Biotechnology, Bachelor of Science College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Every living organism, from the smallest and most primitive bacteria to every plant, insect, animal or human being, contains DNA as the primary genetic material. DNA directs all cellular processes, creating the incredible variety and diversity of living organisms in the biosphere. Biotechnology focuses on the mechanics of life processes and their application. Biotechnology means "life technology" and represents an integrated, multidisciplinary field, with a profound impact today on almost every aspect of human endeavor.
Preparatory Requirements
UC Davis students who wish to change their major to Biotechnology must complete the following courses (representing the subject areas of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Mathematics) with a grade point average of at least 2.500 in each subject area. All of these courses must be taken for a letter grade:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | ||
| BIS 002A & BIS 002B & BIS 002C | Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth and Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution and Introduction to Biology: Biodiversity & the Tree of Life | 15 |
| Chemistry | ||
| One series: | 15 | |
| General Chemistry and General Chemistry and General Chemistry | ||
| Chemistry for Life Sciences: Determining Structure & Predicting Properties and Chemistry for Life Sciences: Predicting & Characterizing Chemical Change and Chemistry for Life Sciences: Controlling Processes & Synthetic Pathways | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| One series: | 6-8 | |
| Short Calculus and Short Calculus | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine and Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Calculus for Data-Driven Applications and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications | ||
| Calculus and Calculus | ||
The Program
In the first two years, students develop a strong and general background in biological science with an emphasis on fundamental concepts and basic principles of genetics, molecular biology and cell biology. Four options, Animal Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology, Fermentation/Microbial Biotechnology, and Bioinformatics, provide in-depth training and specialized knowledge in an aspect of biotechnology. Each option has a strong laboratory component to reinforce the theoretical concepts. Students also do an internship in a biotechnology company or university or government laboratory.
Internships & Career Opportunities
In the last decade, more industries are turning to biotechnology to solve problems and improve products, creating a growing job market for individuals trained in biotechnology in the agricultural, food and beverage, health care, chemical, pharmaceutical and biochemical, and environmental and bioremediation industries.
Graduates trained in the technologies designed for biotechnology will find their training applicable to advanced research in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and the plant and animal sciences.
Lead Faculty Advisor
Diane Beckles in 133 Asmundson Hall
Faculty includes members of the Departments of Animal Science; Engineering: Chemical Engineering & Materials Science; Computer Science; Engineering: Biological & Agricultural; Food Science & Technology; Land, Air, & Water Resources; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Viticulture & Enology; and the College of Biological Sciences.
Major Advisor
Advising Center for the major is located in 1220 Plant & Environmental Sciences; plsadvising@ucdavis.edu.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Biotechnology Bachelor of Science is 114.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Biological Science | 15 | |
| Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth | ||
| Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution | ||
| Introduction to Biology: Biodiversity & the Tree of Life | ||
| Biotechnology | 5 | |
| Introduction to Biotechnology | ||
| Undergraduate Seminars in Biotechnology | ||
| Chemistry | 21-27 | |
| 002 series: | ||
| General Chemistry and General Chemistry and General Chemistry | ||
| Choose CHE 008 series or 118 series or 128 series & 129A: | ||
| Organic Chemistry: Brief Course and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course | ||
OR | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences | ||
OR | ||
| Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Choose a series: | 6-8 | |
| Short Calculus and Short Calculus | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine and Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Calculus for Data-Driven Applications and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications | ||
| Calculus and Calculus | ||
| Physics | 8 | |
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Applied Statistics in Agricultural Sciences | ||
| Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| May overlap with the English Composition Requirement; may be waived by passing the upper division composition exam. | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
or UWP 101V | Advanced Composition | |
or UWP 101Y | Advanced Composition | |
| Writing in the Disciplines: Special Topics | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Biology | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: International Relations | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Engineering | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Food Science & Technology | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Environmental Writing | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Business Writing | ||
or UWP 104AV | Writing in the Professions: Business Writing | |
or UWP 104AY | Writing in the Professions: Business Writing | |
| Writing in the Professions: Law | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Journalism | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Elementary & Secondary Education | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Science | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Health | ||
or UWP 104FV | Writing in the Professions: Health | |
or UWP 104FY | Writing in the Professions: Health | |
| Writing in the Professions: Technical Writing | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 63-71 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Biological Science | 10-17 | |
| Genes & Gene Expression | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Choose BIS 105, or BIS 102 & BIS 103, or ABI 102 & ABI 103: | ||
| Biomolecules & Metabolism | ||
OR | ||
| Structure & Function of Biomolecules and Bioenergetics & Metabolism | ||
OR | ||
| Animal Biochemistry & Metabolism and Animal Biochemistry & Metabolism | ||
| Biotechnology | 3 | |
| Professionalism & Ethics in Genomics & Biotechnology | ||
| Microbiology | 3 | |
| Introductory Microbiology | ||
| Molecular & Cellular Biology | 3 | |
| Advanced Molecular Biology | ||
| Internship or Independent Research | ||
| Must be approved by major advisor | ||
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Laboratory Research in Genomics & Biotechnology | ||
| Internship in Biotechnology | ||
| Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates | ||
| The following two courses are optional: | ||
| Undergraduate Research Proposal | ||
| Honors Thesis in Biotechnology | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 22-29 | |
| Areas of Specialization | ||
| Choose one: | 29-31 | |
| Areas of Specialization Subtotal | 29-31 | |
| Total Units | 114-131 | |
Fermentation/Microbiology Biotechnology Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Fermentation/Microbiology Biotechnology Option | ||
| BIT 161A | Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory | 5-6 |
| or MCB 160L | Principles of Genetics Laboratory | |
| FST 104L | Food Microbiology Laboratory | 3-4 |
| or MIC 104L | General Microbiology Laboratory | |
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Microbial Ecology | ||
MIC 140 | (Discontinued) | |
| Genomes of Pathogenic Bacteria (Discontinued) | ||
| Recombinant DNA Cloning & Analysis | ||
or MIC 115 DISCONTINUED | ||
MMG 170 | ||
or MIC 170 DISCONTINUED | ||
| Fungal Biology & Disease | ||
| AND | ||
| Choose one from the previous list or below: | 3 | |
| Comparative Genomics | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Principles of Genomics | ||
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Choose 15 units: | 15 | |
BIS 132 | (Discontinued) | |
| Comparative Genomics | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Applied Bioinformatics | ||
| Plant Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory | ||
| Undergraduate Research Proposal | ||
| Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences | ||
| Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences | ||
| Principles of Medicinal Chemistry | ||
| Computational Drug Design | ||
| Biotechnology Facility Design & Regulatory Compliance | ||
| Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory | ||
| Theory & Practice of Bioinformatics | ||
| Computational Structural Bioinformatics | ||
| Introduction to Evolution | ||
| Malting & Brewing Science | ||
| Practical Malting & Brewing | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Food Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Food Processing | ||
| Fermented Foods | ||
| Introduction to Enzymology | ||
| Enzymology Laboratory | ||
| Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics | ||
| Principles of Genomics | ||
| Microbial Diversity | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Microbial Diversity Laboratory | ||
MIC 140 | (Discontinued) | |
| Genomes of Pathogenic Bacteria (Discontinued) | ||
MIC 155L | (Discontinued) | |
| Recombinant DNA Cloning & Analysis | ||
or MIC 115 DISCONTINUED | ||
| General Virology | ||
or MIC 162 DISCONTINUED | ||
MMG 170 | ||
or MIC 170 DISCONTINUED | ||
| Fungal Biology & Disease | ||
PLP 140 | (Discontinued) | |
| Microbiology & Safety of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables | ||
| Wine Production | ||
| Wine Production Laboratory | ||
| Wine Microbiology | ||
| Wine Technology & Winery Systems | ||
| Total Units | 29-31 | |
Plant Biotechnology Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Biotechnology Option | ||
| Biotechnology | 13 | |
| Principles of Plant Biotechnology | ||
| Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory | ||
| Plant Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory | ||
| Microbiology | 2 | |
| Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Molecular & Cellular Biology | 3 | |
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Plant Science | 4 | |
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Choose 9 units: | 9 | |
| Comparative Genomics | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Applied Bioinformatics | ||
| Undergraduate Research Proposal | ||
| Principles of Medicinal Chemistry | ||
| Computational Drug Design | ||
| Properties of Materials in Biological Systems | ||
| Selected Topics in Biological Systems Engineering: Forest Engineering | ||
| Selected Topics in Biological Systems Engineering: Plant Production & Harvest | ||
| Selected Topics in Biological Systems Engineering: Postharvest Engineering | ||
| Theory & Practice of Bioinformatics | ||
| Computational Structural Bioinformatics | ||
| Arthropod Pest Management | ||
| Introduction to Evolution | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Food Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Food Processing | ||
| Introduction to Enzymology | ||
| Enzymology Laboratory | ||
| Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics | ||
| Principles of Genomics | ||
| Recombinant DNA Cloning & Analysis | ||
or MIC 115 DISCONTINUED | ||
| General Virology | ||
or MIC 162 DISCONTINUED | ||
| Plant Nematology | ||
or NEM 110 | Introduction to Nematology | |
| Developmental Plant Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Plant Growth & Development | ||
| Molecular & Cellular Biology of Plants | ||
| Evolution of Crop Plants | ||
| Introduction to Plant Pathology | ||
| Plant-Virus-Vector Interaction | ||
| Fungal Biology & Disease | ||
PLP 140 | (Discontinued) | |
| Metabolic Processes of Cultivated Plants | ||
| Metabolic Processes of Cultivated Plants Laboratory | ||
| Growth & Yield of Cultivated Plants | ||
| Growth & Yield of Cultivated Plants Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Interactions of Cultivated Plants | ||
| Environmental Interactions of Cultivated Plants Laboratory | ||
| Plant, Cell, Tissue & Organ Culture (Discontinued) | ||
| Introduction to Plant Breeding | ||
| Physiology of Environmental Stresses in Plants | ||
| Mineral Nutrition of Plants | ||
| Biology and Quality of Harvested Crops | ||
PLS 173 | (Discontinued) | |
| Microbiology & Safety of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables | ||
| Total Units | 31 | |
Animal Biotechnology Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Biotechnology Option | ||
| Animal Genetics | 4 | |
| Molecular Biology Laboratory Techniques | ||
| Animal Science | 4 | |
| Ethics of Animal Use | ||
| Microbiology | 2 | |
| Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Molecular & Cellular Biology | 6-7 | |
| Developmental Biology | ||
or MCB 163 | Developmental Genetics | |
| Principles of Genomics | ||
| Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior | 5 | |
| Systemic Physiology | ||
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Choose 9 units: | 9 | |
| Animal Cytogenetics | ||
| Genetics & Animal Breeding | ||
| Reproduction & Early Development in Aquatic Animals | ||
| Management of Laboratory Animals | ||
| Avian Development & Genomics | ||
| Avian Reproduction | ||
| Comparative Genomics | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Applied Bioinformatics | ||
| Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory | ||
| Plant Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory | ||
| Undergraduate Research Proposal | ||
| Introduction to Evolution | ||
| Population & Quantitative Genetics | ||
| Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Laboratory Associated Lecture | ||
| Principles of Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics | ||
| Animal Cell Culture Laboratory | ||
| Recombinant DNA Cloning & Analysis | ||
or MIC 115 DISCONTINUED | ||
| General Virology | ||
or MIC 162 DISCONTINUED | ||
MMI 188 | (Discontinued) | |
| Physiology of Reproduction | ||
| Physiology of Reproduction Laboratory | ||
| Nature vs. Nurture: Physiological Interactions Among Genes, Nutrients & Health | ||
PLP 140 | (Discontinued) | |
| Fundamentals of Immunology | ||
| Immunology Laboratory | ||
| Medical Bacteria & Fungi | ||
| Biology of Animal Viruses | ||
| Total Units | 30-31 | |
Bioinformatics Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Bioinformatics Option | ||
| Biological Science | 3 | |
| Comparative Genomics | ||
or BIS 183 | Functional Genomics | |
| Biotechnology | 4 | |
| Applied Bioinformatics | ||
| Choose one: | 4-5 | |
| Genomics Laboratory | ||
| Theory & Practice of Bioinformatics | ||
| Computational Structural Bioinformatics | ||
| Computer Science Engineering | 4 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
or ECS 032AV | Introduction to Programming | |
| Microbiology | 2 | |
| Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Molecular & Cellular Biology | 3 | |
| Principles of Genomics | ||
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Choose 9 units: | 9 | |
| Sequence Analysis in Molecular Genetics | ||
BIS 132 | (Discontinued) | |
BIS 134 | (Discontinued) | |
| Comparative Genomics | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Undergraduate Research Proposal | ||
| Special Topics in Applied Science: Biophotonics/Biotechnology | ||
| Discrete Mathematics For Computer Science | ||
| Introduction to Data Structures | ||
| Software Development in UNIX & C++ | ||
| Computer Organization & Machine-Dependent Programming | ||
| Algorithm Design & Analysis | ||
| Theory & Practice of Bioinformatics | ||
| Computational Structural Bioinformatics | ||
| Programming Languages | ||
| Operating Systems & System Programming | ||
| Computer Architecture | ||
| Introduction to Evolution | ||
| Population & Quantitative Genetics | ||
| Phylogeny, Speciation & Macroevolution | ||
| Human Genetic Variation & Evolution | ||
| Microbial Phylogenomics; Genomic Perspectives on the Diversity & Diversification of Microbes | ||
| Mathematical Biology | ||
| Human Genetics & Genomics | ||
| Recombinant DNA Cloning & Analysis | ||
or MIC 115 DISCONTINUED | ||
| Nature vs. Nurture: Physiological Interactions Among Genes, Nutrients & Health | ||
| Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course | ||
| Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course | ||
| Introduction to Probability Theory | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | ||
| Fundamentals of Statistical Data Science | ||
| Total Units | 29-30 | |