Biotechnology Major and Minor
Covering the core concepts of biology, chemistry, health sciences, and other scientific disciplines, the biotechnology minor at Elms College focuses on the practical applications of research aimed at benefiting society and improving human, animal, or environmental health.
Biotechnology minors gain valuable knowledge in the following:
- Emerging technologies.
- Writing cohesive scientific research papers outlining your hypothesis, methods, and results that can communicate to a number of different audiences.
- Cell/tissue cultures.
- Cell-based assays.
- Flow cytometry.
- Protein purification, quantification, analysis, assay, and handling.
- DNA extraction, quantification, analysis, and handling.
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction).
- Data computation and analysis skills.
Become a Research Expert
The biotechnology major at Elms College is designed for students passionate about research. While you will cover core concepts of biology, chemistry, health sciences, and other scientific disciplines in your core classes, most of your academic experience will take place in research labs on campus.
Create Technologies That Benefit Society
Biotechnology majors at Elms study the practical applications of their research. This means that your work will often result in a new product or technology that others can use to improve human, animal, or environmental health.
Working closely with fellow students and faculty mentors, you’ll complete experiments that have an immediate impact on our world. Biotechnology faculty at Elms have expertise in neurodegenerative diseases, so you will have a chance to work on studies that answer important questions related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Biotechnology majors also develop competency in the following techniques:
- Cell/tissue culture
- Cell-based assays
- Flow cytometry
- Protein purification, quantification, analysis, assay, and handling
- DNA extraction, quantification, analysis, and handling
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction)
- Oral and written communication skills
- Data computation and analysis skills
Quick Info
- Earn your master of science (MS) in biotechnology as well. Students can complete this program in 18 months.
- Build up your resume with experiential learning opportunities.
- Connect biotechnology and public health in our global health certificate program.
Learn the Science-Writing Process
As a research scientist in the biotech field, you will be required to communicate with a number of different audiences. When it comes to publishing your breakthroughs, you will need to know how to write a cohesive article outlining your hypothesis, methods, and results. On the other hand, you will also need to share your ideas with entrepreneurs, investment firms, patent lawyers, and medical patients. At Elms, you’ll learn how to write for a range of audiences and occasions.
Your professors in the biotechnology program will guide you through the process of writing a research proposal, defining a topic, determining a methodology, and carrying out an experiment from start to finish. You’ll practice these skills in real-time by working on multiple ongoing experiments. This experience will serve as the basis of your professional development as a research scientist.
Beginning your first year on campus, you will also take a range of core classes in the liberal arts that expose you to interdisciplinary forms of communication and writing. The classes you take in English, history, religion, and other disciplines will help you put your research into context for general readers. The liberal arts will also help you develop your professional identity and portfolio for the job market, so that when it comes time to interview with employers, you’ll know how to speak about your work clearly and eloquently.
Andrew Clifford, BMS ’20
Andrew Clifford, BMS ’20, was involved in two biomedical research projects at Elms, including exploring new ways to rapidly analyze strains of infectious bacteria. “I’m learning this material in a very applicable, practical way,” he said. “Going forward into medical school, I’ll have a far better understanding than just (by reading) textbook definitions.”
Curriculum
Click to view course requirements for the Biotechnology (B.S.).
Major Requirements (52 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 1203 | General Biology I | 3 |
BIO 1203L | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
BIO 1204 | General Biology II | 3 |
BIO 1204L | General Biology Lab II | 1 |
CHE 1201 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
CHE 1201 | General Chemistry Lab | 1 |
CHE 1202 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
CHE 1202L | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
CHE 2101 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
CHE 2101L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
CHE 2102 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
CHE 2102 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
PHY 1005 | Physics I | 3 |
PHY 1005L | Physics I Lab | 1 |
PHY 1006 | Physics II | 3 |
PHY 1006L | Physics II Lab | 1 |
BIO 2330 | Intro to Biotechnology | 3 |
BIO 2330L | Intro to Biotechnology Lab | 1 |
BIO 3330 | Advanced Biotechnology | 3 |
BIO 3330L | Advanced Biotechnology Lab | 1 |
BMH 3010 | Clinical Research Ethics | 3 |
MAT 1009 | Statistics | 3 |
CIT 3100 | Data Analytics | 3 |
BIO4330 | Biotechnology Capstone | 3 |
Electives (20 credits; minimum of 4 courses with labs)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 3300 | Microbiology | 3 |
BIO 3300L | Microbiology Lab | 1 |
BIO 4306 | Biochemistry | 3 |
BIO 4306L | Biochemistry Lab | 1 |
BIO 3206 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIO 3206L | Molecular Biology Lab | 1 |
BIO3001 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
BIO3001L | Developmental Biology Lab | 1 |
BIO 3101 | Ecology | 3 |
BIO 3101L | Ecology Lab | 1 |
BIO 3106 | Cell Biology | 3 |
MAT 1301 | Calculus I | 3 |
MAT 1302 | Calculus II | 3 |
CHE 3307 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
CHE 3307L | Analytical Chemistry Lab | 1 |
ENT 1002 | Lean LaunchPad | 3 |
BMS 5700 | Histology | 3 |
BMS 5700L | Histology Lab | 1 |
BMS 5202 | Pharmacology | 3 |
BMS 5207 | Pathology | 3 |
BMS 5009 | Epidemiology & Biostatistics | 3 |
BMS 5100 | Endocrinology | 3 |
BMS 6300 | Neuroscience | 3 |
Click to view course requirements for the Biotechnology minor.
Minor Requirements (18 credits)
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 2330 | Intro to Biotechnology | 3 |
BIO 2330L | Intro to Biotechnology Lab | 1 |
BIO 3330 | Advanced Biotechnology | 3 |
BIO 3330L | Advanced Biotechnology Lab | 1 |
BIO 3100 | Data Analytics | 3 |
Elective Credits | 7 |