UTS course code: C10172
UAC code: 607001
Testamur title: Bachelor of Biotechnology
Abbreviation: BBiotech
Course Director: Dr Rachel Shepherd
Course fee: HECS (local); $8,250 per semester (international)
Total credit points:144

Overview
Course aims
Admission requirements
Advanced standing
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Recommended subject strands
Assessment
Other information

Overview

The UTS Bachelor of Biotechnology provides students with a professional qualification in biological science with emphasis on DNA technology and its applications, and a firm basis in the industrial aspects of biotechnology. The course provides a thorough grounding in biochemistry, microbiology, immunology and molecular biology; these being the principal areas that together comprise the multidisciplinary science that we now term 'biotechnology'. The methods of biotechnology find application in almost every area of biological and medical science. For example, areas as diverse as the development of new vaccines and therapeutic substances, improving the quality of foods and beverages, pest control in agriculture, and studies of the causation of cancer, all make use of the methods of biotechnology. Major areas of study include food, agricultural, environmental and medical biotechnology.

Electives may be taken from a wide range of areas offered within the Faculty of Science (see the list of Recommended Science strands) or within the University. See the Elective options for the Biotechnology course table, the Second majors section, or the Course Director for more details. Students may also undertake the Diploma in Scientific Practice¹, industrial training, or the Graduate Diploma in Education for students wishing to pursue a career in teaching. Graduates interested a research career may enrol in the Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours).

Footnotes:
1. The Diploma in Scientific Practice is not available to international students.

Course aims

This course aims to produce professional biotechnologists with highly adaptable and practical scientific skills, accompanied by a thorough grounding in theory. Graduates can expect to find employment in a range of areas including food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical and fermentation industries, particularly in production, quality control, or research and development areas. These industries depend on a high level of professional competence in standard techniques of microbiology and biochemistry. An increasing number of products involve the application of some of the molecular or other aspects of biotechnology in their manufacture. Good employment opportunities also exist with State and federal government scientific instrumentalities, and in research and other laboratories in tertiary institutions, hospitals and industry. In recent years a number of smaller, specialised development and consulting companies have developed from biotechnology research programs. These organisations require graduates with a strong grounding in biotechnology and applied microbiology. Many employers in the biotechnology field, being themselves active in research and development, have close links with tertiary education institutions, and can offer graduates the possibility of higher degree studies in conjunction with employment.

Admission requirements

Australian students are required to apply for admission through the NSW University Admissions Centre (UAC). For school leavers, admission is based on UAI scores. We recommend that HSC studies include the following subjects: HSC Mathematics, English and at least one science subject, preferably Mathematics Extension 1 and Chemistry. Non-current school leavers should apply through UAC in addition to submitting a Personal Statement to UTS. Applications are taken from September to December each year.

International students should contact the UTS International Office for application procedures. In addition to academic requirements, students are required to meet English language proficiency requirements. Further details are available from the International Office.

Advanced standing

UTS recognises prior tertiary level learning, including that from other universities and TAFE (Associate Diploma and Diploma only). Once a student's application to study has been accepted, he or she may apply to receive recognition of successful prior learning, and may therefore be able to complete the course in less than the standard time. Applications for credits and exemptions should be made to the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Science.

Attendance

Full-time attendance involves approximately 24 hours each week at the University. This enables a full stage of the course to be completed in one semester. Part-time attendance involves approximately 12 hours each week at the University. This form of attendance allows students to complete a full stage in one year. It is expected that employers will release part-time students for at least one half-day per week for attendance at classes.

Course duration

This course is offered over:

• three years, full time
• six years, part time
• four years, full time with successful completion of the Diploma in Scientific Practice, or
• four years, full time with Honours.

Other patterns of attendance may also be permitted. Contact the Course Director for advice.

Course structure

Subjects are divided into core subjects and elective or second major subjects. For the award of the degree, students must satisfactorily complete all core subjects and 32 credit points of approved elective or second major subjects. Elective subjects may be combined to form a cohesive strand comprising either subjects allied to biotechnology or a second major in a field of interest to the student. Examples of appropriate combinations of elective/second major subjects are given below, following the course program outline. The second major may consist entirely of subjects chosen from the table of Elective options for the Biotechnology course, or other subjects from the Faculty of Science (see the list of Recommended Science strands). Some students may wish to undertake subjects from other faculties or institutes of UTS or from other universities. The Biotechnology Course Director can advise students on selection of second majors and electives.

Course program

Full-time program

Footnotes:
1. See the table of Elective options for the Biotechnology course for details of suitable electives offered by the Faculty of Science (refer also to the list of Recommended Science strands).

Part-time program

Spring semester
65022 Chemistry 2A 6cp
91702 Medical Science 2 6cp

Spring semester
91313 Biochemistry 1 6cp
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature¹ 6cp

Spring semester
91132 Molecular Biology 1 6cp
91326 Analytical Biochemistry 6cp

Spring semester
91351 Immunology 1 3cp
91128 Plant Biotechnology 3cp
xxxxx Electives¹/second major 6cp

Spring semester
xxxxx One Biotechnology subject 6cp
xxxxx Electives¹/second major 6cp

Spring semester
91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing 6cp
xxxxx Electives¹/second major 6cp

Footnotes:
1. See the table of Elective options for the Biotechnology course for details of suitable electives offered by the Faculty of Science (refer also to the list of Recommended Science strands).

Note: Some core subjects and electives for part-time students are offered in alternate years only. Students entering the program in odd and even years will take their core subjects and electives in a different sequence. The order in which part-time students undertake Stage 3, 4, 5 and 6 subjects is determined by the fact that subjects are offered in appropriate time slots in alternate years only.

Recommended subject strands

Each student chooses 36 credit points of electives that may be drawn from the table of Elective options for the Biotechnology course, from another part of the Faculty, from other faculties in the University or from other universities by an approved concurrent study program. A variety of subject combinations may be chosen, appropriate to a wide range of career options. Some examples of elective groupings are given below.

Medical Biotechnology
(Immunology or Microbiology)

Medical Biotechnology
(Biochemistry or Pharmacology)

Plant Biotechnology

Environmental Biotechnology

In addition, a number of the optional second majors, listed separately in this handbook, provide appropriate study programs to be taken in conjunction with the Biotechnology degree course. The following interest areas may be worthy of consideration for Biotechnology students having specific career preferences (refer to the Second majors section for more information):

• Business Management
• Public Communication
• Science Education
• Nanotechnology for Biotechnology
• Biophysics

It should be noted that timetable constraints might prevent the undertaking of some combinations of core and elective subjects in a particular semester. The inclusion of subjects presented by another faculty or at a different campus requires close attention to timetabling.

Elective options for the Biotechnology course (Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Science subjects)

A = Autumn semester S = Spring semester

Footnotes:
1. The subjects marked (o) will run in part-time mode in odd years only; those marked (e) will run in part-time mode in even years only. All electives are offered in full-time mode every year.
2. Supervision form must be completed and approved by the relevant Course Director.
3. This may include subjects from other courses within the biological and biomedical sciences, subjects from another UTS school or faculty, or subjects from another university undertaken on a concurrent study basis, e.g. Viruses and Disease at University of NSW.

Note: Subjects recommended for particular stages may be undertaken by part-time students when programmable, provided the prerequisites are met. Owing to timetable constraints and student numbers, not all electives may be available to students in any given semester.

Assessment

Depending on the subjects chosen, students can expect to undergo a variety of assessment types before completion of this course including formal and informal examinations, assignments and essays, practical reports and write-ups, and seminar presentations. Assessment tasks may be based on individual or group work. For further details on individual subjects, see the Subject Descriptions section, or contact the subject's coordinator.

Other information

All academic inquiries should be made to:

Course Director, Biotechnology
Dr Rachel Shepherd
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
telephone (02) 9514 4109
fax (02) 9514 4026
email Rachel.Shepherd@uts.edu.au