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Department of Plant and Microbial Biology 
Master of Microbial Biotechnology

Agricultural Biotechnology Concentration

The agricultural biotechnology concentration is for students interested in the application of biotechnology for specific agricultural uses. Coursework for this track focuses on fundamentals and concepts in:

  • Agricultural biotechnology
  • Plant biotechnology
  • Plant engineering
  • Plant pathology

Recommended Elective Courses

  • Biotechnology course offerings change regularly. Visit the BIT Program Website for a list of current course offerings. 
  • CS 541 – Plant Breeding Methods (3 credits; offered fall only; prerequisite: ST 511, corequisite: ST 512)
  • CS 714 – Crop Physiology: Plant Response to Environment (3 credits; offered fall only)
  • FS 520 – Pre-harvest Food Safety (3 credits; offered fall only)
  • FS 530 – Post-harvest Food Safety (3 credits; offered fall only)
  • FS 540 – Food Safety and Public Health (3 credits; offered spring only)
  • FS 553 – Food Laws and Regulations (3 credits)
  • FS 554 – Lactaction, Milk, and Nutrition (3 credits; offered spring only – alternate EVEN years)
  • GN 521 – Molecular Genetics (3 credits; offered fall and spring)
  • GN 701 – Molecular Genetics (3 credits; offered fall only)
  • GN 720 – Molecular Biology in Plant Breeding (3 credits; offered spring only – also listed as CS 720/HS 720)
  • GN 735 – Functional Genomics (3 credits; offered spring only; prerequisite: GN 701)
  • BUS 554 – Project Management (3 credit hours; offered spring and summer)
  • MBA 576 – Technology Evaluation and Commercialization I and II (3 credits each)
  • MBA 586 – Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Issues in Life Science Industries (3 credits; offered fall only)
  • MB 520 – Fundamentals of Microbial Cell Biotransformations (2 credits; offered fall only)
  • MB 532 – Soil Microbiology (4 credits; offered spring only)
  • MB 555 – Microbial Biotechnology (3 credits; offered spring only)
  • PP 501 – Biology of Plant Pathogens (3 credits; offered fall only; prerequisite: an introductory microbiology course)
  • PP 707 – Plant Microbe Interactions (3 credits; offered spring only; prerequisite: PP 501)
  • PP 727 – Ecology of Soil Ecosystems (3 credits; offered fall only – alternate even years; prerequisite: an introductory microbiology course, or instructor permission)
  • ST 511 – Statistical Methods For Researchers I (3 credits; offered in fall, spring and summer)
  • ST 512 – Statistical Methods For Researchers II (3 credits; offered in fall and spring)
  • ST 513 – Statistics for Management I (3 credits; offered fall and spring)
  • TOX 725 – Pesticide Chemistry (1 credit; offered spring only; taught during first five weeks of semester)
  • TOX 727 – Pesticide Behavior and Fate in the Environment (2 credits; offered spring only; taught during last ten weeks of semester)
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