Program Overview

Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience Bachelor of Science Degree

Overview

In RIT’s biotechnology bachelor’s degree, you’ll develop technologies for genetics, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, vaccine development, energy/environment, forensics, and more.

Why Study Biotechnology at RIT

• Hands-on Experience: Sequence and annotate whole genomes of a variety of organisms using the Illumina MiSeq in the Genomics Lab.
• Lab Experience: 70% of the biotechnology and molecular bioscience elective courses have a hands-on laboratory component.
• Gain Real-World Experience: Conduct undergraduate research, complete a cooperative education or internship, or study abroad.
• Engaging Community: Develop leadership, networking, and communication skills and engage in professional and outreach activities through the Biotechnology Club.
• Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising Program: Receive personalized guidance to become a competitive candidate for admission to medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions.
• Jobs at Industry Leading Companies: Recent biotechnology graduates are employed at organizations such as Pfizer, Inc., Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Merck & Co., Johns Hopkins Medicine, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
• Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Available: Earn both your bachelor’s and your master’s in less time and with a cost savings, giving you a competitive advantage in your field.
• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.

Curriculum

Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience, BS degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • BIOL-123: Introduction to Biology: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-124: Introduction to Biology: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • BIOL-125: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-126: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • CHMG-141: General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-142: General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective)
  • CHMG-145: General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-146: General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective)
  • MATH-161: Applied Calculus (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A)
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
  • General Education – Artistic Perspective
  • General Education – Social Perspective
  • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)
• Second Year
  • BIOL-206: Molecular Biology
  • BIOL-216: Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • BIOL-302: Cell Biology
  • BIOL-311: Introduction to Microbiology
  • BIOL-315: Tissue Culture Laboratory
  • BIOL-499: Biology Co-op (summer)
  • CHMO-231: Organic Chemistry I (General Education)
  • CHMO-232: Organic Chemistry II (General Education)
  • CHMO-235: Organic Chemistry Lab I (General Education)
  • CHMO-236: Organic Chemistry Lab II (General Education)
  • Choose one of the following:
    • STAT-145: Introduction to Statistics I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
    • STAT-155: Introduction to Biostatistics (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
  • General Education – Ethical Perspective
  • General Education – Global Perspective
• Third Year
  • BIOL-321: Genetics
  • BIOL-327: Fundamentals of Bioinformatics Analysis
  • CHMB-402: Biochemistry I (General Education)
  • Program Electives
  • Program Elective (WI-PR)
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 1
• Fourth Year
  • BIOL-500: Experiential Learning Requirement in Life Science
  • Program Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 2, 3
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Elective

List A: Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience Program Electives

• BIOL-220: Biology of Fungi and Insects
• BIOL-265: Evolutionary Biology (WI-PR)
• BIOL-305: Plants, Medicine and Technology
• BIOL-313: Comparative Animal Physiology
• BIOL-322: Developmental Biology
• BIOL-335: Phage Biology
• BIOL-340: Genomics
• BIOL-345: Molecular Ecology (WI-PR)
• BIOL-365: Introduction to Population Genetics
• BIOL-372: Biology Without Walls
• BIOL-375: Advanced Immunology
• BIOL-401: Biological Separations: Principles and Practices
• BIOL-403: Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry and Pathology
• BIOL-404: Microbiology of Fermentation
• BIOL-408: Biology of Cancer (WI-PR)
• BIOL-412: Human Genetics (WI-PR)
• BIOL-414: Animal Nutrition
• BIOL-415: Virology
• BIOL-416: Plant Biotechnology
• BIOL-418: Plant Molecular Biology
• BIOL-420: Bacterial-Host Interactions: Microbiomes of the World
• BIOL-427: Microbial and Viral Genetics (WI-PR)
• BIOL-441: Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology (WI-PR)
• BIOL-460: Infectious Disease: Impact on Society and Culture
• BIOL-471: Environmental Microbiology
• BIOL-495: Advanced Biology Research
• BIOL-498: Advanced Biology Independent Study
• BIOL-530: Bioinformatics Algorithms
• BIOL-550: High Throughput Sequencing Analysis (WI-PR)
• BIOL-594: Molecular Modeling and Proteomics
• BIOL-599: Research Based Writing (WI-PR)
• BIOL-601: Genetic Disease and Disorders
• BIOL-625: Ethics in Bioinformatics
• BIOL-694: Molecular Modeling and Proteomics
• CHMA-650: Chemical Separations and Mass Spectroscopy
• MEDS-313: Introduction to Infectious Diseases
• MEDS-530: Human Immunology

List B: Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience Program Lab Electives

• BIOL-313: Comparative Animal Physiology
• BIOL-322: Developmental Biology
• BIOL-335: Phage Biology
• BIOL-340: Genomics
• BIOL-372: Biology Without Walls
• BIOL-375: Advanced Immunology
• BIOL-401: Biological Separations: Principles and Practices
• BIOL-403: Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry and Pathology
• BIOL-404: Microbiology of Fermentation
• BIOL-416: Plant Biotechnology
• BIOL-418: Plant Molecular Biology
• BIOL-427: Microbial and Viral Genetics (WI-PR)
• BIOL-441: Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology (WI-PR)
• BIOL-471: Environmental Microbiology
• BIOL-495: Advanced Biology Research
• BIOL-550: High Throughput Sequencing Analysis (WI-PR)
• BIOL-594: Molecular Modeling and Proteomics
• BIOL-694: Molecular Modeling and Proteomics
• CHMA-650: Chemical Separations and Mass Spectroscopy

Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees

Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience, BS degree/Bioinformatics, MS degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • BIOL-123: Introduction to Biology: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-124: Introduction to Biology: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • BIOL-125: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-126: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • CHMG-141: General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-142: General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective)
  • CHMG-145: General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-146: General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective)
  • MATH-161: Applied Calculus (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A)
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
  • General Education – Artistic Perspective
  • General Education – Social Perspective
  • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)
• Second Year
  • BIOL-206: Molecular Biology
  • BIOL-216: Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • BIOL-302: Cell Biology
  • BIOL-311: Introduction to Microbiology
  • BIOL-315: Tissue Culture Laboratory
  • BIOL-499: Biology Co-op (summer)
  • CHMO-231: Organic Chemistry I (General Education)
  • CHMO-232: Organic Chemistry II (General Education)
  • CHMO-235: Organic Chemistry Lab I (General Education)
  • CHMO-236: Organic Chemistry Lab II (General Education)
  • Choose one of the following:
    • STAT-145: Introduction to Statistics I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
    • STAT-155: Introduction to Biostatistics (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
  • General Education – Ethical Perspective
  • General Education – Global Perspective
• Third Year
  • BIOL-321: Genetics
  • BIOL-327: Fundamentals of Bioinformatics Analysis
  • CHMB-402: Biochemistry I (General Education)
  • Program Electives
  • Open Electives
  • Program Elective (WI-PR)
  • General Education – Immersion 1
• Fourth Year
  • BIOL-500: Experiential Learning Requirement in Life Science
  • BIOL-625: Ethics in Bioinformatics
  • BIOL-694: Molecular Model and Proteomics
  • BIOL-790: Research and Thesis
  • Program Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 2, 3
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Elective
• Fifth Year
  • BIOL-630: Bioinformatics Algorithms
  • BIOL-635: Bioinformatics Seminar
  • BIOL-672: Computational Statistics and Data Science Methods
  • BIOL-790: Research and Thesis
  • Graduate Electives

Admissions and Financial Aid

First-Year Admission

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of social studies and/or history
• 3 years of mathematics is required and must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry. Pre-calculus is recommended.
• 2-3 years of science is required and must include biology and chemistry.

Transfer Admission

• A minimum of college algebra is required. Pre-calculus or calculus is preferred.
• Chemistry and biology are required.

Faculty

• Michael Savka: Professor
• Dina Newman: Professor
• Julie Thomas: Associate Professor
• Andre Hudson: Dean, College of Science
• L. Kate Wright: School Head

Research

Real-World Experiences Through Biotechnology Research

Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged for biotech majors. It can begin as early as your first year. Participation in undergraduate research leads to the development of real-world lab techniques, enhanced problem-solving skills, and broader career opportunities.

Facilities

• Genomics Enterprise Center
• Confocal Microscopy Lab
• Bioinformatics Epicenter