Undergraduate handbook 2005 - Science

Biotechnology

Coordinator: Dr Alan Neale (School of Biological Sciences)

The discipline

Biotechnology is an exciting area in modern science that has great potential in the industrial, medical and agricultural sectors. Biotechnology includes practical applications of knowledge involving many biological processes and its strength at Monash is that it draws on advances in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, chemical science/engineering, cell biology, immunology, pharmacology and other disciplines. A major in biotechnology reflecting all facets of this area includes units from various disciplines across faculties, departments and schools.
Alternatively, this major can be taken as an undergraduate Diploma in Biotechnology (Research and Management) as a third science major by overloading concurrently with a degree course. For information about this diploma, see the `Outline of undergraduate courses' section.

Sequence requirements

Major sequence in biotechnology (48 points):

• either MOL2011 and MOL2022, or BTH2746* and BTH3757*, and
• at most two of BCH2011, BCH2022, BTH2757*, BTH2766*, BTH2777*, CEL2012, CHM2741*, CHM2911, CHM2922, CHM2932, CHM2941, GEN2041, GEN2052, MIC2011, MIC2022, PHY2011, PHY2021, PHY2032, STA2010, STA2032 and STA2216, and
• CHE3132 and either SCI3090*, SCI3094* or SCI3716*, and
• at least two of BCH3031, BCH3062, BMS3021, BTH3776*, BTH3797*, CHM3942, CHM3931, GEN3041/GEN3042, GEN3052/GEN3051, IMM3031, IMM3051, MIC3011, MIC3041, SCI3739 or SCI3741, and
• at most two of ANT3032, ANT3052, BCH3011, BCH3022, BCH3042, BIO3021, BIO3071, BIO3082, BIO3111, BIO3132, BTH3746*, BTH3787*, CHM3922, CHM3952, CHM3981, ECE3801, ECE3802, ECE4804, ECE4806, ECE4812, GEN3031, GEN3062, IMM3042, IMM3062, MIC3022, MIC3032, PHY3181, STA3032 or STA3217*.

Details of these units are provided in the appropriate entries in this handbook.
In addition to these requirements, students completing a major sequence in biotechnology may need to complete additional prerequisite units at levels one and two. Students should check the individual unit entries in the back of this handbook when planning their selection of units.

Recommendations

Level one

The structure of the major sequence in biotechnology is unusual in that it does not include level-one units but has a prerequisite of either BIO1022, CHM1022*, BIO1722* or CHM1742*.

Level two

The biotechnology major sequence comprises either MOL2011 and MOL2022, or BTH2546 and BTH3757, along with up to 12 points of elective units at level two chosen from the list above.

Level three

Students complete CHE3132 and either SCI3090, SCI3094 or SCI3716, along with at least 12 points of elective units at level three selected from the lists above. Prerequisites and prohibitions apply to some of these units, as described in the individual unit entries at the back of this handbook.
It is highly recommended that students undertake at least one of SCI3741 and SCI3739 to provide practical experience of working in a scientific or industrial research environment. For SCI3741 and SCI3739, the biotechnology content of the project and the supervisor's agreement must be approved by the biotechnology coordinator prior to commencing the project. Students should also note that SCI3741 and SCI3739 are a prohibited combination.

* These units are available in both on-campus and off-campus learning modes.

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