Students complete the biotechnology core curriculum (7-10 credits) in their first year as
follows:
● Basic laboratory skills: BIOC 500, Biotechnology Laboratory: Molecular Biology Basics
(fall semester). This course establishes the foundation for hands-on experience with
basic laboratory skills, standard operating procedures, and laboratory notebook
maintenance essentials.
● Experimental design: BIOC 501, Biochemical and Cellular Techniques for Biotechnology
(fall semester) introduces the rationale underlying key techniques and presents how these
techniques are used to answer experimental questions.
● Biotechnology practice, funding, and intellectual property: BIOC 511, Practice and
Professionalism in Biotechnology (fall semester) introduces students to the business and
practical aspects of biotechnology.
● Advanced laboratory skills (track-dependent): BIOC 502A-C (spring semester): a set of in-depth lab
courses in biochemistry and molecular biology. These cover experimental techniques
used for the engineering, preparation, and study of proteins and nucleic acids, methods
focusing upon eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and mass spectrometry techniques.
Students will take some or all these courses, depending on which track they choose. All 3 classes are required for the Biochemistry track; 502A is required for the Neurosciences track; and 502B is required for the Pharmacology track