Biotechnology

How can we use biology to: cure diseases, make food more nutritious, make farms more efficient? Studies in biotechnology will prepare you to address these problems and more.

Overview

Biotechnology is a field of applied science that equips you to work in a variety of biological and medical research settings.

As a biotechnology student at Calvin, you will:

  • have access to advanced instrumentation through labs and summer research
  • isolate DNA, denature proteins and grow cell cultures
  • prepare for a future career or graduate level work

Careers in Biotechnology

  • Cellular Biologist
  • Biomedical Research
  • Scientific Writing
  • Genetic Counseling
  • Microbiology
  • Pharmaceutical Research
  • Molecular Biology Research
  • More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Become a lab assistant in a biology laboratory course; join the Environmental Stewardship Coalition and the International Health and Development Club; work on ecosystem restoration projects

Course Requirements 2012-13

Biotechnology major (BS)

Prerequisite to a program of concentration in biology or biotechnology is a minimum average of C (2.0) in Biology 123, 224, and 225 or approved equivalent courses.

(35-40 semester hours)

  • BIOL-123 The Living World: Concepts & Connections
  • BIOL-224 Cellular & Genetic Systems
  • BIOL-225 Ecological & Evolutionary Systems
  • BIOL-250 Research Design & Methodology
  • BIOL-295 Biology Seminar (taken twice, one concurrently with BIOL-250)
  • BIOL-325 Biotechnology
  • BIOL-334 Cell and Tissue Culture
  • CHEM-324 Biochemistry II
  • CHEM-383 Laboratory in Biochemistry
  • One from:
  • One from:
    • BIOL-354 Biology Investigations Course
    • BIOL-385 Internship in Biology
    • BIOL-399 Undergraduate Research
    • A research contract in an advanced course (see department website for contract details)
  • One capstone course:
  • Completion of the biology major field test

Cognates (29-33 semester hours)

Biotechnology minor

Prerequisite to a program of concentration in biology or biotechnology is a minimum average of C (2.0) in Biology 123, 224, and 225 or approved equivalent courses.

(20-21 semester hours)

The biotechnology minor complements diverse majors, providing beneficial backgrounds for careers in bioinformatics, nanotechnology, patent law, bioethics, genetic counseling, writing/policy, and other emerging fields. Students considering this minor should contact the biotechnology advisor, D. Koetje.

The college?s course overlap policy requires 14 distinct courses between a student?s major and minor programs. Biology majors pursuing a biotechnology minor may only count Biology 123 and 224 (or 141) toward both programs. Biochemistry and chemistry majors may apply Chemistry 103 and 104 to both programs.

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Debra Deur Scholarship
  • award amount: $3,800
  • sophomore, junior or senior
  • GPA of 3.0+
  • financial need required
  • apply through the Calvin Portal
James and Beatrice Harkema Family Scholarship
  • award amount: $1,750
  • junior or senior
  • GPA of 3.0+
  • financial need required; pursuing biomedical science
  • apply through the Calvin Portal
Ann, Myrtle, Eunice, Faith and Marie Huizenga Scholarship for Women
  • award amount: $1,900
  • junior or senior
  • GPA 3.2+
  • financial need required; interested in missions
  • apply through the Calvin Portal
NSF Scientific Computing Scholarship
  • award amount: $5,000 to $8,000
  • any class level
  • GPA of 3.0+
  • financial need required; US citizen; full-time student; demonstrate an interest in scientific computation and modeling
  • apply through the Integrated Science Research Institute
West Michigan Optometric Scholarship
  • award amount: $1,500
  • junior or senior
  • GPA of 3.0+
  • financial need required; intending to pursue a career in optometry
  • apply through the Calvin Portal
View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Eric Arnoys Eric Arnoys
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
DH 233
earnoys@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6051

Curtis Blankespoor Curtis Blankespoor
Professor of Biology
Department of Biology
DH 123
cblankes@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6498

Hessel Bouma Hessel Bouma
Professor of Biology
Department of Biology
DH 221
boum@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6401

Randall DeJong Randall DeJong
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
DH 109
rdejong@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7625

David Dornbos David Dornbos
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
DH 205
dld9@calvin.edu
(616) 526-8578

Keith Grasman Keith Grasman
Professor, on leave Spring 2013
Department of Biology
DH 103
kag4@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6024

Arlene Hoogewerf Arlene Hoogewerf
Professor
Department of Biology
DH 105
ahoogewe@calvin.edu
(616) 526-8668

David Koetje David Koetje
Professor
Department of Biology
DH 105
dkoetje@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7047

Larry Louters Larry Louters
Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
DH 223
lout@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6493

Rich Nyhof Rich Nyhof
Professor
Department of Biology
DH 111
nyhr@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6347

Anding Shen Anding Shen
Associate Professor, on leave fall 2012
Department of Biology
DH 209
as28@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6025

Ralph Stearley Ralph Stearley
Professor
NH 071
rstearle@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6370

Peter Tigchelaar Peter Tigchelaar
Professor
Department of Biology
DH 107
ptigch@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6346

John Ubels John Ubels
Professor
Department of Biology
DH 213
jubels@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6219

Randall Van Dragt Randall Van Dragt
Professor
Department of Biology
DH 113
vdra@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6497

Dave Warners Dave Warners
Professor
Department of Biology
DH 125
dwarners@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6820

John Wertz John Wertz
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
DH 131
jwertz59@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7621

Amy Wilstermann Amy Wilstermann
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
DH 129
amw26@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7620

Talk to us

Arlene Hoogewerf

Arlene Hoogewerf
Department Chair
department chair
Department of Biology
DH 105
ahoogewe@calvin.edu
(616) 526-8668