Chemistry and Biotechnology

The first study year is characterized by a university-specific offering of disciplinary education that builds on and expands upon the students’ entrance qualifications. Students select introductory modules for a total of 45 CP from the CHOICE area of a variety of study programs, of which 15-45 CP will belong to their intended major.

To pursue Chemistry and Biotechnology (CBT) as a major, the following CHOICE modules (30 CP) are mandatory (m):

• CHOICE Module: General and Inorganic Chemistry (m, 7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: General Biochemistry (m, 7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to Biotechnology: Microbiology and Genetics (m, 7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: General Organic Chemistry (m, 7.5 CP)

In their second year, students take with a total of 45 CP from a selection of in-depth, discipline-specific CORE modules. Building on the introductory CHOICE modules and applying the methods and skills acquired so far (see 2.3.1), these modules aim to expand the students’ critical understanding of the key theories, principles, and methods in their major for the current state of knowledge and best practice.

To pursue CBT as a major, the following 45 CP of CORE modules need to be taken:

• CORE Module: Physical Chemistry (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Industrial Biotechnology (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Scientific Software and Databases (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Advanced Organic and Analytical Chemistry Lab (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Advanced Organic Chemistry (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Bioprocess Engineering (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Advanced Biotechnology Lab (m, 5 CP)
• CORE Module: Inorganic/Physical Chemistry Lab (m, 5 CP)

For students pursuing a minor in another study program (see below) the modules Scientific Software and Databases and Advanced Biotechnology Lab can be replaced by modules of the minor study program. The module Advanced Biotechnology Lab has to be then taken in the third year as a specialization module.

During their third year, students prepare and make decisions for their career after graduation. To explore available choices fitting individual interests, and to gain professional experience, students take a mandatory summer internship. The third year of studies allows CBT students to further sharpen their profile with a selection of discipline-specific, research-oriented specialization modules that can be combined to enhance their individual competences in the natural sciences, strategy development for novel research approaches or managerial capabilities. Furthermore, the third year also focuses on the responsibility of students beyond their discipline (see CONSTRUCTOR Track).

The fifth semester also opens a mobility window for a diverse range of study abroad options. Finally, the sixth semester is dedicated to fostering the students’ research experience by involving them in a Bachelor thesis project. 

To pursue CBT as a major, at least 10 of the 17.5 CP from the following major-specific Specialization Modules need to be taken:

• CBT Specialization: Organometallic Chemistry (me, 5 CP)
• CBT Specialization: Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (me, 5 CP)
• CBT Specialization: Biotechnology in Action (me, 5 CP)
• CBT Specialization: Fluorine in Organic Synthesis (me, 2.5 CP)

A maximum of 5 CP can be taken from major-related modules instead of major-specific Specialization Modules:

• MCCB Specialization: Advanced Organic Synthesis (me, 5 CP)    
• MCCB CORE: Medicinal Chemistry (me, 5 CP)

Students may also select 15 CP entirely from their major-specific Specialization Modules.

The CONSTRUCTOR Track is another important feature of Constructor University’s educational model. The Constructor Track runs orthogonal to the disciplinary CHOICE, CORE, and CAREER modules across all study years and is an integral part of all undergraduate study programs. It provides an intellectual tool kit for lifelong learning and encourages the use of diverse methodologies to approach cross-disciplinary problems. The CONSTRUCTOR track contains Methods, New Skills and German Language and Humanities modules.

Methods Modules
To pursue CBT as a major, the following Methods modules (20 CP) must be taken as mandatory modules:

• Methods Module: Mathematical Concepts for the Sciences (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Physics for the Natural Sciences (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Analytical Methods (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Plant Metabolism and Natural Products (me, 5 CP)

The Module Plant Metabolism and Natural Products can be replaced with a CORE module from another study program in order to pursue a minor.

New Skills Modules
This part of the curriculum constitutes an intellectual and conceptual tool kit that cultivates the capacity for a particular set of intellectual dispositions including curiosity, imagination, critical thought, and transferability. It nurtures a range of individual and societal capacities, such as self-reflection, argumentation and communication. Finally, it introduces students to the normative aspects of inquiry and research, including the norms governing sourcing, sharing, withholding materials and research results as well as others governing the responsibilities of expertise as well as the professional point of view.

All students are required to take the following modules in their second year:

• New Skills Module: Logic (m, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Causation and Correlation (m, 2.5 CP)

These modules will be offered with two different perspectives of which the students can choose. The module perspectives are independent modules which examine the topic from different point of views. Please see the module description for more details.

In the third year, students take three 5 CP modules that build upon previous modules in the track and are partially constituted by modules that are more closely linked to each student’s disciplinary field of study. The following module is mandatory for all students:

• New Skills Module: Argumentation, Data Visualization and Communication (m, 5 CP)

This module will also be offered with two different perspectives of which the students can choose.

In their fifth semester, students may choose between:

• New Skills Module: Linear Model/Matrices (me, 5 CP) and 
• New Skills Module: Complex Problem Solving (me, 5 CP)

The sixth semester also contains the choice between two modules, namely:

• New Skills Module: Agency, Leadership and Accountability (me, 5 CP) and
• New Skills Module: Community Impact Project (me, 5 CP)

The curriculum of the study program is outlined in the schematic study plan:

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