Undergraduate majors in these areas will have the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge and hands-on laboratory training in many aspects of modern biology, including cell and molecular biology, recombinant DNA methods, microbiology, physiology, and environmental biology. Introductory and lower-level courses also provide a foundation in biology for other science or engineering majors who plan to work with biological systems.
Biotechnology is as old as winemaking and animal husbandry, yet as new as recombinant DNA methods.
In the modern context, biotechnology involves the commercial application of many research tools of modern biology as well as engineering principles and methods. The normal period of residency at WPI is 16 terms. Five or more of the courses must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. Five or more of the courses must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. The biology and biotechnology facilities offer an exceptional learning opportunity since projects and research are the principal teaching tools.