Program Overview

Biotechnology - B.S.

Overview

Our Biotechnology program offers a thorough education on the principles and techniques of biotechnology, equipping you with the necessary skills for a diverse array of careers in academia, government, and industry. With access to cutting-edge research facilities, experienced faculty, and real-world opportunities, you will gain the skills and knowledge needed to make an impact in this exciting field.

Contact Information

• Min-Ho Kim | |

Program Delivery

• Delivery: In person
• Location: Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

• Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
  • 3.8% about as fast as the average
  • 1,050,800 number of jobs
  • $62,870 potential earnings
• Biological technicians
  • 4.9% about as fast as the average
  • 87,500 number of jobs
  • $46,340 potential earnings
• Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
  • 6.1% faster than the average
  • 138,300 number of jobs
  • $91,510 potential earnings
• Biological scientists, all other
  • 2.2% slower than the average
  • 44,700 number of jobs
  • $85,290 potential earnings

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents, and adult students.

• First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum, and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework.
• First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• BSCI 10120: BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB)
• BSCI 30140: CELL BIOLOGY
• BSCI 30156: ELEMENTS OF GENETICS
• BSCI 30171: GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
• BSCI 40158: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
• BTEC 10210: INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY
• BTEC 40191: SEMINAR: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
• BTEC 40192: INTERNSHIP IN BIOTECHNOLOGY (ELR) or BTEC 40196: INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY (ELR)
• BTEC 40210: CASE STUDIES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY (WIC)
• BTEC 40220: BIOINFORMATICS
• BUS 10123: EXPLORING BUSINESS
• CHEM 10060: GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS)
• CHEM 10061: GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS)
• CHEM 10062: GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
• CHEM 10063: GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
• CHEM 20481: BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
• CHEM 30284: INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
• CHEM 40251: ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (WIC)
• CHEM 40262: BIOCHEMISTRY: METABOLISM AND GENE EXPRESSION
• MATH 12002: ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
• MATH 30011: BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
• PHIL 21001: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS (DIVG) (KHUM)
• PHIL 30015: MEDICINE AND MORALITY
• PHY 13001: GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
• PHY 13021: GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)

Major Electives

• Choose from the following:
  • BSCI 30518: VERTEBRATE ANATOMY
  • BSCI 40143: EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY
  • BSCI 40159: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY (ELR) (WIC)
  • BSCI 40174: IMMUNOLOGY
  • BSCI 40463: MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
  • CHEM 30105: ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY I
  • CHEM 30107: ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (WIC)
  • CHEM 30301: INORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
  • CHEM 30475: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
  • CHEM 40109: BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
  • CHEM 40365: BIOLOGICAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • CHEM 40567: PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY FOR LIFE SCIENCES
  • PSYC 41363: BIOPSYCHOLOGY
  • Any Upper-Division course (30000 or 40000 level) approved by program director

Additional Requirements

• CS 10051: COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (KMCR)
• Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)
• Kent Core Composition
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)
• Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)
• General Elective (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)

Minimum Total Credit Hours

• 120

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA: 2.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.000

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

• Flashes 101 (UC 10001)
• Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG)
• Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR)
• Kent Core (see table below)
• Writing-Intensive Course (WIC)
• Upper-Division Requirement
• Total Credit Hour Requirement

Kent Core Requirements

• Kent Core Composition (KCMP)
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR)
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each)
• Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines)
• Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory)
• Kent Core Additional (KADL)

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and information to complex issues in biotechnology.
2. Use problem-solving and data-gathering skills to comprehend issues in biotechnology.
3. Develop inductive reasoning and technical communications skills in the context of working in a complex group environment.
4. Analyze scientific papers and expand skills for listening to and critiquing scientific seminars based on the literature or current research.
5. Effectively communicate scientific information.
6. Develop collaborative working relationships with research mentors and laboratory members.

Program Policies

• Foreign Language Requirements
• Mandatory Outcomes Assessment

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary program that provides a strong academic foundation in biological sciences and chemistry, practical training in the various biotechnologies, and a solid understanding of their application in industry and biomedicine. The science of biotechnology extends across many areas of biology and chemistry and provides cutting-edge technology tools for modern biology and biomedical research. The curriculum includes a research experience at Kent State and/or an internship at a biotechnology company.

Biotechnology graduates have employment opportunities in biomedical research and in the rapidly growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.