Program Overview

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Introduction to the Cell and Molecular Biology Program

The Cell and Molecular Biology program is a field at the frontier of knowledge, rapidly evolving and requiring specialized training. This bachelor's degree provides a foundation for understanding the main biological phenomena at the cellular and molecular levels, with a strong emphasis on the genetic component.

Education Objectives

The program's education objectives include:

• Providing a foundation for understanding the main biological phenomena at the cellular and molecular levels
• Allowing students to explore and deepen their knowledge of key processes in fundamental biology through hands-on laboratory experience
• Enabling the application of advanced scientific and technological skills in areas of Cellular and Molecular Biology

Why Choose This Degree?

The reasons to choose this degree include:

• A robust and diverse experimental component, providing hands-on experience with the main techniques used in biological, biomedical, and biotechnological laboratories
• A solid and integrated perspective on the various levels of biological organization, from molecules to multicellular organisms
• Elective courses that offer flexibility and allow students to tailor their education to their interests
• A tutoring system that provides guidance and academic support, fostering an optimized academic path and the full integration of students into academic life

Career Opportunities

The career opportunities for graduates of this program include:

• Research in various areas of biological sciences, with an emphasis on Molecular Genetics, Oncobiology, Immunology, Microbiology, and Virology
• Pharmaceutical, food, and biotechnology industries and start-ups
• Teaching
• Public health (genetics, molecular biology, and microbiology laboratories in hospitals and centers of diagnostic and analysis)
• Consultancy in Biotechnology and Biomedicine
• Forensic science and environmental sciences

General Characterization

The general characterization of the program includes:

• DGES code: 984
• Cycle: Bachelor (1st Cycle)
• Degree: Licenciado
• Access to other programs: Access to 2nd cycle
• Coordinator: Luís Jaime Gomes Ferreira da Silva Mota
• Opening date: September
• Vacancies: 65
• Fees:
  • Portuguese students: 697 euros / year
  • Foreign students: 7,000 euros / year
• Schedule: Daytime
• Teaching language: Available soon

Degree Pre-requisites

The degree pre-requisites include:

• Duration: 3 years
• Credits: 180 ECTS
• Scientific Area | Acronym | ECTS
  • Mandatory | Optional
  • Biology | B | 99 | 15
  • Transferable Skills | CC | 3 | 0
  • Social Sciences and Humanities | CHS | 3 | 0
  • Physics | F | 12 | 0
  • Informatics | I | 6 | 0
  • Mathematics | M | 12 | 0
  • Chemistry | Q | 24 | 0
  • Any Scientific Area | QAC | 0 | 6 (a)
• (a) 6 ECTS in courses chosen by the student on a list approved annually by the Scientific Council of NOVA FCT, which includes the unity of all scientific areas of NOVA FCT

Conditions of Admittance

The conditions of admittance include:

• Specific exams:
  • One of the following groups:
    • 02 Biology and Geology + 04 Economy
    • 02 Biology and Geology + 07 Physics and Chemistry
    • 02 Biology and Geology + 16 Mathematics

Evaluation Rules

The evaluation rules include:

• The evaluation of all UCs is continuous for all the components that integrate it, and it must be completed by the last day of the school term of the academic semester
• The continuous evaluation of a UC must include a minimum of two elements in the set of evaluation components, on dates adequately spaced throughout the period of classes
• All UCs with a theoretical-practical evaluation component must provide, in addition, a form of evaluation of this component by exam, to be carried out after the period of classes (Examination of Appeal)
• All requirements and conditions related to the evaluation of the UC, namely the minimum weights and classifications, if any, of each component, as well as the Frequency conditions, are defined a priori and, mandatorily, published in the Discipline Form
• For each UC, combinations of three evaluation components are allowed: (i) Theoretical-practical evaluation; (ii) Laboratory or project evaluation; (iii) Summative assessment

Structure

The structure of the program includes:

1.ş Semester

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • 10352 | Soft Skills for Science and Technology | 3.0
  • 10647 | General Biology | 6.0
  • 3737 | Chemistry of Life | 6.0
  • 10692 | General Mathematics | 6.0
  • 10713 | General Chemistry | 6.0
  • 10649 | Biology Laboratory Techniques I | 3.0

2.ş Semester

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • 13318 | General Biochemistry | 6.0
  • 11146 | Informatics for Science and Engineering B | 6.0
  • 11823 | Introduction to Biophysics A | 6.0
  • 12658 | Probability and Statistics D | 6.0
  • 11194 | General Organic Chemistry A | 6.0

3.ş Semester

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • 7933 | Animal Biology | 6.0
  • 11010 | Cell Biology A | 6.0
  • 10651 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 6.0
  • 13317 | Metabolism and Regulation C | 6.0
  • 11821 | Thermodynamics B | 6.0

4.ş Semester

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • 10654 | Molecular Biology A | 6.0
  • 3466 | Plant Biology | 6.0
  • 10653 | Biosafety and Bioethics | 3.0
  • 3804 | Microbiology B | 6.0
  • 12512 | Society, Sustainability and Digital Transformation | 3.0
  • 8143 | Laboratory Techniques in Biology II | 6.0

5.ş Semester

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • 10655 | Molecular Genetics A | 6.0
  • 12028 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 6.0

5.ş Semester - Opçăo 1

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • Options
    • 10656 | Immunology | 6.0
    • 10657 | Applied Microbiology | 6.0
  • The student must obtain 6.0 credits in this option

5.ş Semester - Opçăo 2

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • Options
    • 11822 | Cellular and Molecular Toxicology | 6.0
    • 10659 | Virology | 6.0
  • The student must obtain 6.0 credits in this option

5.ş Semester - Unidade Curricular do Bloco Livre

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • Options
    • 11066 | Unrestricted Electives | 6.0
  • The student must obtain 6.0 credits in this option

6.ş Semester

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • 12030 | Biotechnology | 3.0
  • 7112 | Genetic Engineering | 6.0
  • 10661 | Physiology | 6.0
  • 12029 | Project in Cell and Molecular Biology | 12.0

6.ş Semester - Opçăo PIIC/PIPP

• Code | Name | ECTS
  • Options
    • 11012 | Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program | 3.0
    • 11013 | Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program | 3.0
  • The student must obtain 3.0 credits in this option