ASU SoLS: Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology

The B.S. degree in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology is designed to prepare students interested in molecular and cellular biology for productive careers in rapidly expanding areas within the life sciences such as biotechnology, medicine, biomedical research, etc. The program consists of approximately 60 semester hours of course work in required courses plus two courses in mathematics specifically designed for this program.

Year	Courses		SCH
Year One Fall	CHM 113 (4) PHY 111/113 (4) BIO 194 (1)		9
Year One Spring	CHM 115 (5) PHY 112/114 (4)		9

Year Two Fall †1	MBB 245 (4) MIC 206, 220 (4) CHM 233/237 (4)		12
Year Two Spring	MBB 247 (4) MAT 251 (3) CHM 234/238 (4)		11
Year Two Summer	BIO 340 (4)		4

Year Three Fall	MAT 351 (3) MBB 343 (4) BCH 361/367 (4)		11
Year Three Spring	MBB elective (BIO 451, MBB 350, MBB 445/446, MIC 420/421, or MIC 441/442) (4-5) MBB 484/499 (3)		7-8
Year Three Summer †2	MBB 484/499 (3)		3

Year Four Fall	MBB 490 (2) MBB elective ( BIO 451, MBB 350, MBB 445/446, MIC 420/421, or MIC 441/442) (4-5)		6-7
Year Four Spring †3	MBB 490 (2)		2
Total MBB SCH		74 0r 76 SCH

†1	Students who have taken BIO 181 or BIO 188 are recommended to take BIO 353 in lieu of MBB 245/246.
†2	Do not leave the Internship / Individualized Instruction until the Senior year; the internship mentor usually will be able to write a detailed letter of reference for grad or med school, and such letters are due 8-12 months before enrollment.
†3	4 credit hours (2 credit hours in Fall, 2 credit hours in Spring) of MBB 490 are required.

The major provides a solid foundation in chemistry, physics, mathematics and molecular and cellular biology. Consequently, students will be very well prepared for employment or further graduate training.

Program Requirements

The Program will conform with the overall requirements of Arizona State University.These requirements include:

Minimum of 120 SCH for graduation, with a minimum of 45 SCH in upper-division courses.
Minimum of 35 SCH of approved course work in General Studies. Additional Course work in the humanities, mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences is included to satisfy requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Minimum of 58 SCH of course work in chemical and biological sciences as required for the core curriculum in the major.
Minimum of 6 SCH in practical training, either as internship or independent study. This experience is intended to help students explore career opportunities and prepare them for the transition from university to the workplace.

MBB Class Descriptions

MBB 245 - Cellular and Molecular Biology and Lab: Concepts that underlie relationships between cellular and subcellular structure and function, and integration of major metabolic and genetic processes. Only offered Fall term. Prerequisite: Biological sciences major or pre professional student in health-related sciences.

MBB 247 - Applied Biosciences: Biotechnology and Lab: Concepts that underlie applications of molecular and cellular biology of bacteria, animals and plants to real world problems. Applications of concepts of molecular and cellular biology of bacteria, animals and plants to real world problems. Only offered Spring term.

MBB 343 - Genetic Engineering and Society: Introduction to genetic engineering, with emphasis on applications (gene therapy, DNA fingerprinting, bioremediation, transgenic animals and plants). 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab. Cross-listed as BIO 343. Credit is allowed only for MBB 343 or BIO 343. Only offered Fall term. Prerequisite: MBB 245 or equivalent.

MBB 350 - Applied Genetics and Plant Biotechnology: Introduction to molecular genetics with emphasis on application of genetics in solving biological questions and engineering organisms in biotechnology. 2 hours lecture, 6 hours lab. Crosslisted as PLB 350. Credit is allowed for only MBB 350 or PLB 350. Only offered Spring term. Prerequisite: MBB 248 or equivalent.

MBB 440 – Functional Genomics:Functional relevance of genomic sequences; DNA arrays, proteomics, analysis of genomic information for metabolic physiology of organisms. Only offered Spring term. Prerequisites: BIO 340 or BIO 341, and BCH 361 or BCH 461

MBB 445 - Techniques in Biotechnology: Molecular genetic principles; plasmid construction, purification and characterization; PCR; mutageneses; hybridization and sequence analysis; protein quantitation, immunologic detection and electrophoresis. Cross-listed as MIC 445. Credit is allowed only for MBB 445 or MIC 445. Only offered Fall and Spring terms. Prerequisites: MBB 343 and MBB 350 or instructor approval.

MBB 446 - Techniques in Biotechnology Lab: Molecular genetic techniques; plasmid construction, purification and characterization; PCR; mutageneses; hybridization and sequence analysis; protein quantitation; immunologic detection and electrophoresis. Cross-listed as MIC 446. Only offered Fall and Spring terms. Credit is allowed only for MBB 446 or MIC 446. Pre- or corequisite: MBB 445.

MBB 484 - Internship: Offered all terms.

MBB 490 - Capstone: Issues in Biotechnology: Integration of science and humanities within problem-solving exercises dealing with intellectual property, ethics, regulatory issues, business practices, and commercialization. For MBB majors or instructor approval. Students are required to take MBB 490 in both Fall and Spring.

MBB 499 - Individualized Instruction: Offered all terms.

Required supplemental courses (21-25 total credits) are:

Course No.	Course Title	Credits
CHM 113 and 115	General Chemistry and General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis	9
CHM 231 and 235 or CHM 233/234/237/238	Elementary Organic Chemistry and Lab General Organic Chemistry and Lab	4 8
PHY 111, 112, 113, and 114	General Physics and Lab	8

Choose between the course combinations below (4 or 9 total credits):

Course No.	Course Title	Credits
BCH 361 and 367	Principles of Biochemistry and Lab	4
-----OR-----
BCH 461, 462 and 467	General Biochemistry and Lab	9

Elective credits (4 to 6) in the life or physical sciences provide a total for the major of 60 credits

Courses that satisfy university numeracy requirements are as follows (6 total credits):

Course No.	Course Title	Credits
MAT 251	Calculus for Life Sciences (MA)	3
MAT 351	Mathematical Methods for Genetic Analysis (CS)	3

Contact SOLS|ASU Accessibility|Contact Web Master
ASU Accessibility|ASU Privacy
ASU Copyright & Trademark Statement

Calendar

Seminars