3527 - Bachelor of Biotechnology

The course provides graduates with a strong foundation in the enabling science disciplines of biology, chemistry and mathematics as well as skills and techniques in molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry. Students complete core units at each stage specifically addressing issues relevant to the biotechnology industry, including ethics, business and law. Students also complete a major sequence to specialise in an area of biotechnology. The area of specialisation is selected after stage one and is in one of the following areas:

• biomolecular processing
• chemical biotechnology
• medical biotechnology
• materials and nanotechnology
• plant and animal biotechnology.

At stage four of the course students either complete an honours year program involving independent research, analysis and a combination of coursework and project unit covering commercialisation aspects of biotechnology, or a program of advanced coursework.

Course progression requirements

Students must have completed all of the stage 1-3 requirements, and achieved an average mark of at least 70 in at least 24 points of level-3 units, including BTH3012 (Biotechnology regulation, law and ethics III), to be able to undertake the honours program of the course. Students who have completed all of the stage 1-3 requirements but do not meet this progression requirement will complete the coursework program at level four to be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Biotechnology, or can apply to transfer to the Bachelor of Science to graduate.

Students who transfer to the Bachelor of Science course after successfully completing all of the requirements for stages 1-3 are eligible to apply to graduate with either an untagged Bachelor of Science or a tagged Bachelor of Science (specialist stream) based on their program of study. For example a student who completes all of the level 1-3 requirements including the requirements for the specialist stream in Medical Biotechnology is eligible to graduate with the tagged degree qualification Bachelor of Science (Medical Biotechnology).

Upon completion of this course, students will have advanced knowledge and skills in at least one of the scientific areas that contributes to the biotechnology industry and related research. The core units provide graduates with theoretical and practical knowledge of the biotechnology industry so that they will understand how research and development in that context differs from non-commercial research. During the course, students will also have developed generic skills and knowledge appropriate to employment in science including quantitative literacy, data analysis and presentation, communication skills and teamwork skills. The fourth year provides students with a higher level of experience in independent analysis and research in the chosen field of expertise and brings together the science and industry perspectives.

Core studies

In addition to the core science units, students must complete the core biotechnology units at each year level (stages 1-3), foundation scientific studies (at stages 1-2), units towards an approved scientific specialisation stream (at stages 2-3), as well as two approved elective units at stage 1. The fourth stage involves either a major laboratory research project along with project work specifically relating to commercial product development or advanced coursework.

Areas of study

Students must complete an approved specialisation stream in an area of biotechnology. Details of the requirements of each stream are described below. Although students are not required to select their specialist stream until the completion of stage 1 of the course some streams involve units that have specific level one prerequisite units. For example, biomolecular processing requires students to complete MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling), which in turn, may require students to complete MTH1020 (Analysis of change).

Over the first three stages of the course, all students must complete the following:

• eight foundation science units at stages 1-2 (48 points)
• a mathematics or statistics unit at stage 1 (6 points)
• a biotechnology core unit at each of stages 1-3 (18 points)
• ten specialist units in an approved biotechnology stream at stages 2-3 (60 points)
• two elective units from any faculty (12 points).

At stage four of the course, all students must complete a final year program of study (48 points). The program of study at stage four will be determined by the course progression requirements and will comprise either:

• an honours research project in biotechnology (36 points) and a commercialisation of biotechnology coursework and project unit (12 points)
• or additional coursework units (48 points).

No more than 60 points of level-1 units can be counted towards the requirements of the course, and at least 36 points of relevant level-3 units must have been completed.

Students who do not meet the progression requirement at the end of stage three to complete the honours year program will either apply to transfer to the Bachelor of Science in order to graduate, or complete advanced coursework units at stage four and graduate with a Bachelor of Biotechnology.

Overall students must have completed the following:

Stage one

Students complete 48 points of units, comprising:

• BIO1011 Biology I and BIO1022 Biology II
• BTH1011 Biotechnology, science, business, law and ethics 1
• CHM1011 Chemistry and CHM1022 Chemistry
• either STA1010 Statistical methods for science or MTH1030 Techniques for modelling (some specialist streams require MTH1030 as a prerequisite for level two units)
• two elective units from any faculty, subject to meeting any entry requirements of that faculty

Stage two

Students complete 48 points of units, comprising:

• BCH2011 Structure and function of cellular biomolecules
• BTH2012 Biotechnology regulation, law and ethics II
• MIC2011 Introduction to microbiology and microbial biotechnology
• MOL2011 Molecular biology: genes and their expression and MOL2022 Molecular biology: gene technology and its application
• three units towards one of the approved streams

Stage three

Students complete 48 points of units comprising:

• BTH3012 Biotechnology science, industry and commercialisation
• five units to complete the core component of one of the approved streams
• two related 'selective' units as approved for that stream

Stage four

Students who satisfy the progression requirements at stage 3 to be eligible to complete the honours program complete 48 points of units comprising:

• BTH4100 Biotechnology research project (36 points)
• BTH4200 The practice of biotechnology (12 points)

The grade of honours awarded for students who graduate with a Bachelor of Biotechnology with Honours will be determined by the Board of Examiners using the points-weighted average of the marks for BTH4100 and BTH4200, with a variation of up to two discretionary marks.

Students who do not satisfy the progression requirements at stage 3 to complete the honours program complete 48 points of advanced coursework comprising the following:

• BTH4200 The practice of biotechnology (12 points)
• 36 points from relevant units to complete an individual program developed between the student and the course coordinator. This program will involve units in areas relevant to biotechnology, including a unit that requires a substantial literature review. The units could be chosen from, but not limited to, the following list:
• GSB5011 Pathways from science to wealth
• LAW7119 Patents for inventions
• SCI3090 Technology management for scientists
• SCI3094 Technology management for scientists
• SCI3741 Biotechnology in action research project

Specialist stream requirements

Biomolecular processing (60 points)

• BCH2022 Metabolic basis of human diseases
• BCH3031 Advanced molecular biology: modern concepts and applications
• CHE3171 Bioprocess technology
• CHE4132 Biochemical engineering
• CHM2922 Instrumental and forensic chemistry
• ENG1010 Process systems analysis
• MTH1020 Analysis of change*
• MTH2051/ MTH3051 Introduction to computational mathematics

plus two units from:

• CHE3172 Nanotechnology and materials 1
• CHE4172 Nanotechnology and materials II
• CHM2180 Materials chemistry: biomaterials, macromolecules and smart materials
• ECE3803 Clinical engineering management
• ECE4084 Biomechanics of human musculoskeletal systems
• ECE4806 Medical imaging
• ENE3603 Impact of engineering systems
• ENE4506 Materials and the environment
• ENE4601 Risk assessment, occupational health and toxicology
• GES2420 Environmental policy and management
• MIC2022 Microbiology: host and environmental interactions
• MTE2541 Nanostructure of materials
• MTE2544 Functional materials
• MTE3545 Functional materials and devices
• MTE4539 Biomaterials

* Students who successfully completed VCE Specialist Mathematics must complete MTH1030 instead of MTH1020 as part of the specialist stream (if not already taken as part of the course core units).

Chemical biotechnology (60 points)

• CHM2911 Molecular design and reactivity
• CHM2922 Instrumental and forensic chemistry, and one of CHM2962 Food chemistry or CHM2942 Chemistry of life
• CHM3941 Synthesis 1: chemistry of bioactive compounds
• CHM3922 Synthesis 2: understanding chemical reactions, and one of CHM3911 Spectroscopy, synchrotron and structure or CHM3952 Analytical and forensic chemistry.
• two CHM elective units at level three
• plus two level-three units from one of the approved areas of study - units listed in this handbook with the prefix DEV, BCH, BIO, CEL, GEN, HUP, IMM, MIC, BNS, PHA, or PHY

Medical biotechnology (60 points)

• BCH2022 Metabolic basis of human diseases
• IMM2011 Function of the immune system
• plus one of: BMS2042 Human genetics, CEL2012 Cell biology 1, MIC2022 Microbes in health and disease, or PHY2032 Physiology of human health
• BCH3031 Advanced molecular biology: modern concepts and applications
• BCH3052 Advanced protein biology: from sequence to structure and disease
• BMS3021 Molecular medicine and biotechnology

plus four level three units (two pairs) from the following combinations:

• BCH3021 Cellular organisation: organelle structure and function in health and disease, and BCH3042 Cell signal transduction: role in cancer and human disease
• BNS3031 Brain chemistry and behaviour, and BNS3052 Drugs, brain and altered awareness
• GEN3040 Genomics and molecular genetics, and GEN3051 Medical genetics and forensic biology
• IMM3031 Molecular and cellular immunology, and IMM3042 Clinical immunopathology
• MIC3011 Molecular microbiology or MIC3022 Molecular virology and viral pathogenesis, and MIC3032 Pathogenesis of bacterial infectious diseases
• PHA3011 Principles of drug action, and PHA3042 Modern drug development

Materials and Nanotechnology (60 points)

• CHE3161 Chemistry and chemical thermodynamics
• CHE3172 Nanotechnology and materials 1
• CHE4172 Nanotechnology and materials II
• ENG1010 Process systems analysis
• MTE2541 Nanostructure of materials
• MTE2544 Functional materials
• MTE3544 Management and practice in materials engineering
• MTE4539 Biomaterials

plus two units from the following (one of which must be level three):

• CHM2911 Molecular design and reactivity
• CHM2922 Instrumental and forensic chemistry
• CHM3180 Materials chemistry: biomaterials, macromolecules and smart materials
• CHM3981 Chemistry at the interface

Plant and animal biotechnology (60 points)

• BIO2282 Plant structure and function
• BIO3011 Research methods in biology
• BIO3082 Plant responses to the environment
• BTH3611 Plant and cellular biotechnology
• CHM2922 Instrumental and forensic chemistry or CHM2180 Materials chemistry: biomaterials, macromolecules and smart materials
• GEN2041 Foundations of genetics
• GEN3030 Genetics of development
• GEN3040 Genomics and molecular genetics

plus:

• two units at levels two or three from the units listed in this handbook with the prefix CHM, GEN, BIO, MIC, or BCH - the units must have the same prefix

Students may exit after completing levels 1-3 with a Bachelor of Science or tagged BSc award providing all requirements for the relevant degree have been met.

Bachelor of Biotechnology

Bachelor of Biotechnology with Honours

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.