Applied Biological Sciences, B.S.

Contact Information

Dr. Richard Sinden, Department Head
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences
Chemistry/Chemical Engineering 2219
(605) 394-1678
E-mail: Richard.Sinden@sdsmt.edu

Faculty

Professors Bang, Boyles, Fong, and Sinden; Associate Professors DeVeaux, Heglund, Sani, and Zhu; Assistant Professors Kunza and Smirnova; Senior Lecturer Meyer; Lecturers Filipova and Coble; Instructors Christofferson, K. Gilcrease, and Marshall.

Staff

Department Senior Secretary, Tara Huber; Chemical and Instrumentation Specialist, Margaret Smallbrook.

Applied Biological Sciences

The Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences.

Applied Biological Sciences (ABS) graduates are rigorously trained in the biological sciences, with a strong background in the foundation areas of biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics.  The Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences offers both fundamental and advanced courses in biology and chemistry.  In the area of biology, course offerings include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, microbial genetics, cell and molecular biology, pathogenesis, and industrial microbiology.  The Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences requires 120 semester credits.

The department prepares students for meaningful and productive careers in one of the diverse areas within the biological sciences, including medicine, microbial and molecular biology, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, or biomedical engineering.  The ABS major has a wide range of options to uniquely prepare graduates for these cross-disciplinary and technology-oriented professional career paths.  Students can select courses from an extensive list of electives to suit their particular interests and career aspirations.

• Students wishing to pursue careers or graduate study in medicine, pharmaceutical science, biomedical technology, medical and patent law, academic research can choose a premedical or molecular emphasis, rich in courses in microbiology and cell and molecular biology.
• Students wishing to prepare for graduate study in biomedical engineering or pursue career fields such as bioprocessing or bioenergy can choose a biomedical engineering emphasis, which provides an opportunity to meld biology with world-class engineering courses available at SDSM&T.  This emphasis involves academic preparation in various engineering disciplines, including civil, materials and metallurgical, or mechanical engineering.
• ABS graduates will also be well-positioned, with further certification, to fill the demand for highly-trained middle and high school science teachers.

Our department develops in its students a requisite fundamental knowledge base in both biology and chemistry.  We then integrate these basics into an understanding of, and appreciation for, the applied biological sciences leading to the ABS BS.  This is accomplished through our traditional course offerings and optional hands-on research experience in individual faculty labs, preparing students for graduate study or the workplace. The Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences prides itself in the 2011 opening of a new wing which houses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and instrumentation available for cutting-edge research. Students find opportunities to work with faculty who hold high caliber, peer-reviewed, externally funded research grants awarded by federal agencies, including the Air Force Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research, Army Research Office, United States Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and other agencies.  This affords the student opportunities to conduct independent research and present their research at local or national meetings.

For students interested in graduate studies, the faculty of the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences participate in several SDSM&T graduate programs including the M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering and Science and Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.  Students opting for a graduate degree in these disciplines have the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research wtih a dissertation in fundamental, depth areas of chemistry while augmenting their chemistry background with coursework specific to their respective graduate program in which they are enrolled.

The program also offers a Minor in Applied Biological Sciences .

Applied Biological Sciences Curriculum/Checklist

The following curriculum shows one embodiment of a path toward the ABS degree.  The sequence of courses taken will depend on the academic preparation and career objectives of incoming students.  Students should consult with an Applied Biological Sciences advisor for a more personalized course of study based on career goals within the applied biological sciences.  It is important to note that certain courses have prerequisite requirements.  Judicious selection of electives from the approved list will allow students specialized training in an applied biological sciences area, including microbiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, pre-professional studies, or biomedical engineering.