Bachelor of Science
in
Biotechnology

Degree Requirements

This Bachelor of Science program provides both a broad-based curriculum in the Liberal Arts and in the Natural Sciences and a set of courses specifically directed toward the field of Biotechnology. This degree is particularly appropriate for students interested in the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology. The local and national job market for persons with a B.S. or graduate degree in biotechnology is excellent and should remain that way for many years. This rigorous interdisciplinary program provides both entry-level job skills in biotechnology and a strong academic background needed to pursue a masters or doctorate degree in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology or Molecular Biology. The Natural Sciences Department offers other degree programs that serve similar student career objectives, including secondary science teaching. Some are more broad-based; others are more narrowly focused.

The approved degree plan for this program will be determined through consultation among the student, the Biotechnology Program Coordinator, and the Chairperson of the Department of Natural Sciences. A minimum of 130-132 hours of university-level course work will be required. The Department of Natural Sciences has the following requirements for all science degrees: 1) Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all science courses that could apply toward the degree; 2) The only transfer credit courses with grades of D that apply toward a degree are first-year non-mathematics and non-science courses; 3) No more than three credit hours with a grade of D in upper-level science courses may be applied toward the degree; 4) Students must have at least 18 credit hours of upper-level science from UH-Downtown (UHD) with a minimum GPA of 2.0 to apply toward the degree; and 5) Credit for science courses that are more than 10 years old must be approved by the department before they can be applied toward a degree.

The last 25 percent of the semester credit hours of work toward this degree must be taken at UHD. Students who wish to take courses at another college or university, including any other campus of the UH System, and apply the credits earned toward their degrees must request approval through the Natural Sciences Department. Courses taken without such approval may not be counted toward the fulfillment of the degree requirements.

This degree is administered by the Department of Natural Sciences. Students interested in filing a degree plan are encouraged to contact the department office at 713-221-8015 or visit us at One Main Street, Suite N-813, Houston, TX 77002. Our website address is www.uhd.edu/naturalscience .

Note:
A maximum of 66 hours from a Junior or Community College may be approved as credit toward this degree.
All upper-division courses in English, Literature, and History are applicable. Students must have at least 18 credit hours of upper-level science from UH-Downtown with a minimum GPA of 2.0 to apply toward the degree.