 461G - Introduction to Population Genetics 3 Credit Hours
OR
BIO 461G - Introduction to Population Genetics 3 Credit Hours
OR
ENT 461G - Introduction to Population Genetics 3 Credit Hours
OR
FOR 461G - Introduction to Population Genetics 3 Credit Hours
BCH 401G - Fundamentals of Biochemistry 3 Credit Hours
OR
CHE 550 - Biological Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
ABT 495 - Experimental Methods in Biotechnology 4 Credit Hours
OR
BIO 510 - Recombinant Dna Techniques Laboratory 4 Credit Hours
STA 296 - Statistical Methods and Motivations 3 Credit Hours
OR
BST 230 - Statistical Thinking in Public Health 3 Credit Hours
OR
STA 381 - Engineering Statistics-A Conceptual Approach 3 Credit Hours
OR
STA 570 - Basic Statistical Analysis 3 Credit Hours
OR
STA 580 - Biostatistics I 3 Credit Hours
OR
CPH 580 - Biostatistics I 3 Credit Hours

Independent Study

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: 35-36

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 in consultation with 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.

Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, B.S.

Career Opportunities

Graduation Requirements

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

VII. Quantitative Foundations

VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning

IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA

X. Global Dynamics

UK Core hours: 33-37

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

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

Premajor Requirements

Subtotal: Premajor hours: 38-42

Major Requirements

Independent Study

Subtotal: Major hours: 35-36

Specialty Support

Subtotal: Specialty Support hours: 21

Electives

Subtotal: Electives: 2-5

TOTAL HOURS: 120