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MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

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Curriculum

Get Hands-On Lab and Research Experience

Molecular biology and biotechnology is a cutting-edge field that has revolutionized biology, medicine, and related natural science areas, leading to remarkable advances in disease treatment, drug development, forensics, and even the study of evolution.

Get a great start in this exciting field with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. When you graduate, you’ll be prepared for:

  • A career straight out of college with pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, genetic counseling programs, and more.
  • Graduate studies in molecular biology and related fields such as microbiology, immunology, and cell biology to become a research scientist. Our graduates have gone on to PhD. programs at some of the best institutions in the country, including Cal-Berkeley, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and Yale. And they have an incredible 100 percent success rate when applying to graduate programs in molecular biology and biotechnology.
  • Professional training for health care careers. Over half of our current majors plan to become physicians, physician assistants, or other health care professionals. Our graduates have a 96 percent success rate when applying to medical schools.

At UM-Flint, our innovative coursework includes intensive work in the laboratory. You’ll gain hands-on experience with highly marketable techniques such as mammalian cell culture, recombinant DNA, PCR, and more.

If you’d like more hands-on opportunities, you can participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. It allows students at any education level to perform state-of-the-art research alongside our expert faculty.

You’ll also have the chance to meet and learn with students who share your interests and career aspirations in the Molecular Biology Club. Some of its activities include:

  • Attending research conferences in Michigan and elsewhere
  • Conducting fundraising events for Relay for Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
  • Hosting research presentations by UM-Flint Biology faculty and alumni
  • Interacting with kids at Super Science Friday and other volunteer events

How the Program Works

All students in the Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program fulfill general education requirements and take 10 biology courses, nine chemistry courses, two physics courses, and a math course. They also follow one of seven concentrations based on their career interest:

Biology Programs at UM-Flint

Besides the Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program and its honors version, the Natural Sciences Department offers three other undergraduate biology programs:

Two minors also are available:

All undergraduate biology students are encouraged to consider adding a minor or a second major in another discipline. You can’t major in more than one biology program, nor can you both major and minor in biology.

Students who wish to continue their studies can pursue UM-Flint’s Master of Science in Biology program or the professional health care programs listed above.

Scholarships for Biology Majors

In addition to being eligible for financial assistance through our Office of Financial Aid, you can apply for UM-Flint scholarships that are specifically for biology students. They include:

  • Fleming A. and Marian E. Barbour Scholarship Fund
  • Emmalyn Ellis Freeman Master of Science in Biology Scholarship
  • Zelpha E. McKinnon Science Scholarship
  • Gary Pace Biology/Ecology Field Study Scholarship
  • Holly Sucic Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  • John Terrill and Lora Dorland Biological Sciences Scholarship Fund

Georgina collaborated with faculty on important research projects – she and Dr. Sucic studied the ability of older adults to recover from exercise. The experience led her to enroll with the MSU College of Human Medicine for medical school. She says: “I think a lot of college students can be afraid to talk to their professors…they don’t want to feel dumb for asking a question. I really liked that my professors encouraged me whenever I asked questions. I think that really contributed to my success as a student.”

Georgina Brown
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology 2020

Academic Advising for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Majors

To help you stay on track toward a degree, it’s important to develop a strong relationship with UM-Flint’s academic advisors. They can clarify program requirements, help you select courses, discuss the benefits of different course concentrations, and more. Cydnee Robertson is the dedicated academic advisor for the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program. You can contact her at [email protected] or schedule an appointment.

If you’re thinking about majoring in molecular biology and biotechnology, it’s important for you to consult with the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program’s academic advisor before registering for your first-semester classes.

Career Opportunities in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Many of our majors pursue careers in health care or scientific research, usually after getting additional professional education. Lots of career paths are possible, as these examples indicate:

  • Biological technicians: The number of jobs for biological technicians, who help biological and medical scientists conduct lab tests and experiments, should grow 7 percent through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 11,800 jobs should become available annually through 2030, and the latest median salary is $48,140 annually.
  • Microbiologists: The BLS says jobs for microbiologists will grow 5 percent through 2030, a bit below the average rate for all jobs. About 2,000 jobs should become available annually, and the latest median salary is $79,260.
  • Biochemists and Biophysicists: According to the BLS, about 3,200 job openings should occur annually through 2030 for biochemists and biophysicists, who study the chemical and physical principles of living things and biological processes. The latest median salary for these jobs is $102,270.
  • Physician assistants: The BLS says job growth for physician assistants, who practice medicine as part of health care teams, should be 31 percent through 2030. The agency projects about 12,200 job openings annually through 2030. The latest median pay for PAs is $115,390 annually.
  • Physical therapists: Jobs for physical therapists should grow by 21 percent through 2030, the BLS projects, almost three times the rate for all jobs. Physical therapists earn a median salary of $91,010 annually, and there should be about 15,600 job openings each year through 2030.
  • Physicians and surgeons: Despite the overall employment of physicians and surgeons growing just 3 percent through 2030, the BLS projects about 22,700 job openings annually through 2030. The median salary for physicians and surgeons is more than $208,000 annually.

More information about careers for molecular biology and biotechnology majors is available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Get Started on Your Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Career Today

Whether you want to be a research scientist or to work directly in health care, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program today. If you have questions, you can contact the program’s dedicated academic advisor, Cydnee Robertson, at [email protected] or schedule an appointment.