University Catalog 2024-2025

Bioprocessing Science (BS)

The B.S Bioprocessing Science degree prepares students for technical careers in biomanufacturing through formal training in fundamental sciences, as well as preparing students for careers in industries whose products are based on biological systems, including biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Plan Requirements

Orientation
ALS 103Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences1
or ALS 303 Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
Communication
COM 110Public Speaking3
or COM 112 Interpersonal Communication
Mathematical Sciences
MA 131Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A3
MA 231Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B3
ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
Natural and Physical Sciences
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
CH 221
CH 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
CH 223
CH 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
BCH 351General Biochemistry3
or BCH 451 Principles of Biochemistry
MB 351
MB 352
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
PY 211College Physics I4
PY 212College Physics II4
Major Requirements
BBS 201Introduction to Biopharmaceutical Science3
FS 231Principles of Food and Bioprocess Engineering4
BEC 330Principles and Applications of Bioseparations2
FS 290Careers in Food and Bioprocessing Sciences1
or BEC 220 Introduction to Drug Development and Careers in Biomanufacturing
BBS 301Process Validation Science3
FS 403Analytical Techniques in Food & Bioprocessing Science4
FS 416Quality Control in Food and Bioprocessing3
BBS 426Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory2
FS 475Problems and Design in Food and Bioprocessing Science3
BIT 410Manipulation of Recombinant DNA4
or BEC 425
BEC 445
Molecular Biology for Biomanufacturing
and Cell Line Development for Biomanufacturing
BIT Elective or BEC Elective or BBS Elective4
GN 311Principles of Genetics4
or ZO 250 Animal Anatomy and Physiology
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives5
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 29
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

BIT Elective or BEC Electives or BBS Electives 

BEC 436Introduction to Downstream Process Development2
BEC 462Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology3
BEC 463Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BEC 475Global Regulatory Affairs for Medical Products3
BEC 480cGMP Fermentation Operations2
BEC 483Tissue Engineering Technologies2
BEC 485cGMP Downstream Operations2
BEC 488Animal Cell Culture Engineering2
BEC 495Special Topics in Biomanufacturing1-4
BEC 497Biomanufacturing Research Projects1-3
BEC 536Introduction to Downstream Process Development2
BEC 562Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology3
BEC 563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BEC 575Global Regulatory Affairs for Medical Products3
BEC 580cGMP Fermentation Operations2
BEC 583Tissue Engineering Technologies2
BEC 585cGMP Downstream Operations2
BIO 572Proteomics3
BIT 402Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development1
BIT 410Manipulation of Recombinant DNA4
BIT 463Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BIT 464Protein Purification2
BIT 465Real-time PCR Techniques2
BIT 466Animal Cell Culture Techniques2
BIT 467PCR and DNA Fingerprinting2
BIT 471RNA Interference and Model Organisms2
BIT 473Protein Interactions2
BIT 474Plant Genetic Engineering2
BIT 476Applied Bioinformatics2
BIT 477Metagenomics2
BIT 479High-Throughput Discovery2
BIT 480Yeast Metabolic Engineering2
BIT 481Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation2
BIT 492External Learning Experience1-6
BIT 493Special Problems in Biotechnology1-6
BIT 495Special Topics in Biotechnology1-3
BIT 501Ethical Issues in Biotechnology1
BIT 502Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development1
BIT 510Core Technologies in Molecular and Cellular Biology4
BIT 564Protein Purification2
BIT 565Real-time PCR Techniques2
BIT 566Animal Cell Culture Techniques2
BIT 567PCR and DNA Fingerprinting2
BIT 571RNA Interference and Model Organisms2
BIT 572Proteomics3
BIT 573Protein Interactions2
BIT 574Plant Genetic Engineering2
BIT 577Metagenomics2
BIT 579High-Throughput Discovery2
BIT 580Yeast Metabolic Engineering2
BIT 581Plant Transformation2
BIT 590Independent Study in Biotechnology1-3
BIT 595Special Topics1-6
BME 583Tissue Engineering Technologies2
CH 572Proteomics3
PB 481Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation2
PO 466Animal Cell Culture Techniques2
PO 566Animal Cell Culture Techniques2
BBS 325Introduction to Brewing Science and Technology3
BBS 326Brewing Practices and Analyses3
BBS 427Brewing Equipment, Controls and Operations3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ALS 103 Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences 1
BIO 183
Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
or Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity
4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
COM 110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
GEP Social Sciences 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
BBS 201 Introduction to Biopharmaceutical Science 3
MA 131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 3
Free Elective 1 3
GEP Humanities 3
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
CH 221 Organic Chemistry I 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
MA 231 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 3
PY 211 College Physics I 4
BEC 220
Introduction to Drug Development and Careers in Biomanufacturing
or Careers in Food and Bioprocessing Sciences
1
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CH 223 Organic Chemistry II 3
CH 224 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
FS 231 Principles of Food and Bioprocess Engineering 4
PY 212 College Physics II 4
Free Elective 1 3
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
CH 201 Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 3
CH 202 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
MB 351 General Microbiology 3
MB 352 General Microbiology Laboratory 1
Free Elective 1 3
Anatomy/Physiology Elective 4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
BCH 351 General Biochemistry 3
BIT Electives or BEC Electives or BBS Electives 4
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
BIT 410
Manipulation of Recombinant DNA
or Molecular Biology for Biomanufacturing and Cell Line Development for Biomanufacturing
4
 Hours14
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
BBS 301 Process Validation Science 3
BBS 426 Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory 2
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
BEC 330 Principles and Applications of Bioseparations 2
 Hours14
Spring Semester
FS 475 Problems and Design in Food and Bioprocessing Science 3
FS 416 Quality Control in Food and Bioprocessing 3
FS 403 Analytical Techniques in Food & Bioprocessing Science 4
GEP Social Sciences 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
1

Students are strongly encouraged to complete a minor in a closely related field, and should consult with an advisor in the minor department for the most current requirements. A list of  can be viewed online at http://oucc.ncsu.edu/minors. Free elective courses taken as credit only may not apply toward a minor.

Career Opportunities

Consumer demand for safe, high quality, nutritious foods and biopharmaceutical products, as well as for educational programs designed to promote healthy eating, creates a variety of career opportunities in the food, pharmaceutical and the allied health industries. Industrial opportunities include management, research and development, process supervision, quality control and assurance, procurement, distribution, and sales. Public health opportunities include educational program development, delivery, and assessment. In addition, graduates hold positions with government agencies and many with advanced degrees have teaching and/or research positions in colleges and universities.

Bioprocessing Science

The Bioprocessing Science degree is a unique program designed to provide graduates with a special skill set specific to bioprocessing and biomanufacturing. Graduates from this degree program will have exciting opportunities to biomanufacture medicines, vaccines, enzymes and other products that improve the quality of life.

Scholarships

The department provides both merit and financial need scholarships to encourage and assist students preparing for careers in Food, Bioprocessing, or Nutrition Science.

Career Titles

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NC Biotech Center