Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Houston

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology at the University of Houston combines core science with practical, application-oriented training, preparing students for biotechnology careers across medicine, agriculture, environmental science, biomanufacturing, and computational biology. Students can tailor the 120-credit-hour degree through the Biomanufacturing or Bioinformatics track while developing laboratory, research, computational, regulatory, and quality-control skills.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the scientific foundations needed for biotechnology, combining courses such as BIOL 1306/1106 Biology for Science Majors I and Lab, CHEM 1311/1111 Fundamentals of Chemistry I and Lab, and MATH 2413 Calculus I with introductory communication and general education courses. They also progress into BIOL 1307/1107 Biology for Science Majors II and Lab, CHEM 1312/1112 Fundamentals of Chemistry II and Lab, and PHYS 1301 College Physics I, building a strong foundation in biological, chemical, mathematical, and physical sciences.

Second Year: Students begin moving from general science into biotechnology-specific study through BTEC 1322 Introduction to Biotechnology and BTEC 2322 Introduction to Biopython, alongside subjects such as MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods and BCHS 3304 Fundamentals of General Biochemistry. This stage introduces students to biotechnology concepts, statistical reasoning, computational approaches, molecular biology, and the biochemical processes that underpin modern biotechnology.

Third Year: The curriculum becomes more specialized and research-focused with courses including BTEC 3302 Introduction to Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, BTEC 3200 Biotechnology Research Methods, BTEC 3301 Principles of Genomics/Proteomics and Bioinformatics, and BTEC 3317 Biotechnology Regulatory Environment. Students also encounter BTEC 3321 Good Manufacturing Practices, developing an understanding of laboratory research, genomics, computational biotechnology, regulatory requirements, and quality practices used in the industry.

Fourth Year: Students apply their knowledge through advanced track-specific coursework and the two-part BTEC 4249 Biotechnology Capstone Experience I and BTEC 4350 Biotechnology Capstone Experience II. Depending on their chosen pathway, students can develop expertise through Biomanufacturing courses such as BTEC 4301/4101 Principles of Bioprocessing and BTEC 4319 Microbial Biotechnology, or Bioinformatics coursework such as TLIM 3363 Applied Bioinformatics and TLIM 3340 Computational Health Informatics, culminating in substantial research and project-based work.

Focus areas

Biomanufacturing, Bioinformatics, Molecular Genetics, Genomics and Proteomics, Microbial Biotechnology, Quality Assurance and Quality Control, Biotechnology Regulatory Environment, Computational Biology, Bioprocessing

Learning outcomes

Students develop biotechnology knowledge, hands-on laboratory skills, research problem-solving abilities, understanding of industrial regulations and the biotechnology regulatory environment, effective scientific communication, management skills, computational biotechnology skills, and the ability to work effectively in teams.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Biotechnology program is accredited by the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). The accreditation recognizes professional standards in technology and supports continuous quality improvement, while the program's learning outcomes are explicitly aligned with the ATMAE outcomes-assessment model.

Reputation (employability and official statistics)

The University of Houston reports that its Biotechnology program is the most extensive undergraduate biotechnology program in Texas and ranked second nationwide by enrollment, with approximately 400 students in 2023. The department's 2025 graduate survey reports that more than 80% of graduates were either employed in the field or admitted to a graduate program after graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The program places strong emphasis on learning by doing, integrating laboratory work with lectures and research rather than treating practical training as a separate component. Students complete hands-on biotechnology laboratory courses, participate in research projects, and finish with a capstone in which they work in teams under faculty supervision to design experiments, collect and interpret data, and present their findings. Students can also gain industry exposure through internships and biotechnology-focused experiences connected with Houston's growing biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector:

Hands-on laboratory training: Students learn techniques including bacterial culture, plasmid isolation, genetic engineering of plasmids, and expression of therapeutic proteins in E. coli.
Biotechnology Capstone: In their final year, students work in two- or three-member teams on a research project with an assigned professor. The project involves literature review, hypothesis development, experimental design, laboratory safety, data collection, interpretation, data presentation, report writing, and a final poster presentation.
Computational tools: BTEC 2322 Introduction to Biopython develops computational skills for biotechnology, while the Bioinformatics pathway includes applied bioinformatics and computational health informatics.
Research laboratories: Students can work in facilities including the Microbial Products Lab, Microbiome and Genomics Lab, Computation Lab, Environmental BTEC Lab, Food BTEC Lab, and BTEC Core Facility Lab.
Advanced equipment: The BTEC Core Facility provides access to equipment including an Applied Biosystems ProFlex 3x32-Well PCR machine, while UH's broader facilities include advanced microscopy, mass spectrometry, omics technologies, and high-performance computing resources.
Research areas: Undergraduate students can connect with research involving microbial biotechnology, plant-algal biotechnology, health and bioinformatics, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, biomanufacturing, protein engineering, genomics, cancer biology, and stem-cell research.
Industry internships: The department reports that several Houston-area startup companies work with the BTEC program and offer internships, including opportunities for paid summer industrial experience.
NIIMBL eXperience: UH hosts a biomanufacturing-focused experience where students can visit companies, tour the Texas Medical Center, learn cleanroom gowning and aseptic techniques, and receive hands-on training in downstream protein purification and chromatography.
Student organization: The Society for Biological Engineers organizes events featuring industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and research scientists.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biotechnology is designed to prepare graduates for employment in biotechnology as well as further study in graduate and professional programs. UH graduates have moved into roles spanning biomanufacturing, bioinformatics, clinical data, laboratory research, quality assurance and quality control, and biotechnology-related technical positions.

Typical career roles include Bioinformatics Engineer, Clinical Data Specialist, Laboratory Analyst, Manufacturing Associate:

Career services: Students at UH Sugar Land have access to Career Services, while the program's industry-oriented training helps students prepare for biotechnology employment and entrepreneurship.
Employment outcomes: UH reports that more than 80% of BTEC graduates surveyed in 2025 were either employed in the field or admitted to a graduate program.
Salary: The department reports an average starting salary of $46,000 for BTEC graduates.
Graduate employers: Alumni have been employed by organizations including AstraZeneca, Baylor Genetics, Charles River Laboratories, Fujifilm Diosynth, Lonza Biologics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Neurogene, Immatics, Texas Children's Hospital, and VGXI.
Industry-connected training: The program is developed in collaboration with industry and academic partners, and Houston-area biotechnology companies provide internship opportunities. The department also connects students with biomanufacturing organizations through initiatives such as the NIIMBL eXperience.
Accreditation value: ATMAE accreditation provides external recognition that the program meets professional standards in technology and applied engineering education and supports continuous quality improvement.
Graduate roles: UH's reported graduate job titles include Bioinformatics Engineer, Biological Informatics Programmer, Clinical Trial Lead, Data Scientist, Laboratory Analyst, Manufacturing Technician, QA/QC Analyst, Research Associate, Research Technician, Scientist, Software Engineer, and Technical Development Specialist.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into master's-level study in biotechnology and related fields. At UH, the Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Biotechnology Track emphasizes areas such as bioprocessing, protein engineering, computational biology, and federal regulations; biotechnology graduates may also pursue advanced study or professional pathways in areas such as medicine, clinical research, information systems, and other related disciplines.