Studying Biotechnology at Canterbury
Biotechnology is of national and international importance. It can be defined as fundamental research contributing knowledge about biochemical, molecular, ecological and evolutionary processes; research underpinning biodiversity and biosecurity management in New Zealand; and research directed towards technology development with dual economic and environmental outcomes.
Consequently, biotechnology research has key roles to play in helping us characterise New Zealand¹s indigenous genetic heritage through biosystematics, to protect New Zealand¹s indigenous genetic heritage through the provision of tools to identify biosecurity threats, and, through research, to help counter the environmental impacts of farming in areas such as agricultural methane emissions and nitrogen fixers in pastures.
Biotechnology goes beyond genetic modification and includes a range of laboratory based tissue culture and breeding techniques such as the use of somatic hybridisation.
Career paths
Employment opportunities for graduates with good biotechnology training are exceptionally attractive overseas, since biotechnology is widely considered to be the industrial growth area of this century.
Postgraduate
BSc (Hons) - Students complete a fourth year of study
comprising four 400-level papers and a research project.
PGDipSc - Students complete a fourth year of study comprising
four 400-level papers.
MSc - Students complete a fourth year of study comprising
four 400-level papers (part I), then proceed to a research project (part
II), written up as a thesis.
PhD - Students complete a 3-4 year research project written
up as a thesis. Entry is after successful completion of either BSc(Hons)
or an MSc.
Planning Your Degree
Below is a guide to help you select courses that will give you a well rounded degree in biosecurity.
Year 1
Essential
BIOL
111 Cellular Biology & Biochemistry
BIOL
112 Ecology, Evolution & Conservation
BIOL
113 Diversity of Life
CHEM 112 General Chemistry B *
Recommended
MATH101 Methods of Mathematics **
LAWS 101 The Legal System
LaWS 110 Legal System: Research, Writing and Legal Foundations
SCIM 101 Science, Maori and Indigenous
Knowledge
ENGR 101 Foundations of Engineering
CHEM 111 General Chemistry A*
* Unless
you have 9 NCEA level 3 credits in chemistry
it is essential that you take a CHEM 114 before
CHEM 111 and CHEM 112.
** Note: Unless you have good NCEA level 3 credits
in maths, it is essential that you take a minimum
of 15 points in MATH (MATH101).
Year 2
Essential
BIOL 209 Introduction to Biological Data
Analysis
BIOL 213 Microbiology and Genetics
BIOL 231 Foundations in Molecular Biology
BIOL 271 Evolution
BIOL 253 Cell Biology 1
or BIOL 254 Plant Developmental Biology
Recommended
BIOL 215 Plant Diversity & Systematic
BIOL 255 Plant Ecophysiology
BIOL 210 Vertebrate Biology
BIOL 211 Insect Biology
BIOL 212 Marine Biology and Ecology
BIOL 250 Principles of Animal Physiology
BIOL 273 New Zealand Biodiversity and
Biosecurity
POLS 206 Public Policy: An Introduction
BCHM 211 Biochemistry A - Biomolecules
and their interactions
BCHM 221 Biochemistry B- Metabolism; the
reactions of molecules in cells
BCHM 281 Practical Biochemistry
PHIL 249 Environmental Bioethics
Year 3
Essential
BIOL 352 Plant Development and
Biotechnology
or BIOL 313 Advanced Microbiology
and a minimum of 30 points from the
following:
BIOL 330 Advanced Concepts in Genetics
BIOL 332 Genetics and Evolution of
Invasive Species
BIOL 351 Cell Biology 2
BIOL 371 Evolutionary Ecology
Recommended
BCHM 303 Special Topic: Toxicology
BIOL 331 Biochemistry 3
SCIE 301 Science and Entrepreneurship
Part 1
SCIE 302 Science and Entrepreneurship
Part 2