BS-Biotechnology (with) Health Informatics

Introduction

The Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (with) Health Informatics offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for the dynamic intersection of biotechnology and healthcare data management. This program equips students with a solid foundation in biotechnological principles, laboratory techniques, and applications, while also providing specialized knowledge in health informatics, which integrates health sciences, information technology, computer science and data science. With BS in Biotechnology (with) Health Informatics, students will gain insights into the management, analysis, and utilization of healthcare data to improve patient outcomes and drive innovation in healthcare delivery. With an emphasis on emerging technologies graduates will be well-positioned to pursue diverse career opportunities in biotechnology, computing science, healthcare informatics, pharmaceuticals, and related fields, where they can contribute to advancements at the forefront of biotechnological and healthcare innovation.

Study Scheme – Program Structure Framework (as per HEC Policy 2023)

1. General Education Cluster: University Core

HEC policy requires 30 credit hours of general education courses. However, there may be some flexibility to build this component over time in view of the operating constraints and requirements of the disciplinary accreditation bodies.

1. Major (Disciplinary) Requirements:

A major is the academic discipline or a specialized area of study in which the degree is offered. The minimum requirement to complete a single major is 72 credit hours. This is valid for all undergraduate/equivalent degree programs except for Associate Degrees.

1. Interdisciplinary/Allied Requirements:

Interdisciplinary courses are those offered in allied or complementary disciplines to reinforce the notion of interdisciplinary competency and to support horizon of the major.

1. Field Experience/Internship:

Field experience is a professional learning experience that offers meaningful and practical work experience related to a student’s field of study or career interest. It is an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom with practice in the field.

1. Capstone Project:

A capstone project allows students to bring together the concepts, principles and methods that they have learned in their course of study and to apply their knowledge and acquired competencies to address the real-world problems.

BS Biotechnology (with) Health Informatics – 4 YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM

Program’s Distinctive Features

• Develop a strong foundation in biotechnological principles and gain specialized knowledge in health informatics, which integrates health sciences, information science, computing, and data analytics.
• Becoming proficient in laboratory skills and experimental designs relevant to biotechnology, and also exploring how biotechnological methods can be integrated with informatics tools and technologies to address healthcare challenges.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills, preparing students to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams comprised of biotechnologists, IT managers, computing scientists, healthcare professionals, and researchers.
• Explore ethical, legal, and societal issues related to biotechnology and health informatics.
• Engage in experiential learning opportunities, including internships, research projects, and industry collaborations and prepare students for diverse career pathways in biotechnology, healthcare organizations, pharmaceuticals, research institutions, and regulatory agencies.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn to integrate biotechnological approaches with informatics tools to address healthcare challenges.
• Acquire proficiency in laboratory techniques relevant to biotechnology.
• Enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication skills, and also the skills for managing and analyzing healthcare data.
• Participate in hands-on learning experiences like internships, research projects, entrepreneurship projects and freelance projects.
• Prepare for diverse career opportunities in biotechnology, healthcare informatics, and pharmaceuticals.

Career prospects

• Business analysts in software houses (Healthcare IT solution sector) e.g., Soliton Technologies, CureMD
• Application scientist in Software house (lab automation sector) e.g., (Formulatrix)
• Hospital/medical college information management/integration
• Diagnostic laboratory management systems organizers
• Health IT consultants/information management
• Clinical data managers & clinical trial facility firms’ managers
• Health omics big data analytics/bioinformatics
• Pharmaceutical company’s R&D managers
• Academicians

Teaching Pedagogy

Teaching pedagogy for BS Biotechnology (with) Health Informatics fosters an environment that promotes active engagement, critical inquiry, and practical application of knowledge. Faculty members employ diverse methods such as hands-on experiments, inquiry-based learning, technology integration, and collaborative projects to enhance student understanding. A variety of assessment strategies are utilized to gauge comprehension and provide feedback while encouraging reflection on learning experiences by reflective practices. Ultimately, effective teaching pedagogy by our faculty aims to inspire curiosity, cultivate critical thinking skills, and prepare students for success in scientific inquiry and application.

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum 45% marks in Intermediate (Pre-Medical) / A-Level or equivalent.

BS Biotechnology (with) Health Informatics – 4 YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM