What it’s about:

The biotechnology major combines the molecular life sciences and engineering. You learn how to use living cells, cellular and molecular processes, and genetic information to solve problems and to create new products.

What the study of this major is like:

In biotechnology, which combines molecular life sciences and engineering, you use living matter to develop products and services in agriculture (plant growth hormones, food additives), health care (vaccines, improve medicines and vitamins), the environment (detoxification of chemicals), and other areas. The study of biotechnology has greatly expanded with the sequencing of the human genome, as well as many other genomes. In fact, all of life’s processes are now open to study-from the human to the bacterial.

As a biotechnology major, you learn to use several technologies to explore organisms: genetic engineering (changing gene characteristics for a specific purpose); bioprocessing (using enzymes to produce a biochemical reaction). In fact, biotechnologists need all the tools of the biochemist, the molecular biologist, the immunologist, and even the engineer, to prepare a product or an application on a large scale for the marketplace.

Because biotechnology course work covers all the life sciences (including areas such as exobiology and nuclear transfer cell therapy), you are likely to find subjects that interest you. The major is taught in both lecture and lecture/lab formats. In some classes, you may work on research projects with faculty members-an experience worth seeking out. You might also be required to complete independent research. An individual research project in biotechnology at the undergraduate level is a big undertaking. But producing an original contribution will give you a taste of what science has to offer-a chance to do something unique.

You can find biotechnology offered at the four-year bachelor’s degree level, the two-year associate degree level, and even as a ten-week certificate program. Community colleges across the country have been increasing their offerings in this field in order to match growth in the industry, particularly in the areas of medical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural manufacturing.

Differences among biotechnology programs occur because of differences in the size of the institutions and the funding available for the undergraduate program. At well-funded institutions, the program may be good, but teaching may be less valued than research. At small institutions, teaching is often the primary concern, but funding may benon existent. If there’s balance between size and funding, faculty members can be active in research but still have the time and interest to help undergraduate.

Career options and trends:

Biomedical researcher*; biochemical development engineer; environmental health and safety specialist; pharmaceutical product development researcher or engineer*; forensic scientist; medical diagnostician; biotechnology industry researcher, engineer or manager*; quality control analyst or engineer, regulatory affairs specialist.

The biotechnology field is large and growing, so job opportunities will be strong in the foreseeable future. The fastest employment growth is projected to occur in the pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing industry and in firms providing research and testing services.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors