CSUEB Catalog 2009-2010: Biotechnology (Graduate)

Biotechnology

	Department Information
	M.S. in Biotechnology
	Other Degree Requirements
	Graduate Courses

This degree was pending State approval at the time of catalog production. Please check with the Department of Biological Sciences for the current status.

Department Information

Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science
Office: North Science 429
Phone: (510) 885-3471
Website: http://www.sci.csueastbay.edu


Professors Emeriti Beverly A. Dixon, Ph.D. University of Georgia Richard A. Symmons, Ph.D. University of California, Davis Professors Christoph W. Baysdorfer, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley Donald A. Gailey, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles Michael S. Hedrick, Ph.D. University of British Columbia Christopher L. Kitting, Ph.D. Stanford University Carol R. Lauzon, Ph.D. University of Vermont Maria C. Nieto, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley Susan B. Opp, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts Associate Professors Caron Y. Inouye, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles Erica L. Wildy, Ph.D. Oregon State University Assistant Professors Kenneth Curr, Ph.D. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York Maria E. Gallegos, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin, Madison Stephanie Molloy, Ph.D. University of Aukland, New Zealand James Murray, Ph.D. University of Washington Claudia Uhde-Stone, Ph.D. University of Bielefeld (Germany) Lecturer David C. Rosen, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Graduate Coordinator: Maria C. Nieto

Please consult the 2010-2011 online catalog for any changes that may occur.

M.S. in Biotechnology

Program Description
The Master of Science in Biotechnology degree offers students the opportunity to obtain advanced academic and research experience in the specialized area of biotechnology, with focus on pharmaceuticals development, agricultural improvements, industrial processing, diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, forensic identification, genomics and bioinformatics. The program prepares students for careers or further education in these areas.

Biotechnology capitalizes on understanding mechanisms of cellular and molecular biology in the development of new technologies. The degree offers background and training for entry into the biotechnology workforce or entry into a suitable Ph.D. program.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with the M.S. in Biotechnology will be able to: (1) use the scientific method to examine questions about cellular and molecular mechanisms of life processes concerning the normal vs. diseased state; (2) use laboratory instrumentation and understand molecular diagnostic procedures widely applied in the biotechnology industry; (3) communicate orally and in written form an assessment of primary scientific literature and experimental data, whether in an industrial process or basic research laboratory environment; (4) demonstrate in written form advanced knowledge of cellular and subcellular processes, and the experimental methodologies used to investigate them.

Career Opportunities
The M.S. in Biotechnology degree program is designed to accommodate two distinguishing career tracks: (1) direct entry into the biotechnology workforce; (2) entry into a Ph.D. program.

Faculty
M.S. in Biotechnology faculty members come from the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences, comprised of 14 full-time professors at Cal State East Bay who are committed to excellence in teaching and research, many with federal, state, and private research grant support.

Related Programs
The M.S. and M.A. degree programs in Biological Science are designed for students who seek advanced training in departmental areas such as environmental biology, ecology, population biology, marine biology, physiology, neurobiology, and areas of general cell and molecular biology with less direct focus on humans, including genetics, microbiology and virology. Students interested in these areas ought to consider pursuing the M.S. or M.A. in Biological Science and should refer to that section of the Biological Science chapter in the graduate section of this catalog. The Biotechnology Certificate Program is a one-year postbaccalaureate program designed to prepare students for direct entry into the biotechnology workforce. With careful planning, the biotechnology certificate may be combined with an M.S. in Biotechnology degree.

Research Facilities
Equipment and laboratory space for student research and training in biotechnology is housed in BioCore, a central core facility that includes state-of-the-art equipment for DNA sequencing, real-time PCR gene analysis, cell analysis by flow cytometry and differential display, and HPLC. Included are a cell culture facility, imaging facility, and a trace DNA lab. M.S. in Biotechnology faculty also maintain independent research labs with instrumentation to sponsor student research within the individual faculty member's area of expertise.

Research and Financial Support
Research space will be available to all "Classified Graduate" students in the M.S. in Biotechnology program, either in laboratory facilities provided by a biotechnology company or the major advisor's research lab. Graduate research grants are available annually on a competitive basis through Academic Programs and Graduate Studies and can be used to purchase supplies or pay travel expenses for graduate research. In addition, research assistantships are available for some students through faculty research grants. Teaching assistantships may become available for a given quarter. As financial aid within the department is limited, you may want to contact the Financial Aid Office regarding other assistance from the University Work-Study Program, loans and scholarships.

Admission Requirements


1.	The M.S. in Biotechnology degree program in the Department of Biological Sciences is open to graduates of accredited institutions who have a four-year B.S. degree in Biology or Biochemistry (or the equivalent), and who have achieved a GPA of at least 2.75 in all undergraduate work and an average of 3.0 in all biological science courses taken as an upper division student. Applicants must have completed the following courses (or equivalents), each with the grade "B" or better: BIOL 3121 Principles of Genetics, BIOL 3405 Microbiology, BIOL 4455 Molecular Cell Biology, and CHEM 4411 General Biochemistry. Omissions, if any, will be treated as course deficiencies and must be completed by the time of classification (see below).
2.	In addition to filing the university application and fee, students must apply to the Department of Biological Sciences for admission to graduate standing in the M.S. in Biotechnology degree program. Application forms are available through the department office or by accessing the Biology Department website. Applications are only accepted for admission for fall quarter each year. In addition to the GPA requirements in #1 above, the department requires that the following be sent directly to the Department of Biological Sciences:
		•	departmental application
		•	GRE General Test Scores (target scores are in the upper 30th percentile; significant deviation from target scores may be grounds for denial of admission)
		•	three letters of reference
		•	statement of purpose
	Applicant files will not be reviewed or processed until the application file is complete; this is the applicant's responsibility. During the admission process, students interested in the M.S. in Biotechnology program are urged to discuss with the Biotechnology Certificate Program Director the possibility of carrying out thesis research at a biotechnology job site or with a faculty member who might serve as thesis advisor.
3.	All students admitted to the program will be admitted as "Conditionally Classified Graduate" students.
4.	Any student not admitted to the program because of incomplete application, deficiency, or failure to meet deadlines is urged to enroll in the university as an "Unclassified Post-baccalaureate" student pending completion and/or reconsideration of the application for classification.
5.	No more than 13 quarter units of courses applicable toward the master's degree completed before admission to the degree program will be counted toward the degree.
6.	Students applying to the M.S. in Biotechnology program must also apply to the departmental Biotechnology Certificate Program.

Degree Requirements
A "Conditionally Classified Graduate" student must become a fully "Classified Graduate" student in the program as set forth in 1, 2, 3, and 4 below, if applicable, within four quarters of acceptance into the program or the "Conditional Classification" will expire and the student will be placed in "Unclassified Post-baccalaureate" status. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure these requirements are met within the specified time limits.


1.	Establish a three-person graduate advisory committee. Two faculty members from the Department of Biological Sciences will serve as members of the graduate advisory committee, and one of these two will be the major advisor in guiding the student in graduate training and the program. One other committee member will be chosen in consultation with the major advisor; students employed in the biotechnology industry are encouraged to develop a thesis research plan with the job supervisor and obtain company approval for carrying out thesis research in the company laboratory environment. In such cases, the job supervisor will serve on the graduate advisory committee, and this committee will administer the oral examination at the completion of the thesis.
2.	Complete basic course deficiencies. If the student has been admitted to the program with any specified course deficiencies, these courses must be completed by the end of the fourth quarter following admission to the program. In addition, the student's advisory committee may also determine that there are other course deficiencies that need to be satisfied.
3.	Research proposal. The student must submit a formal research proposal to the departmental Graduate Committee. The department office, Graduate Coordinator, or Director of the Biotechnology Certificate Program has examples of proposals and their format. The proposal must be approved by the student's advisory committee (item 1 above) and submitted to the Graduate Coordinator by the first day of the quarter in which the student wants to begin taking thesis units. If the work is to be done in an off-campus location, a letter of agreement must be included that indicates a mutual understanding and responsibility between the off-campus supervisor, Cal State East Bay, and the student.
4.	University Writing Skills Requirement. The University Writing Skills Requirement must be satisfied. (See Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Studies chapter at the beginning of the graduate section of this catalog.)
5.	Exiting the degree program with the departmental Biotechnology Certificate. Upon completion of the 34-unit Core Curriculum, a student may choose to exit the M.S. in Biotechnology program with the departmental Biotechnology Certificate. Students choosing this alternative, however, may continue in the degree program by establishing the above criteria for continuation in the program, and by working within the University regulations for degree continuation, and time limit for degree completion.

Advanced to Candidacy


The student must have:
	1.	attained "Classified Graduate" standing
	2.	completed at least 12 quarter units of satisfactory work beyond the baccalaureate degree within the 34-unit Core Curriculum. At least 3 quarter units of graduate level coursework in residence at Cal State East Bay must be included. (You must maintain a 3.00 GPA in your degree coursework to remain in good standing.)
	3.	received approval from the advisory committee of an individual thesis research program.

Curricular Requirements


A total of 47 quarter units is required beyond the baccalaureate with a GPA of 3.0 and above, with no grade lower than "B" in courses included in the program and with specific requirements as follows:
	1.	University Thesis (BIOL 6910, for a total of 9 units) Complete copies of the University Thesis must be submitted, in accordance with the rules set forth by the Thesis Editor in the Office of the Associate Vice President, Academic Programs and Graduate Studies, to the chair of the candidate's advisory committee by the sixth week of the quarter at the end of which the degree is desired.
	2.	Completion of the following Biotechnology Core Curriculum (34 units):
		BIOL 4450 Cell Culture Techniques (4 units) BIOL 4485 PCR, DNA Sequencing and Fragment Analysis (4 units) BIOL 4490 Bioinformatics (4 units) BIOL 6141 Advanced Molecular Techniques (4 units) BIOL 6147 Functional Genomics (4 units) BIOL 6151 Cell and Molecular Biology I (5 units) BIOL 6152 Cell and Molecular Biology II (5 units) CHEM 6430 Protein Chemistry Techniques (4 units)
	3.	Completion of BIOL 6822 Colloquium in Biotechnology (4 units): Note: A student may choose to receive the departmental Biotechnology Certificate by completing the 34-unit Core Curriculum, without completing BIOL 6822 and BIOL 6910 University Thesis.
	4.	An oral examination administered by the advisory committee covering the candidate's area of specialization and thesis research.

Granting the Degree
Upon successful completion of the above requirements the department will recommend that the candidate be granted the M.S. in Biotechnology degree.

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the university requirements for graduation which are described in the Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Studies chapter at the beginning of the graduate section of this catalog. These requirements include the 32-unit residence requirement, the five-year rule on currency of subject matter, the minimum number of units of 6000-level courses, the 3.00 GPA, and the University Writing Skills Requirement (UWSR). For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the testing Web site at www.testing.csueastbay.edu or call 510.885.3661.

Graduate Courses

See the undergraduate and graduate Biological Science chapters for Biology (BIOL) course descriptions.