Course Structure Overview
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIO101 | Introduction to Biology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | CHE101 | Chemistry for Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | MAT101 | Mathematics I | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | PHY101 | Physics for Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | BIO102 | Biology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 1 | CHE102 | Chemistry Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 2 | BIO201 | Molecular Biology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO101 |
| 2 | CHE201 | Organic Chemistry | 3-0-0-3 | CHE101 |
| 2 | MAT201 | Mathematics II | 3-0-0-3 | MAT101 |
| 2 | BIO202 | Cell Biology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO101 |
| 2 | BIO203 | Microbiology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO101 |
| 2 | BIO204 | Biotechnology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 3 | BIO301 | Genetics | 3-0-0-3 | BIO201 |
| 3 | BIO302 | Protein Chemistry | 3-0-0-3 | CHE201 |
| 3 | BIO303 | Enzymology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO201 |
| 3 | BIO304 | Bioprocess Engineering | 3-0-0-3 | BIO202 |
| 3 | BIO305 | Advanced Biotechnology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 4 | BIO401 | Genetic Engineering | 3-0-0-3 | BIO301 |
| 4 | BIO402 | Bioinformatics | 3-0-0-3 | MAT201 |
| 4 | BIO403 | Industrial Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO304 |
| 4 | BIO404 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO302 |
| 4 | BIO405 | Capstone Project | 0-0-6-3 | - |
| 5 | BIO501 | Environmental Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO304 |
| 5 | BIO502 | Agricultural Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO301 |
| 5 | BIO503 | Food Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO302 |
| 5 | BIO504 | Bioenergy | 3-0-0-3 | BIO304 |
| 5 | BIO505 | Mini Project | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 6 | BIO601 | Advanced Topics in Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO501 |
| 6 | BIO602 | Research Methodology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 6 | BIO603 | Capstone Project II | 0-0-6-3 | - |
| 7 | BIO701 | Industry Internship | 0-0-0-3 | - |
| 8 | BIO801 | Final Thesis | 0-0-6-6 | - |
Detailed Course Descriptions
The department's philosophy on project-based learning is deeply embedded in the curriculum, emphasizing experiential education as a core component of biotechnology training. Students engage in both individual and collaborative projects throughout their academic journey, beginning with small-scale laboratory investigations in early semesters and progressing to large-scale capstone projects in later years.
Mini-projects are undertaken during the third year, where students select a topic based on their interest and work closely with faculty advisors. These projects typically span 3-4 months and require students to design experiments, collect data, analyze results, and present findings through written reports and oral presentations. The evaluation criteria include technical accuracy, innovation, clarity of communication, and teamwork.
The final-year capstone project is a comprehensive endeavor that integrates knowledge from multiple disciplines and requires students to solve a real-world problem using biotechnological approaches. Projects are often sponsored by industry partners or funded through university grants, providing students with opportunities for publication and patent filing.
Advanced Departmental Electives
- Genetic Engineering: This course covers recombinant DNA technology, gene cloning, vector design, and applications in medicine and agriculture. Students learn to manipulate genetic material using modern tools like CRISPR-Cas9.
- Bioinformatics: Focuses on computational methods for analyzing biological data including genomics, proteomics, and systems biology. Students gain proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R.
- Industrial Biotechnology: Emphasizes the application of biotechnological processes in manufacturing, bioreactor design, and product development. Practical training includes fermentation processes and downstream processing.
- Environmental Biotechnology: Addresses pollution control, waste management, and sustainable resource utilization through biological means. Topics include bioremediation, biofuel production, and ecological engineering.
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Explores drug discovery, development, and manufacturing using biotechnological methods. Students learn about regulatory compliance and quality control in pharmaceutical industries.
- Agricultural Biotechnology: Focuses on enhancing crop yields and developing pest-resistant varieties through genetic modification techniques. Includes discussions on biosafety and ethical considerations.
- Food Biotechnology: Covers food processing, preservation, and fortification using biotechnological methods. Topics include fermentation technology, enzyme engineering, and nutritional enhancement.
- Bioenergy: Examines renewable energy sources derived from biological materials including biofuels, biogas, and biomass conversion technologies.
- Computational Biology: Integrates computational modeling with biological data to predict molecular behavior and design novel therapeutics.
- Immunobiotechnology: Studies immune system responses and develops diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents using biotechnological approaches.
- Biomaterials Science: Explores the use of natural and synthetic materials in medical applications including drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds.
- Synthetic Biology: Focuses on designing and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems for specific purposes.
- Metabolic Engineering: Involves modifying metabolic pathways to produce desired compounds efficiently using microorganisms or cell cultures.
- Nanobiotechnology: Combines nanotechnology with biology to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools at the molecular level.
- Bioethics: Examines ethical issues surrounding biotechnological research and applications including genetic modification, cloning, and stem cell therapy.