Biotechnology

Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences
School of Health Related Professions
26 Cary Hall
South Campus
Buffalo, NY 14214-3005
(716) 829-3630
Fax: (716) 829-3601
Web: Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Paul J. Kostyniak, Chair
Kate Rittenhouse-Olson, Program Director
Deborah M. Holden, Undergraduate Program Advisor

The Program
This program is appropriate for students interested in scientific careers in the rapidly expanding biotechnology industry. Interdisciplinary in approach, the program allows students to create a curriculum from courses in various departments to suit their interests and focus. With a core curriculum of basic science and math courses and four required program courses, students choose technical electives from biology, chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemical pharmacology, medical technology, computer science, management, etc., according to their career goals. A one-semester full-time internship possibility exists for selected students in the last semester. Opportunities for biotechnologists are extremely varied. Employment is available in both public and private sectors, and includes positions in industry, research, regulatory affairs, management, sales, and education. Biotechnology is also an excellent background for those interested in an advanced graduate or professional degree in the sciences.

The program admits twenty-five full-time students each year; part-time study is also available. Students who successfully complete the program receive a bachelor of science degree.

Advisement
Information regarding biotechnology and admission to the program can be obtained from the undergraduate program advisor. Individual advisement meetings are scheduled on the South Campus by appointment only.

Transfer Policy
Transfer students must first be accepted by the university and must complete a SUNY Transfer Admission Application from the Office of Admissions, and submit official transcripts. Upon university admission, the evaluated transcripts are sent to the program for further review. Students may enter the biotechnology program in either the spring or fall semesters. However, students should be aware that program courses are taught in the fall semester only. Deadline for fall admission is the previous February 15; deadline for spring admission is the previous November 15. Transfer students should submit their application and official transcripts well in advance of these deadlines. The program will accept students past these deadlines only on a space availability basis.

The program in biotechnology has articulation agreements with Erie Community College, Genesee Community College and the biotechnology program at Monroe Community College, and prerequisite course equivalencies have been established. Students from other institutions should contact the undergraduate program advisor for prerequisite course equivalencies. Course descriptions and syllabi may be required to establish equivalencies.

Unless articulated, courses from other institutions may not be used to satisfy any upper-division program course requirements.

Special Features
A technical elective chosen during the final semester of study may be MT 495 Internship in Biotechnology. This one-semester, full-time co-op experience is offered as a 1-credit-hour contract course. Participants are considered full-time students during this experience. To participate in the co-op program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.8 in prerequisite science and math courses, as well as in program courses, and must undergo an interview with the prospective co-op site. Students chosen for the co-op experience have to fulfill the university's general education program and number of credit hours required for graduation.

Biotechnology - B.S.

Acceptance Criteria
Completion of all prerequisite science and math courses (some exceptions allowed)
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite science and math courses
Submission of departmental application with a current copy of the UB DARS report

Advising Notes
Deadline for fall admission is February 15; deadline for spring admission is November 15. These deadlines may be extended based on space availability.

Required Courses

Prerequisite Courses
BIO200 Evolutionary Biology
BIO201 Cell Biology
CHE101 General Chemistry
CHE102 General Chemistry
CHE201 Organic Chemistry
CHE202 Organic Chemistry
CSE101 Computers: A General Introduction
MIC301 Fundamentals of Microbiology
MTH121 Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I or MTH141 College Calculus I
PGY300 Human Physiology
PHY101/151 College Physics I/Lab
PSY207 Psychological Statistics or STA119 Statistical Methods

Major Requirements
MT 302 Instrumental Analysis
MT 401 Clinical Biochemistry
MT 402 Fundamentals of Immunology
MT 422 Biomolecular Technology and Diagnostics
Technical electives or MT 495 Internship in Biotechnology

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (page 254) for general education and remaining university requirements.

Recommended Sequence of Major Requirements

First Year
Fall-BIO200, CHE101
Spring-BIO201, CHE102
Fall or Spring-MTH121 or MTH141; CSE101

Second Year
Fall-CHE201, PHY101/151
Spring-CHE202, MIC301
Fall or Spring-PSY207, PGY300

Third Year
Fall-MT 302, MT 401, MT 402
Spring-Technical electives

Fourth Year
Fall-MT 422, technical electives
Spring-Technical electives or MT 495

Technical Electives
May include but are not limited to:
ANA113 Human Anatomy
APY248 Human Genetics
APY275 Introduction to Medical Anthropology
APY348 Anthropological Osteology
APY345/346 Comparative Primate Anatomy/Dissections in Comparative Primate Anatomy
APY448 Human Genetics/Legal and Ethical Issues
BCP302 Introduction to Pharmacology
BIO215 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Laboratory
CHE214 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
CHE215 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
CHE349/350 Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences/Lab
CL 151 Medical Terminology
CSE111-112 Great Ideas in Computer Science
CSE113-114 Introduction to Computer Science I-II
JLS130 American Jury Trial
JLS201 Introduction to Law and Legal Process
MCH311 The Chemistry of Drug Action
MCH403 Mechanisms of Drug Action
MCH412 Instrumental Analysis
MGG150 Business and Society
MT 405 Clinical Immunohematology
MT 407 Clinical Chemistry
MT 409 Clinical Microbiology
MT 411 Clinical Hematology
MT 417 Laboratory Education and Seminar
MT 423 Laboratory Management
MT 425 Histology Techniques
MT 428 Forensic Science
MT 495 Internship in Biotechnology
MTH122 Survey of Calculus and Its Applications II
MTH142 College Calculus II
NMD321 Basic Radiation Science
NTR108 Human Nutrition
NTR178 Issues in Nutrition
NTR401 Nutrition And Health
PHI337 Social and Ethical Values in Medicine
PHY102/152 College Physics II/Lab
PMY451/452 Undergraduate Research
SOC307 Criminology
SOC317 Criminal Justice Systems
SOC322 Introduction to Medical Sociology
Courses from the School of Management according to area of interest
Courses in a foreign language according to area of interest
Courses in the health-care administration certificate program offered through MFC such as MFC250 Introduction to Health Care in the United States
Graduate courses may be taken if the material is beneficial to the student's goals. A formal petition must be filed and prior approval must be granted for the student to use a graduate course for undergraduate credit.

Summary
Required prerequisite science and math courses - 53 cr
Required program courses - 15 cr
Technical electives - 21-27 cr

Academic Affairs

Phone: (716) 645-6003

Fax: (716) 645-2549

Last updated: Thursday, 09-Dec-2004 15:21:16 EST