Curriculum Overview
The Biotechnology program at Icmai University Jaipur is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of biological systems and their applications in technology. The curriculum spans eight semesters, with each semester carefully structured to build upon previous knowledge and introduce new concepts relevant to the field.
| Year | Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | BIO101 | Basic Biology | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 1 | I | CHEM101 | Chemistry for Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 1 | I | MATH101 | Mathematics I | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 1 | I | PHYS101 | Physics for Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 1 | I | ENGG101 | Engineering Drawing | 2-0-2-3 | - |
| 1 | I | COMM101 | Communication Skills | 2-0-2-3 | - |
| 1 | II | BIO102 | Cell Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO101 |
| 1 | II | CHEM102 | Organic Chemistry | 3-0-2-4 | CHEM101 |
| 1 | II | MATH102 | Mathematics II | 3-0-2-4 | MATH101 |
| 1 | II | PHYS102 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3-0-2-4 | PHYS101 |
| 1 | II | BIO103 | Introduction to Microbiology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO101 |
| 1 | II | ENGG102 | Basic Electrical Engineering | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 2 | III | BIO201 | Molecular Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO102 |
| 2 | III | CHEM201 | Physical Chemistry | 3-0-2-4 | CHEM102 |
| 2 | III | MATH201 | Mathematics III | 3-0-2-4 | MATH102 |
| 2 | III | PHYS201 | Optics and Modern Physics | 3-0-2-4 | PHYS102 |
| 2 | III | BIO202 | Genetics | 3-0-2-4 | BIO103 |
| 2 | III | ENGG201 | Chemical Engineering Fundamentals | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 2 | IV | BIO203 | Biochemistry | 3-0-2-4 | BIO201 |
| 2 | IV | CHEM202 | Chemical Kinetics and Catalysis | 3-0-2-4 | CHEM201 |
| 2 | IV | MATH202 | Statistics and Probability | 3-0-2-4 | MATH201 |
| 2 | IV | BIO204 | Immunology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO202 |
| 2 | IV | ENGG202 | Process Control | 3-0-2-4 | ENGG201 |
| 3 | V | BIO301 | Genetic Engineering | 3-0-2-4 | BIO203 |
| 3 | V | BIO302 | Bioprocess Technology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO203 |
| 3 | V | CHEM301 | Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3-0-2-4 | CHEM202 |
| 3 | V | BIO303 | Plant Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO204 |
| 3 | V | ENGG301 | Biomedical Engineering Principles | 3-0-2-4 | ENGG202 |
| 3 | V | BIO304 | Animal Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO301 |
| 3 | VI | BIO305 | Environmental Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO302 |
| 3 | VI | BIO306 | Food Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO301 |
| 3 | VI | CHEM302 | Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 3-0-2-4 | CHEM301 |
| 3 | VI | BIO307 | Synthetic Biology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO303 |
| 3 | VI | ENGG302 | Bioreactor Design | 3-0-2-4 | ENGG301 |
| 4 | VII | BIO401 | Advanced Bioinformatics | 3-0-2-4 | BIO304 |
| 4 | VII | BIO402 | Marine Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO305 |
| 4 | VII | BIO403 | Drug Discovery and Development | 3-0-2-4 | BIO306 |
| 4 | VII | BIO404 | Regulatory Affairs in Biotechnology | 3-0-2-4 | BIO307 |
| 4 | VII | BIO405 | Project Management in Biotech | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 4 | VIII | BIO406 | Capstone Project I | 3-0-4-5 | BIO401 |
| 4 | VIII | BIO407 | Capstone Project II | 3-0-4-5 | BIO406 |
| 4 | VIII | BIO408 | Industrial Training | 0-0-0-2 | - |
| 4 | VIII | BIO409 | Research Methodology | 3-0-2-4 | - |
| 4 | VIII | BIO410 | Entrepreneurship in Biotech | 3-0-2-4 | - |
Advanced departmental elective courses are offered to provide students with specialized knowledge and skills:
Advanced Bioinformatics
This course focuses on computational tools and techniques used in analyzing biological data. Students learn about sequence alignment algorithms, genome assembly methods, protein structure prediction, and database management systems relevant to bioinformatics.
Marine Biotechnology
This elective explores the application of marine organisms for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes. Topics include marine biodiversity, bioactive compounds from marine sources, aquaculture technologies, and environmental impacts of marine biotech applications.
Drug Discovery and Development
This course covers the entire process of developing new drugs, from target identification to clinical trials. It includes topics like drug design principles, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and regulatory requirements for drug approval.
Regulatory Affairs in Biotechnology
This elective provides an overview of the legal and regulatory framework governing biotechnology products. Students learn about FDA guidelines, international regulations, quality assurance practices, and compliance management strategies.
Project Management in Biotech
This course teaches project planning, execution, and monitoring techniques specific to the biotechnology industry. It covers risk assessment, resource allocation, timeline management, and stakeholder communication strategies.
Advanced Molecular Biology Techniques
This advanced elective delves into cutting-edge molecular biology methodologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, RNA-seq analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and single-cell sequencing technologies.
Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
This course examines the production processes of biopharmaceuticals including cell culture techniques, purification methods, formulation development, and quality control measures required for manufacturing safe and effective drugs.
Biochemical Engineering Principles
This elective introduces students to engineering principles applied in biochemical processes. It covers topics like mass transfer, heat transfer, reactor design, and process optimization strategies used in biotechnology manufacturing.
Environmental Bioremediation
This course focuses on using biological systems for cleaning up contaminated environments. Students study microbial degradation pathways, biostimulation techniques, and engineering solutions for environmental cleanup projects.
Plant Genomics and Biotechnology
This elective explores the application of genomics in plant improvement. It covers genome sequencing technologies, gene editing tools, marker-assisted selection, and development of genetically modified crops with enhanced traits.
Industrial Fermentation Technology
This course provides an overview of fermentation processes used in industrial biotechnology. Students learn about microbial physiology, fermentation design, process control, and scale-up strategies for commercial production.
Bioinformatics Databases and Tools
This elective teaches students how to utilize bioinformatics databases and software tools for data analysis. It includes training on BLAST searches, database queries, visualization tools, and programming languages commonly used in bioinformatics.
Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
This course focuses on maintaining quality standards throughout the pharmaceutical development and manufacturing process. Topics include Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality control procedures, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Biotechnology Entrepreneurship
This elective prepares students for starting their own biotech ventures. It covers business planning, intellectual property protection, funding strategies, market analysis, and entrepreneurship frameworks specific to the biotechnology sector.
Bioethics in Biotechnology
This course examines ethical issues related to biotechnology applications. Students explore topics like genetic privacy, human cloning, stem cell research, and environmental impact of genetically modified organisms.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The department's philosophy on project-based learning emphasizes the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical application. This approach ensures that students develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and hands-on experience relevant to their future careers.
Mini-projects are introduced in the third year, allowing students to explore specific topics under faculty guidance. These projects typically span 3-4 months and involve literature review, experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Students must present their findings in both written reports and oral presentations.
The final-year thesis or capstone project is a significant component of the program. Students select a topic relevant to current research trends and work closely with faculty mentors throughout the duration of the project. The project involves extensive research, experimentation, and documentation. It culminates in a comprehensive report and an oral defense before a panel of experts.
Project selection is guided by student interests, faculty expertise, and industry relevance. Students are encouraged to propose innovative ideas or contribute to ongoing research initiatives within the department. The evaluation criteria include originality of approach, scientific rigor, technical competence, presentation quality, and overall contribution to the field.