Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biotechnology, B.S.


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Dr. Stephanie Stockwell, Director
Phone: (540) 568-8980
Email: stockwsb@jmu.edu
Location: ISAT-CISAT Building, Room 320
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/biology/undergraduate/biotechnology.shtml

Mission

In cooperation with the Department of Integrated Science and Technology  and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , the Department of Biology  offers a four-year, cross disciplinary B.S. degree program for a major in biotechnology. Students majoring in biotechnology will be prepared to either enter the biotechnology workforce or pursue graduate education in a wide array of fields including medical, agricultural or industrial biotechnology. Fields of research in biotechnology include applied molecular biology, bioinformatics and genomics.

Biotechnology majors must complete 47-50 credit hours of science foundation courses, 17 credit hours of biotechnology transition and core courses, and 15 credit hours of elective courses. Students may not receive dual credit toward the biotechnology major for 300- and 400-level biology courses that are applied toward the biology major. Biotechnology majors are not eligible for the biochemistry and molecular biology minor.

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements


  • General Education: The Human Community  41 Credit Hours 1
  • Quantitative requirement 3 Credit Hours 2
  • Scientific Literacy requirement 3-4 Credit Hours 2
  • Major requirements (listed below) and electives 79 Credit Hours

Total: 126 Credit Hours


Footnotes


1 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 In addition to General Education .

Major Requirements


Choose one of the following sets of courses:

Choose one of the following courses:

Total: 47-50 Credit Hours

Total: 17 Credit Hours

Biotechnology Elective Courses


Select 15 credit hours:

Additional Information


Other 300- and 400-level courses may meet the requirement but permission must be sought from the program director.

Students are highly encouraged to include academic credit for research, up to 8 credits of which may be applied to the elective requirement.

Recommended Schedule for Majors


First semester, first year biotechnology majors are encouraged to start with a 14-15 hour course load. This will generally include a biology course (four credit hours), CHEM 131  and CHEM 131L , and/or a math course, plus General Education . The work load will then be increased in the second semester based on the level of success during the first semester.

Total: 29-31 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 Fulfills General Education : Cluster Three.

Total: 30-31 Credit Hours


Third Year


Total: 32 Credit Hours


Fourth Year


Total: 29 Credit Hours


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