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Biotechnology Program

Bachelor of Arts in Biotechnology

Students on Summer 2018, Fall 2018, or Spring 2019 requirements BIOTECBA
The Bachelor of Arts in Biotechnology is tightly integrated with the needs of numerous life science businesses. The B.A. curriculum is designed for students who will receive rigorous training to pursue aspects of biotechnology such as pharmaceutical sales, marketing, technical writing or data specializations. Completing a major in Biotechnology would be advantageous to those who are planning to undertake non-research-oriented business or sales opportunities in the life sciences. Students may combine a major in Biotechnology with degrees in Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry.

Requirements

The major requires at least 35 credit hours (46–48 credit hours with the Addenda Requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Biology and Biotechnology.
    1. Foundations of Biology. One (1) course:
      • BIOL-E 112 Basic Biology by Examination II
      • BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
    2. Molecular Biology. One (1) course:
      • BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology
      • BIOL-S 211 Molecular Biology, Honors
    3. Microbiology. One (1) course:
      • BIOL-M 250 Microbiology
      • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Disease
    4. Seminar in Biotechnology. One (1) course:
      • BIOT-T 301 Seminar in Biotechnology
    5. Biotechnology Lecture. One (1) course:
      • BIOT-T 310 Biotechnology Lecture
    6. Societal Issues in Biotechnology. One (1) course:
      • BIOT-T 312 Societal Issues in Biotechnology
    7. Biotechnology Laboratory. One (1) course:
      • BIOT-T 315 Biotechnology Laboratory
      • BIOT-X 150 ASURE Biotechnology Research Lab 1
      • BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1 (Approved topics: "GENOME ENGINEERING" (TPC 1); "PHAGE HUNTERS" (TPC 5) when taken Summer 2024 or later)
      • PSY-X 150 ASURE Psychological and Brain Sciences Research (Approved topics: "CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH LAB" (TPC 3)) when taken Summer 2024 or later
    8. Biotechnology Writing and Communication. One (1) course:
      • BIOT-T 322 Biotechnology Writing and Communication
    9. Structure, Function, and Regulation of Biomolecules. One (1) course:
      • BIOT-T 440 Structure, Function, and Regulation of Biomolecules
  2. Statistics. One (1) course:
    • LAMP-L 316 Junior Seminar: Analytical Problem Solving
    • PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques
    • STAT-S 300 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
    • STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences
    • SPEA-K 300 STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES
  3. Life Sciences Global Events and Trends. One (1) course:
    • BUS-X 418 LIFE SCIENCE GLOBAL EVENTS AND TRENDS
  4. Life Sciences Industry. One (1) course:
    • BUS-X 419 LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY FROM RESEARCH TO PATIENT
  5. Health Care. One (1) course:
    • ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I
    • ECON-E 344 Health Economics
    • GEOG-G 341 Ecological Restoration: Science, Politics, and Ethics
    • GEOG-G 359 Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture
    • GEOG-G 469 Food and Global Poverty
    • GEOG-G 478 Global Change, Food, and Farming Systems
    • HPSC-X 305 History and Philosophy of Medicine
    • LAMP-M 302 Ethics and Responsible Management
    • SOC-S 315 Work in the New Economy
    • SOC-S 319
    • SOC-S 358 Social Inequalities in Health and Health Care
    • SOC-S 365 Health and Society: Sociology for Health Professionals
    • BUS-X 418 LIFE SCIENCE GLOBAL EVENTS AND TRENDS
    • BUS-X 419 LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY FROM RESEARCH TO PATIENT
    • MSCI-M 440 HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA
  6. Addenda Requirements*.
    1. Chemistry.
      1. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I
        • CHEM-H 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I, Honors
        • CHEM-J 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry for Science Majors
      2. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory
        • CHEM-H 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory, Honors
        • CHEM-X 150 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab I
      3. Organic Chemistry I. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures
        • CHEM-J 341 Principles of Organic Chemistry I when taken Summer 2024 or later
        • CHEM-S 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures, Honors
    2. Mathematics. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics
      • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
      • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
      • MATH-M 212 Calculus II
      • MATH-M 213
      • MATH-S 118 Honors Finite Mathematics
      • MATH-S 211
      • MATH-S 212 Honors Calculus II
      • MATH-V 119 Applied Brief Calculus I (Approved topics: "BRIEF CALCULUS FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES" (TPC 1))
  7. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    4. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    5. Exceptions to major requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.