Curriculum Overview for Biotechnology Program at G D Goenka University Gurugram
The Biotechnology curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of biological systems and their applications in industry and research. The program follows a semester-based structure over four years, integrating foundational sciences, core engineering principles, and specialized electives.
Semester-wise Course Structure
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester I | BT101 | Chemistry for Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | None |
| BT102 | Biology Fundamentals | 3-0-2-4 | None | |
| BT103 | Physics for Life Sciences | 3-0-2-4 | None | |
| BT104 | Mathematics I | 3-0-2-4 | None | |
| BT105 | Introduction to Biotechnology | 2-0-1-3 | None | |
| BT106 | Computer Applications in Biology | 2-0-2-4 | None | |
| BT107 | English Communication Skills | 2-0-1-3 | None | |
| BT108 | Lab Practices I | 0-0-4-2 | None | |
| Semester II | BT201 | Organic Chemistry | 3-0-2-4 | BT101 |
| BT202 | Molecular Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BT102 | |
| BT203 | Cell Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BT102 | |
| BT204 | Mathematics II | 3-0-2-4 | BT104 | |
| BT205 | Biochemistry I | 3-0-2-4 | BT101, BT102 | |
| BT206 | Microbiology | 3-0-2-4 | BT102 | |
| BT207 | Biostatistics and Probability | 2-0-2-3 | BT104 | |
| BT208 | Lab Practices II | 0-0-4-2 | BT108 | |
| BT209 | Professional Ethics and Communication | 2-0-1-3 | BT107 | |
| Semester III | BT301 | Genetics | 3-0-2-4 | BT202, BT203 |
| BT302 | Biochemistry II | 3-0-2-4 | BT205 | |
| BT303 | Molecular Biology Techniques | 3-0-2-4 | BT202, BT205 | |
| BT304 | Bioprocess Engineering | 3-0-2-4 | BT206 | |
| BT305 | Genomics and Proteomics | 3-0-2-4 | BT301, BT302 | |
| BT306 | Bioinformatics | 3-0-2-4 | BT206, BT207 | |
| BT307 | Pharmacology | 3-0-2-4 | BT205 | |
| BT308 | Lab Practices III | 0-0-4-2 | BT208 | |
| BT309 | Research Methodology | 2-0-1-3 | BT207 | |
| Semester IV | BT401 | Recombinant DNA Technology | 3-0-2-4 | BT303, BT305 |
| BT402 | Protein Engineering | 3-0-2-4 | BT302, BT303 | |
| BT403 | Biophysics | 3-0-2-4 | BT103, BT205 | |
| BT404 | Drug Design and Development | 3-0-2-4 | BT307 | |
| BT405 | Biosafety and Regulatory Affairs | 3-0-2-4 | BT301, BT307 | |
| BT406 | Environmental Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BT206, BT304 | |
| BT407 | Plant Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BT301, BT305 | |
| BT408 | Lab Practices IV | 0-0-4-2 | BT308 | |
| Semester V | BT501 | Stem Cell Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BT302, BT303 |
| BT502 | Tissue Engineering | 3-0-2-4 | BT302 | |
| BT503 | Biotechnology in Agriculture | 3-0-2-4 | BT407 | |
| BT504 | Bioethics and Society | 3-0-2-4 | BT107 | |
| BT505 | Industrial Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BT404, BT406 | |
| BT506 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BT303, BT305 | |
| BT507 | Computational Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BT306, BT308 | |
| BT508 | Mini Project I | 0-0-6-2 | BT408 | |
| Semester VI | BT601 | Bioprocessing Technology | 3-0-2-4 | BT404, BT505 |
| BT602 | Quality Assurance and Control | 3-0-2-4 | BT505 | |
| BT603 | Biotechnology Entrepreneurship | 3-0-2-4 | BT505 | |
| BT604 | Biomaterials Science | 3-0-2-4 | BT502 | |
| BT605 | Regenerative Medicine | 3-0-2-4 | BT501 | |
| BT606 | Advanced Bioinformatics | 3-0-2-4 | BT306, BT507 | |
| BT607 | Biotechnology in Drug Discovery | 3-0-2-4 | BT404, BT505 | |
| BT608 | Mini Project II | 0-0-6-2 | BT508 | |
| Semester VII | BT701 | Final Year Project/Thesis | 0-0-12-8 | BT608 |
| BT702 | Advanced Topics in Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BT605, BT606 | |
| BT703 | Biotechnology in Emerging Fields | 3-0-2-4 | BT605, BT607 | |
| BT704 | Global Trends in Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BT702, BT703 | |
| BT705 | Scientific Writing and Presentation | 2-0-1-3 | BT508 | |
| BT706 | Internship Preparation | 2-0-1-3 | None | |
| BT707 | Elective Courses (Select Any Two) | 3-0-2-4 | None | |
| Semester VIII | BT801 | Final Year Internship | 0-0-6-4 | BT701 |
| BT802 | Industry Exposure Program | 2-0-1-3 | BT701 | |
| BT803 | Final Project Presentation | 0-0-4-2 | BT801 | |
| BT804 | Capstone Evaluation | 0-0-4-2 | BT803 | |
| BT805 | Final Thesis Defense | 0-0-4-2 | BT701 | |
| BT806 | Professional Development Workshop | 2-0-1-3 | None | |
| BT807 | Elective Courses (Select Any Two) | 3-0-2-4 | None |
Detailed Description of Advanced Departmental Electives
Advanced departmental electives form a crucial component of the Biotechnology program, allowing students to explore specialized areas and tailor their learning experience. These courses are designed to deepen understanding and provide hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies.
Stem Cell Biology
This course explores the biology of stem cells, focusing on their classification, isolation techniques, and therapeutic applications. Students learn about pluripotency, differentiation mechanisms, and ethical considerations in stem cell research. The course includes laboratory sessions on cell culture and molecular analysis.
Tissue Engineering
Students examine the principles of tissue engineering, including scaffolding materials, cell seeding techniques, and growth factor applications. The course emphasizes the development of artificial organs and tissues for medical use. Practical sessions involve designing bioreactors and conducting material characterization studies.
Biotechnology in Agriculture
This elective focuses on the application of biotechnology in crop improvement and agricultural sustainability. Topics include genetic modification, biopesticides, and soil microbiology. Students engage in field experiments and laboratory analyses to understand crop enhancement techniques.
Bioethics and Society
The course addresses ethical dilemmas in biotechnology, including human genome editing, cloning, and environmental impact assessments. Students analyze case studies and participate in debates on policy-making and public engagement strategies.
Industrial Biotechnology
This course provides insights into industrial applications of biotechnology, covering fermentation processes, product development, and scale-up techniques. Students interact with industry professionals and visit manufacturing facilities to understand production workflows.
Advanced Molecular Biology
The course delves into advanced topics in molecular biology, including gene regulation, epigenetics, and RNA biology. Laboratory work involves PCR, gel electrophoresis, and protein analysis techniques using modern instrumentation.
Computational Biology
This elective introduces students to computational tools used in biological research. Topics include sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, and molecular modeling. Students gain proficiency in programming languages like Python and R, and use databases for data mining.
Bioprocessing Technology
The course covers the design and operation of bioreactors, purification methods, and downstream processing. Students learn about process optimization, quality control, and regulatory compliance in industrial settings.
Quality Assurance and Control
This course focuses on maintaining product quality in biotechnology manufacturing. Students study GMP guidelines, validation protocols, and risk assessment techniques. Practical sessions involve laboratory testing and documentation practices.
Biotechnology Entrepreneurship
The course equips students with entrepreneurial skills needed to launch biotech startups. Topics include business planning, intellectual property management, and funding strategies. Students develop pitch decks and present their business ideas to industry mentors.
Biomaterials Science
This elective explores the design and application of biomaterials in medical devices and drug delivery systems. Students study biocompatibility, degradation mechanisms, and surface modification techniques. Laboratory experiments include polymer synthesis and testing.
Regenerative Medicine
The course examines regenerative therapies using stem cells and tissue engineering approaches. Students explore clinical trials, regulatory pathways, and emerging treatments for degenerative diseases. Case studies from hospitals and research centers are analyzed.
Advanced Bioinformatics
This course builds on foundational bioinformatics skills, introducing advanced algorithms for genomic data analysis. Students learn about machine learning applications in biology and use cloud computing platforms for large-scale data processing.
Biotechnology in Drug Discovery
The course explores the drug discovery pipeline, from target identification to clinical trials. Students study medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and regulatory affairs. Laboratory sessions involve computational drug design and assay development.
Bioethics and Society
This course delves into ethical considerations in biotechnology research and applications. Students examine issues such as genetic privacy, cloning, and environmental impact. Case studies from international contexts are analyzed to understand global perspectives.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
Our department strongly believes that hands-on experience is essential for mastering biotechnology concepts. Project-based learning is embedded throughout the curriculum, encouraging students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Mini-Projects Structure
Mini-projects are undertaken in Semesters V and VI, allowing students to work on specific problems under faculty guidance. Each project spans two semesters, with regular progress reviews and milestone evaluations. Students form teams of 3-5 members to foster collaboration and communication skills.
Final-Year Thesis/Capstone Project
The final-year project is a comprehensive endeavor that integrates all aspects of the student's learning journey. It begins in Semester VII with topic selection and proposal development, followed by implementation in Semester VIII. The project culminates in a formal defense and presentation to faculty and industry experts.
Faculty Mentorship
Each student is paired with a faculty mentor who guides them through their project journey. Mentors provide technical expertise, career advice, and feedback on progress. Regular meetings ensure that students stay on track and receive timely support.
Evaluation Criteria
Projects are evaluated based on innovation, technical execution, report quality, and presentation skills. Peer reviews and external evaluations contribute to the overall assessment. The department maintains a database of past projects for future reference and inspiration.