Last updated: March 20, 2003 @ 06:53PM

Biotechnology

Director
Jeffrey K. Atkinson, Department of Chemistry

Participating Faculty
Jeffrey K. Atkinson (Chemistry), Michael Bidochka (Biological Sciences), Alan W. Bown (Biological Sciences), Ian D. Brindle (Chemistry), Douglas H. Bruce (Biological Sciences), Alfredo Capretta (Chemistry), Robert L. Carlone (Biological Sciences), Alan J. Castle (Biological Sciences), Vince De Luca (Biological Sciences), Heather Gordon (Chemistry), Yousef Haj-Amad (Biological Sciences), H.L. Holland (Chemistry), James McNulty (Chemistry), Adonis Skandalis (Biological Sciences), Lorne Stobbs (Biological Sciences), Art van der Est (Chemistry)

Director of Co-operative Programs
Cindy Dunne

Co-operative Program Co-ordinator
J.K. Atkinson

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Caroline Barrow

905-688-5550, extension 3042
Mackenzie Chown E206
http://www.brocku.ca/biotechnology/

Biotechnology is the use of living organisms to produce goods and services for practical and industrial purposes. Biotechnology has been used for centuries in fermentation and the making of bread and cheese, but today involves new scientific tools like genetic and protein engineering, cell fusion and production of monoclonal antibodies. Biotechnology is a strategic technology and an important economic component of industrialized nations. Biotechnology at Brock is a joint venture of the departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, with courses drawn from both departments plus courses designed specifically for the program.

The Biotechnology Co-op program combines academic and work terms over a period of five academic years. Students spend two years in an academic setting studying the fundamentals of Biotechnology prior to their first work placement. Successful completion of courses in the core areas of Biotechnology provides the necessary academic background for the work experience. In addition to the current fees for courses in academic study terms, Biotechnology Co-op students are assessed an administrative fee for each work term (see the Schedule of Fees).

Admission to the Biotechnology Co-op program is on the basis of marks, review of personal résumés and employer availability. An interview may be required. The normal requirement is an average of 80 percent or more on six OACs (or equivalent). As this is a limited enrolment program, admission is not guaranteed by attainment of the minimum requirement. The Brock University Co-op Programs office and the Centre for Biotechnology will facilitate admission decisions for Biotechnology.

Students admitted to the Biotechnology Co-op program must follow the Co-op program schedule. Failure to adhere to the schedule may result in removal from the Biotechnology Co-op program. Eligibility to continue in the Biotechnology Co-op program is based on the student's major and non-major averages. A student with a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average may continue. A student with a major average lower than 70 percent will not be permitted to continue in the Biotechnology Co-op program, but may continue in the non-co-op Biotechnology stream. If a student subsequently raises his/her major average to 70 percent, the student may be readmitted only if approved by the Co-op Admissions Committee. For further information, see the Co-op Programs section of the Calendar, and contact the Centre for Biotechnology.

The Biotechnology Co-op program designation will be awarded to those students who have honours standing and who have successfully completed a minimum of twelve months of Co-op work experience.

Program Notes
  1. CHEM 3P40 or 3P41 are strongly recommended as year 3 electives for students who intend to take BTEC 4F90 and 4F91 in the Department of Chemistry in year 4.
  2. Students who anticipate doing graduate studies in Chemistry should have credit in CHEM 2P12, 2P32, 2P42, 3P21 and 3P40 or 3P41 in addition to the other required courses in CHEM.
  3. In all 20 credit programs, at least 12 credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, six of which must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above and of these, three must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above. In all 15 credit degree programs, at least seven credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, three of which must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above.

Honours Program

Year 1
·   BIOL 1F90
·   CHEM 1F92
·   MATH 1P01 and 1P02 or MATH 1P97 and 1P98
·   one of PHYS 1F20, 1F25, 1F90
·   one Humanities context credit or Social Science context credit
Year 2
·   BTEC 2P09 and 2P63
·   BIOL 2F01
·   CHEM 2P20 and 2P21
·   one of BIOL 2P05, 2P92, 2P93, 2P96, 2P98 (recommended), 2Q04
·   one of CHEM 2P12, 2P32, 2P42
·   the Humanities context credit or Social Science credit not taken in year 1
Year 3
·   BTEC 3P09 and 3P50
·   BTEC 3P62 or 3P63
·   BCHM 3P01 and 3P02
·   CHEM 3P20
·   one credit from BIOL 3P28, 3P42, 3P43, 3P51, CHEM 3P21, 3P40, 3P41, 3P60
·   one elective credit (see program notes 1 and 2)
Year 4
·   BTEC 3P62 or 3P63 ( not taken in year 3)
·   BTEC 4F90 and 4F91 (see program note 1)
·   one credit from BTEC 4P06, 4P08, 4P18, 4P21, 4P57, 4P58, BIOL 4P23, 4P51, 4P53, BCHM 4P02
·   one of BTEC 4P27, 4P67, 4P68
·   one elective credit (see program note 2)

Biotechnology Co-op (honours only)

Students admitted to the Biotechnology Co-op program must follow the program schedule as listed below. Failure to adhere may result in removal from the program.

Year 1
·   BIOL 1F90
·   CHEM 1F92
·   MATH 1P01 and 1P02 or MATH 1P97 and 1P98
·   one of PHYS 1F20, 1F25, 1F90
·   one Humanities context credit or Social Science context credit
Year 2
·   BTEC 2P09 and 2P63
·   BIOL 2F01
·   CHEM 2P20 and 2P21
·   SCIE 0N90
·   one-half credit from BIOL 2P05, 2P92, 2P93, 2P96, 2P98 (recommended), 2Q04
·   one of CHEM 2P12, 2P32, 2P42
·   the Humanities context credit or Social Science credit not taken in year 1
Year 2
Spring/Summer Sessions:
·   BTEC 0N01
Year 3
Fall Term:
·   BTEC 3P09 and 3P50
·   BCHM 3P01
·   CHEM 3P20
·   one of BIOL 3P28, 3P51, CHEM 3P21, 3P40, 3P41, 3P60
Winter Term:
·   BTEC 0N02
Spring/Summer Sessions:
·   BTEC 0N00 (optional)
Year 4
Fall Term:
·   BTEC 0N03
Winter Term:
·   BTEC 3P62 or 3P63
·   BCHM 3P02
·   one and one-half credits from BTEC 3P43, BIOL 3P28, 3P51, CHEM 3P21, 3P40, 3P41, 3P60
Spring/Summer Sessions:
·   BTEC 0N04 (optional)
Year 5
·   BTEC 4F90 and 4F91
·   BTEC 3P62 or 3P63 (not taken in year 4)
·   one credit from BCHM 4P02, BIOL 4P23, 4P51, 4P53, BTEC 4P06, 4P08, 4P18, 4P21, 4P57, 4P58
·   one of BTEC 4P27, 4P67, 4P68

Pass Program

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the honours program entitles a student to apply for a pass degree.