VU
Virtual University of Pakistan
Department of Biological Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (4 year program)

Introduction

BS in Biotechnology is designed to equip the students with the updated and practical knowledge of this multidisciplinary and emerging field. Biotechnology is the application of scientific and engineering principals to the processing of material by biological agents to deliver goods and services. Biotechnology involves a number of technologies centered upon growing understanding of biology at the cellular and molecular level. Biotechnological applications play an important role in health industry, agriculture and environment and are helpful in making life of human beings peaceful and comfortable. The aim of BS in Biotechnology is to develop indigenous manpower experts in Biotechnology that will help the industry of biotechnology by making novel achievements. The students may seek their career in educational institutes, scientific research and development, management in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.

Objectives

The objectives of BS in Biotechnology program are:

  1. To enable students to use laboratory techniques in scientific research.

  2. To enable students to use the scientific methodologies for designing experimental studies and critically analyze the results.

  3. To equip students with legal and ethical moral values while performing research in various biotechnology/ molecular biology sectors.

Eligibility Criteria

Intermediate with Pre-medical or equivalent qualification with at least 45% marks.

Note:

  • Candidates having ‘A’ level or Deeni Asnad or foreign qualification are required to provide equivalence certificate from IBCC or HEC, Islamabad as applicable.

  • Seats are available on an open merit basis, exclusively for eligible students within Pakistan.
  • Zero  Semester” is not applicable.

 

BS Entry Route:

Applicants having B.Sc./Associate Degree in Science (14-Year of education) from an HEC recognized university / institute with at-least 45% marks or CGPA 2.00 out 4.0 are eligible for course exemption (as determined by the Equivalence Committee of VU). However, applicants shall meet admission entry requirements based on their 12 years of education as stated above.

 

Course Exemption:

Course exemption is allowed.

 

Duration:

It is four-year full time study program spread over eight semesters. Each semester has at least 18 weeks duration for teaching and examinations etc.
 

Assessment Criteria

The students study progress evaluation mechanism is based on continuous assessment throughout the semester by giving assignments, quizzes, Graded Discussion Boards (GDBs), course(s) practicals (wherein applicable), mid-term and final-term examinations at VU designated campuses and usually count for 80 to 85% of the total marks for a course.

Award of Degree

To be eligible for the award of four-year BS in Biotechnology, the students are required to complete at least 132 credit hours according to prescribed scheme of studies with at least CGPA 2.00 out of 4.

Project / Internship / Practicals

Project:

Students are required to complete a Project of 6-credit hours in 7th and 8th semesters as prescribed scheme of studies of BS in Biotechnology. The choice of the final project is at the student’s discretion. However, consultation with the student advisor is compulsory. Students have to submit a detailed write-up of the Project and may be required to give a presentation.

 

Course(s) Practicals:

Participation in practical classes of a course(s) will be compulsory for a student to qualify respective course(s). Each student will participate in practical classes at the VU designated lab cities which were allocated at the time of admission. List of the VU Lab cities is published on VU website link www.vu.edu.pk >> Home >> Admission Schedule

Note: The University admits students of Biological sciences programs on merit as per the available seats against each lab city during the admission session. Once a student is admitted against a particular lab preference then he/she will not be allowed to change his/her lab city after admission.

Scheme of Study

Total Credit Hours 134
Total Semesters 8
Duration 4 Years


BS (Biotechnology) Course Selection Rules
Semester No. 1
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BIO5101 Introduction to Biotechnology Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
CS101 Introduction to Computing Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
ENG101 English Comprehension Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) English
MTH100 General Mathematics Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Mathematics
BIO5102 Public Health and Nutrition Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)
ETH202 Ethics (for Non-Muslims) Elective 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)
ISL202 Islamic Studies Elective 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)
 
Semester No. 2
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BIO504T Biochemistry I (Theory) Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Bioinformatics
BIO5105 Cell Biology Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
CHE201 Physical Chemistry Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Bioinformatics
ENG201 Business and Technical English Writing Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) English
MTH202 Discrete Mathematics Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Mathematics
PAK302 Pakistan Studies Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Sociology
 
Semester No. 3
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BIO505T Essentials of Genetics (Theory) Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
MB502T Molecular Biology (Theory) Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Molecular Biology
MGT602 Entrepreneurship Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Management
BT611T Food Biotechnology (Theory) Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT614T Industrial Biotechnology (Theory) Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Biotechnology
MIC501T Microbiology (Theory) Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Biology
PAK522 Ideology and Constitution of Pakistan Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)
 
Semester No. 4
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BIO732 Gene Manipulation and Genetic Engineering Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT501 Health Biotechnology Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
SOC604 Community Development Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Sociology
BT605 Biosafety & Bioethics Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Biotechnology
 
Semester No. 5
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BIO506T Biochemistry II (Theory) Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Bioinformatics
BT101 Ecology, Biodiversity & Evolution-I Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT601 Virology Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Molecular Biology
CS201 Introduction to Programming Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT513T Principles of Biochemical Engineering (Theory) Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT612T Fermentation Technology (Theory) Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Biotechnology
 
Semester No. 6
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BIF101 Introduction to Bioinformatics Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Bioinformatics
BIO401 Biostatistics Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Bioinformatics
BIO503 Biological Physics Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT302 Immunology Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Molecular Biology
BT405 Nano Biotechnology Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT504 Genomics and Proteomics Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Molecular Biology
CS442 Introduction to Data Science Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Computer Science
 
Semester No. 7
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BTI619 Internship Required 6 (Theory:6, Practical:0) Biotechnology
EDU301 General Methods of Teaching Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Education
MCD504 Acting and Performance Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Mass Communications & Journalism
 
Semester No. 8
Course Code Title Type Pre Requisite Credit Hours Specialization
BT619 Research Project Required 6 (Theory:6, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT401 Genetic Resources & Conservation Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT503 Environment Biotechnology Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT505 Biosensors Required 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) Biotechnology
BT613T Agriculture Biotechnology (Theory) Required 2 (Theory:2, Practical:0) Biotechnology
 


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