Molecular Biotechnology Programme, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

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Undergraduate

Molecular Biotechnology 4-Year Program Curriculum

Applicable to students admitted in 2026-27

Major Programme Requirement

Students are required to complete a minimum of 64[a] units of courses as follows:

1.
Faculty Package:
Group A: LSCI1002
Group B: CHEM1280 (preferred) or 1070
A course from the following
Group C: MATH1520 (preferred) or 1010 or 1018
Group D: (PHYS1001 or 1002) (preferred) or 1111
Group E: STAT1012 (preferred) or 1011
9 Units
2.
Required Courses:
BCHE2030#, 3030#, 3050#, BIOL2120#, 2313#, 2410#, 3410#, MBTE2000, 2010, 3000, 3510, 3550, 4033, 4034, 4320, 4510, 4520, 4530
42 Units
3. Capstone Courses and Elective Courses:
  1. Capstone Courses:
    3-6 units from LSCI4000#, 4911#, 4912#, 4913#, MBTE4901, 4902, 4903, 4906
  2. Elective Courses:
    Remaining units can be chosen from the following courses:
    BCHE3040#, 3080#, 4030#, 4060#, 4080#, 4090#, BIOL2420#, 3310#, 3420#, 3530#, 3630#, 4120#, 4310#, 4520#, 4610#, BMEG2001#, 2011#, CMBI3101#, 4001#, 4002#, 4003#, 4101#, 4102#, 4103#, 4201#, 4202#, 4203#, 4301#, 4302#, 4303#, LSCI1012, 2002#, 2003#, 3012#, 3030#, 3333#, 3520#, STAT3210#, MBTE3518, 3558, 3568
 13 Units
  Total: 64 Units[a]

 

In addition to fulfilling the above Major Programme Requirement, students meeting the criteria as specified by the Faculty can take the following stream offered by the Faculty:

Science, Technology And Research Stream

Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of courses as follows:

1. Required Courses:  
  1. One Faculty Package Course:
    Choose from the two remaining groups of the Faculty Package that have not been used to fulfill the Faculty Package Requirement
 3 Units
  1. Research Courses:
    STAR2000, 3000, 4000[b]
 6 Units
  1. Seminar Courses:
    STAR2050, 3050, 4050
 3 Units
2. Experiential Learning:
At least 4 consecutive weeks of outside Hong Kong exposure[c]		 —
  Total: 12 Units

Explanatory Notes:

1. MBTE courses at 2000 and above level as well as those labeled as # will be included in the calculation of Major GPA for honours classification.
[a] Study Option: Berkeley Biosciences Study Abroad Programme
Students who undergo one term of studies at the University of California, Berkeley, USA will take courses offered by the Berkeley Biosciences Study Abroad Programme. Units obtained from the Programme will be recognized as up to 12 units of Major Programme requirement. This option will be recorded on transcript.
[b] Students may select research-oriented course(s), as approved by the Major Programme, to substitute up to 4 units for fulfillment of Research Courses requirement.
[c] Students must complete any exchange/research/internship programme(s) offered by the University, Colleges, the Faculty of Science or Major Programme, as approved by the Major Programme, to fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement. Students are responsible for the extra costs incurred in the exchange/research/internship programme(s).

 

Recommended Course Pattern

 

Molecular Biotechnology

First Year of Attendance 1st term
Faculty Package: 1 course
Major Required:
Major Elective(s):
3 Units
2nd term
Faculty Package: 2 course
Major Required:
Major Elective(s):
6 Units
Second Year of Attendance 1st term
Major Required: BCHE2030, BIOL2120
Major Elective(s): 0 course or LSCI2003
6 Units
0-2 Units
2nd term
Major Required: BCHE3050, BIOL2313, 2410, MBTE2000, 2010
Major Elective(s):
9 Units
Third Year of Attendance 1st term
Major Required: BCHE3030, BIOL3410, MBTE3510, 4033, 4320, 4510
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
15 Units
0-3 Units
2nd term
Major Required: MBTE3550, 4034, 4520, 4530
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
9 Units
0-3 Units
Summer session
Major Required: 0 course or LSCI4911 or MBTE4901 or 4906
0-2 Units
Fourth Year of Attendance 1st term
Major Required: MBTE3000, 4510 (if not taken);
0-2 course(s) from MBTE3510, 3550 (if not taken);
and 0 course or LSCI4000 or 4912 or MBTE4902
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
3-6 Units
0-2 Units
0-3 Units
0-3 Units
2nd term
Major Required: MBTE4520 (if not taken), 4530 (if not taken);
and 0 course or LSCI4000 (if not taken) or 4913 or MBTE4903
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
0-6 Units
0-3 Units
0-3 Units
  Total (including Faculty Package): 64 Units

 

Molecular Biotechnology – Science, Technology And Research Stream (STARS)

First Year of Attendance 1st term
Faculty Package: 2 course
Major Required:
Major Elective(s):
6 Units
2nd term
Faculty Package: 2 course
Major Required:
Major Elective(s):
STARS: STAR2050
6 Units


0-1 Units
Second Year of Attendance 1st term
Major Required: BCHE2030, BIOL2120
Major Elective(s): 0 course or LSCI2003
STARS: STAR2000
6 Units
0-2 Units
1 Unit
2nd term
Major Required: BCHE3050, BIOL2313, 2410, MBTE2000, 2010
Major Elective(s):
STARS: STAR3050
9 Units

1 Unit
Third Year of Attendance 1st term
Major Required: BCHE3030, BIOL3410, MBTE3510, 4033, 4320, 4510
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
STARS: STAR3000
15 Units
0-3 Units
2 Units
2nd term
Major Required: MBTE3550, 4034, 4520, 4530
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
STARS: STAR4050
9 Units
0-3 Units
1 Unit
Summer session
Major Required: 0 course or LSCI4911 or MBTE4901 or 4906
0-2 Units
Fourth Year of Attendance 1st term
Major Required: MBTE3000, 4510 (if not taken);
0-2 course(s) from MBTE3510, 3550 (if not taken);
and 0 course or LSCI4000 or 4912 or MBTE4902
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
3-6 Units
0-2 Units
0-3 Units
0-3 Units
2nd term
Major Required: MBTE4520 (if not taken), 4530 (if not taken);
and 0 course or LSCI4000 (if not taken) or 4913 or MBTE4903@
Major Elective(s): 0-1 course
0-6 Units
0-3 Units
0-3 Units
  Total (including Faculty Package): 73 Units

@ Students may take MBTE4902 and 4903 as a substitute for STAR4000.

 

Minor Programme Title

Molecular Biotechnology

Minor Programme Requirement
Students are required to complete a minimum of 19 units of courses, with at least 9 units at 3000 or above level, as follows:
1. Required Courses:  
 
  1. MBTE4320
 3 Units
 
  1. BCHE2030 or BIOL2120 or 2410 or LSCI1003
 2 or 3 Units
2. Elective Courses:
MBTE2000, 2010, 3000, 3510, 3511, 3518, 3521, 3528, 3531,  3550, 3558, 3560, 3568, 4033, 4034, 4510, 4520, 4530		 13 or 14 Units
  Total: 19 Units

Explanatory Note:

1. No more than 9 units of courses taken to fulfill the requirements of the students’ Major Programme(s) and other Minor Programme(s) respectively can be used to fulfill the requirement of this Minor Programme.

 

 

Courses List

Course Code Course Title Unit(s)
MBTE2000 Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology 2
MBTE2010 Diversity of Life: Applications and Sustainability 2
MBTE3000 Business and Social Aspects of Biotechnology 3
MBTE3510 Medical Biotechnology 1
MBTE3511* Industrial Applications of Plant Genetic Modification 1
MBTE3518 Project in Medical Biotechnology 2
MBTE3521* Transgenic Technologies in Animals and their Applications 1
MBTE3528* Project in Transgenic Technologies in Animals and their Applications 2
MBTE3531* Microbes and Bioremediation 1
MBTE3550 Biotechnology for Environment and Sustainability 1
MBTE3558 Project in Biotechnology for Environment and Sustainability 2
MBTE3560* Protein Engineering and Drug Design 1
MBTE3568 Project of Protein Engineering and Drug Design 2
MBTE4033 Methods in Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory I 2
MBTE4034 Methods in Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory II 2
MBTE4320 Genetic Engineering 3
MBTE4510 Plant Biotechnology 3
MBTE4520 Animal Biotechnology 3
MBTE4530 Microbial Biotechnology 3
MBTE4901 Senior Experimental Project I 2
MBTE4902 Senior Experimental Project II 2
MBTE4903 Senior Experimental Project III 2
MBTE4906 Internship 2
STAR2000 Undergraduate Research in Science I 1
STAR2050 Seminar I 1
STAR3000 Undergraduate Research in Science II 2
STAR3050 Seminar II 1
STAR4000 Undergraduate Research in Science III 3
STAR4050 Seminar III 1

Remarks: * Not for Molecular Biotechnology major students.