Bachelor of Science (Medical Biotechnology)

Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.
However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Science (Medical Biotechnology)

Biotechnology is the application of exciting advances in molecular and cell biology to medicine, agriculture, and the environment. Through modern technologies, such as genetic engineering, biotechnology is shaping diverse aspects of medicine (cancer, vaccines, therapy and diagnosis of genetic diseases), food production (transgenic plants) and industry (bioremediation). Biotechnology encompasses the rapidly evolving fields of monoclonal antibody technology, proteomics and genetic engineering. A new generation of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, hormones and anti-inflammatory agents are being developed using these technologies. This is a prescribed program of study comprising core and optional subjects as set out below.

Course Program


Subjects		Session	Credit Points
First Year
SCIE000	Science Risk Management	Autumn	0
BIOL105	Functional Biology of Animals and Plants	Autumn	6
CHEM101	Chemistry 1A: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry	Autumn	6
MATH151	General Mathematics 1A (if required)	Autumn	6
BIOL103	Molecules, Cells and Organisms	Spring	6
CHEM102	Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life	Spring	6
Plus other elective subjects to give a total credit point value of 48, at least 1 of which should be from the following options:
BIOL104	Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment	Autumn	6
SHS 111	Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I	Autumn	6
STS 100	Social Aspects of Science and Technology#	Autumn	6
PHYS155	Introduction to Biomedical Physics	Spring	6
SHS 112	Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II	Spring	6
# STS 100 is compulsory for students taking an approved course of study which does not include STS 251 (in 2nd year).
Second Year
BIOL213	Principles of Biochemistry	Autumn	6
CHEM212	Organic Chemistry	Autumn	6
BIOL214	The Biochemistry of Energy and Metabolism	Spring	6
BIOL215	Introductory Genetics	Spring	6
CHEM214	Analytical and Environmental Chemistry II	Spring	6
STAT252	Statistics for the Natural Sciences	Spring	6
Plus two of the following subjects:
BIOL240	Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms	Autumn	6
MGMT208	Introduction to Management for Professionals	Autumn	6
SHS 211	Control Mechanisms Physiology	Autumn	6
STS 251	Social Aspects of Genetics and Biotechnology*	Autumn	6
BIOL241	Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms	Spring	6
* Compulsory for students who have not taken STS 100 in 1st year.
Third Year
Core
BIOL303	Biotechnology: Applied Cell and Molecular Biology	Autumn	8
BIOL320	Molecular Cell Biology	Autumn	8
BIOL321	Infection and Immunity	Spring	8
CHEM320	Bioinformatics: From Genome to Structure	Spring	8
Options
Plus one Autumn Session subject chosen from the following:
BIOL332	Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology	Autumn	8
BIOL392	Advanced Biology	Autumn	8
CHEM350	Principles of Pharmacology	Autumn	8
SHS 311^	Fundamentals of Neuroscience	Autumn	8
^Subject to approval from the Subject Coordinator
Plus one Spring Session subject chosen from the following:
BIOL392	Advanced Biology	Spring	8
CHEM321	Organic Synthesis and Reactivity	Spring	8
PHIL380	Bioethics	Spring	8
SHS 313	Cardiorespiratory Physiology	Spring	8
Or other subjects approved by the Coordinator

Honours

If the required academic standard is attained, with the approval of the degree coordinator, BSc (Medical Biotechnology) students may transfer into the Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology degree no earlier than the end of 2nd year and subsequently undertake the 4th (Honours) year of this latter degree. This consists of special coursework plus a research project.

Professional Recognition

Graduates qualify to apply for membership of the Australian Institute of Biology, the Australian Society of Microbiology and the Australian Biotechnology Society.

Other Information

For more detailed course information contact the Professional Officer, Julie-Ann Green - School of Biological Sciences, telephone +61 2 4221 3100, email: jagreen@uow.edu.au

The Degree Coordinator is Dr Martina Sanderson-Smith - School of Biological Sciences, telephone +61 2 4221 4534, email: martina_sanderson-smith@uow.edu.au