Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology (AMBT) is a life sciences degree for students who wish to pursue opportunities in biotechnology, human health, animal health, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability.
SCIENCE IS IN OUR GENES
Inside the classroom, you will develop transferable skills in chemistry, biology, and genetics. You will apply these abilities outside the classroom during your independent research project while receiving mentorship by exceptional scientists. After completion of your research, you will publicly communicate your findings during a sponsored research symposium.
Our research experience allows you to develop employable skills, design experiments, troubleshoot, and draw conclusions from your observations. During this process, you will develop critical thinking skills useful in any career. Whether you are interested in human health, animal health, plant biology, or genetics, the research project develops you as a scientist. You will be well prepared for a rewarding life science career.
CAREERS
An AMBT degree will prepare you for opportunities in health care, animal care, and plant science careers in addition to a variety of job opportunities in research and development in the private sector, such as:
“I now know that I would rather be a scientist above all else, and this realization would not be possible without the incredible mentors or opportunities that UK provided me.”
Gretchen Ruschman
UK graduate majoring in AMBT and graduate student at the University of Cambridge
AFE 100 - ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT
AFE 100
**UK Core - Community, Culture and Citizen**
3 credit hours
How do farmers in Kentucky impact families in California? How can the fashion industry curb the amount of plastic in our oceans? How does fast food affect sea life in the Gulf of Mexico? Whether we realize it or not, each of us has a relationship with agriculture, food and the environment. From race and gender, diet and lifestyles, tourism and evolving technologies, this course encourages you to recognize and think critically about the interconnected systems that affect all human life. By addressing these challenges, you will develop a greater appreciation for how you can positively impact our planet.
Prereq: This course is open to students enrolled in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment or those in the Martin- Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Residential College's Belle C. Gunn Living Learning Program. Freshman only in Fall semesters and transfer students only in Spring semesters.
UK Core - Comp. & Comm. I
3
CHE 105
4
CHE 105 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I
CHE 105
**UK Core - Natural, Physical and Math**
Must be taken with CHE 111 to satisfy UK Core.
4 credit hours
A study of chemical principles and their application to pure and mixed substances. Not open to students who have already completed both CHE 109 and CHE 110.
Prereq: Math ACT of 25 or above, C or better in MA 110, or equivalent math placement scores.
CHE 111
1
CHE 111 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
CHE 111
**UK Core - Natural, Physical and Math**
Must be taken with CHE 105 to satisfy UK Core.
1 credit hours
A laboratory course, to accompany CHE 105 or CHE 110, dealing with the properties of chemical substances and providing an introduction to quantitative chemical analysis.
Prereq or coreq: CHE 105 or CHE 110.
Spring Semester
15 Credit Hours
CHE 107
3
CHE 107 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY II
CHE 107
3 credit hours
A continuation of CHE 105. A study of the principles of chemistry and their application to elements and compounds.
Prereq: CHE 105 or CHE 110 (with a C or better).
CHE 113
2
CHE 113 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY
CHE 113
2 credit hours
A laboratory course, to accompany CHE 107, emphasizing qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis.
Prereq: CHE 111. Prereq or coreq: CHE 107.
ABT 120
3
ABT 120 - GENETICS AND SOCIETY
ABT 120
**UK Core - Natural, Physical and Math**
3 credit hours
This course is designed for science and non-science majors, giving students an understanding of how genetics influences and impacts our social fabric on a daily basis, and equipping students with a sufficient understanding to participate in the policy debates that are impacting our lives. The course will introduce students to the basic concepts of genetics and to the modern methodologies of molecular genetics. The course will also educate students in the process of scientific discovery and empower students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate the present and future impact of genetics on society. While the course is intended for first semester freshmen, students at all class standings are welcome to enroll.
BIO 148
3
BIO 148 - INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I
BIO 148
3 credit hours
BIO 148 introduces the student to the biological mechanisms operating at the molecular, cellular, and population level that contribute to the origin, maintenance, and evolution of biodiversity including the origins and history of the evolutionary process. Course material is presented within a phylogenetic context, emphasizing the shared history of all living organisms on earth through common ancestry. The first semester of an integrated one-year sequence (BIO 148 and BIO 152).
Prereq: Math ACT 25 or Math SAT 590 or HS GPA of 3.6 or MA 109 or BIO 155 grade of B or better, or permission of instructor.
UK Core - Comp. & Comm. II
3
Elective
1
Total Sophomore Year Credit Hours
: 29
Fall Semester
14 Credit Hours
CHE 230
3
CHE 230 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
CHE 230
3 credit hours
Fundamental principles and theories of organic chemistry.
Prereq: CHE 107 and CHE 113.
CHE 231
1
CHE 231 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
CHE 231
1 credit hours
Laboratory for CHE 230 or CHE 236.
Prereq: CHE 113; prereq or concur, CHE 230 or CHE 236.
BIO 152
3
BIO 152 - INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II
BIO 152
3 credit hours
The second semester of an integrated one-year sequence (BIO 148 and 152) that is designed to develop understanding and appreciation for the biocomplexity of multicellular eukaryotes, with emphasis on animals and terrestrial plants. Structure and function relationships will be explored at many levels of organization.
Prereq: C or better in BIO 148 or permission of instructor, concurrent or previous enrollment in CHE 105 or CHE 110.
UK Core - Arts and Creativity
3
ABT 201
1
ABT 201 - SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
ABT 201
*Students must complete Composition and Communication I and II (or equivalent) plus have 30 earned credit hours before enrolling in ABT 201.
1 credit hours
A course designed to acquaint students with the common experimental methods used in agricultural biotechnology. Students will be presented with several case studies which demonstrate basic scientific reasoning and experimental strategies. The students will then use their understanding of basic scientific methods and agricultural systems to critically evaluate work from the current scientific literature. Each student will be required to provide a written and oral evaluation of a research project in some aspect of agricultural biotechnology. The class will provide the students with the basic skills needed for preparing their own research proposals. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK.
Prereq: ABT 101 and enrollment in the Agricultural Biotechnology degree program or consent of instructor.
Elective
3
Spring Semester
15 Credit Hours
CHE 232
3
CHE 232 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
CHE 232
3 credit hours
A continuation of CHE 230.
Prereq: CHE 230 with grade C or above.
CHE 233
1
CHE 233 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
CHE 233
1 credit hours
Laboratory for CHE 232.
Prereq: CHE 231; pereq or concur: CHE 232.
ABT 394
1
ABT 394 - INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY PRACTICES
ABT 394
1 credit hours
An experiential education internship focusing on introducing students to the culture and activities of a science lab without the pressure or expectation of research productivity. Students will gain experience and confidence with important laboratory activities such as (but not limited to) maintaining clean equipment, media preparation, biological organism maintenance, and data organization and analysis. While students enrolled in this course are encouraged to participate in research if possible, the focus is to learn effective laboratory citizenship and familiarity with a new scientific practice.
Prereq: Major standing in the Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology program.
UK Core - Social Sciences
3
UK Core - Humanities
3
STA 296 or BST 230
3
Elective
1
Total Junior Year Credit Hours
: 32
Fall Semester
16 Credit Hours
PHY 211
5
PHY 211 - GENERAL PHYSICS
PHY 211
5 credit hours
First part of a two-semester survey of classical and modern physics, focusing on the motion of solids and fluids as governed by Newton's Laws and by the conservation laws of energy, momentum, and angular momentum. Lecture, two hours; recitation, two hours; laboratory, two hours. Credit is not given to students who already have credit for PHY 231 and 241.
Prereq: A working knowledge of algebra as obtainable in MA 109 or MA 110 or MA 112, or an ACT math score of 25 or above, or an SAT math score of 590 or above, or an SAT2016 math score of 610 or above.
ABT 360
3
ABT 360 - GENETICS
ABT 360
3 credit hours
The basic principles of heredity as currently understood from evidence accumulated in classical, cytogenetic, molecular, and squantitative genetic experiments. Emphasis is placed on a thorough understanding of genetic principles and the relationship of genetics to all biological disciplines.
Prereq: BIO 148, BIO 152 and CHE 105 or consent of instructor.
ABT 301
2
ABT 301 - WRITING AND PRESENTATIONS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES
ABT 301
2 credit hours
The goals of this course are to expose students to current scientific literature in the life sciences, develop skills for the evaluation of primary research literature and presentations, prepare students to write an independent research proposal, and develop oral communication skills. Student participation is a key component of activities, and students are required to provide both oral and written evaluations of research publications, presentations, and proposals. A major part of the course involves students developing, writing, and presenting an independent research proposal in coordination with a research mentor. This course should be taken prior to ABT 395 or ABT 399, and students must identify a research mentor early during the semester. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK.
Prereq: Agricultural Biotechnology major or consent of instructor.
UK Core - Global Dynamics
3
Specialty Support
3
Spring Semester
16 Credit Hours
PHY 213
5
PHY 213 - GENERAL PHYSICS
PHY 213
5 credit hours
Continuation of PHY 211, covering electrostatics, de circuits, magnetism, Maxwell's Equations, electromagnetic radiation, light and some modern physics. Lecture, two hours; recitation, two hours; laboratory, two hours. Credit is not given to students who already have credit for PHY 232 and 242.
Prereq: PHY 211 or equivalent.
BIO 308
3
BIO 308 - GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
BIO 308
3 credit hours
Fundamental concepts of microbiology. The nutrition, physiology, genetics, molecular biology of microorganisms, and their roles in nature and in infection and immunity will be studied.
Prereq: BIO 304 OR ABT 360 OR ENT 360 AND CHE 230 OR CHE 236.
BIO 309
2
BIO 309 - MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
BIO 309
2 credit hours
This course includes laboratory exercises that are designed to illustrate processes central to microbiology and to familiarize students with basic skills required for working with microorganisms in a safe environment. Students will become familiar with isolating, culturing, and identifying microorganisms, and with molecular techniques used to study and manipulate microbes.
Prereq: Concurrent or prior enrollment in BIO 308 OR BIO 208, AND BIO 304 OR ABT 360 OR ENT 360, AND CHE 230 OR CHE 236; or consent of Instructor.
BCH 401G
3
BCH 401G - FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY
BCH 401G
3 credit hours
Descriptive chemistry of amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Discussion of structure and function; metabolism and bioenergetics; and biological information flow. At the undergraduate level, understanding is demonstrated through hour examinations; at the graduate level, understanding is demonstrated through hour examinations and a brief paper. Lecture, three hours; one optional conference.
Prereq: CHE 107, CHE 232 (or CHE 236) and BIO 152 or equivalent.
Specialty Support
3
Total Senior Year Credit Hours
: 28
Fall Semester
16 Credit Hours
ABT 395
3
ABT 395 - INDEPENDENT STUDY IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
ABT 395
3 credit hours
Independent research in biotechnology under the supervision of a research mentor. In addition to developing a written research report, students will deliver their oral research presentations during a symposium at the end of the semester.
Prereq: Major standing in the Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology program, submission of a learning contract, and consent of instructor.
ABT 495
4
ABT 495 - EXPERIMENTAL METHODS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
ABT 495
4 credit hours
A laboratory techniques course designed to give students the technical skills and understanding necessary to critically examine biological systems at the molecular level. The course will emphasize the principles of chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology as applied to a model system for laboratory investigations. Laboratory, nine hours per week.
Prereq: ABT/ENT360 or BIO304, Agricultural Biotechnology major or consent of instructor
Specialty Support
3
Specialty Support
3
Specialty Support
3
Spring Semester
12 Credit Hours
ABT 460
3
ABT 460 - INTRODUCTION TO MOLECULAR GENETICS
ABT 460
3 credit hours
Molecular genetics is the study of the biochemical basis of heredity and focuses on the structure and expression of DNA at the molecular and cellular level. The course will provide a detailed understanding of the biochemical events involved in genome replication, prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription, and translation of DNA, as well as RNA processing, recombination and the theoretical underpinnings of genetic engineering.
Prereq: ABT/ENT 360 or BIO304 or consent of instructor.
ABT 461G
3
ABT 461G - INTRODUCTION TO POPULATION GENETICS
ABT 461G
3 credit hours
This survey course examines the population dynamics and equlibria of genes in nuclei, chloroplasts and mitochondria. Emphasis will be on biological relevance (in plants, animals, and micro-organisms), but some theoretical derivations will also be introduced.
Prereq: ABT 360 (or equivalent) and one course in probability/statistics.
Specialty Support
3
Specialty Support
3
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Throughout their academic journey, students in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment are paired with an academic advisor who truly cares about their success. Academic advisors help with course registration and so much more. With the mission of putting students first, academic advisors serve students as mentors, navigators, advocates, and pillars of support.
Career and Professional Development Mentors
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is at the forefront of growing tomorrow’s workforce. In addition to academic advisors, each student is paired with a career and professional development mentor to help guide them on the journey of turning their passions into careers. Each semester, students meet with their CPD mentors to discuss career goals, reflect on their development of essential employability skills and identify opportunities for further growth.
Scholarships
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has one of the largest college-based scholarship programs at UK. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the college awarded over $1.2 million to our students.
To be considered for a scholarship from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, you must apply by:
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Living Learning Program (CAFE LLP) is open to all first-semester freshmen at the University of Kentucky.
Students who participate in an LLP have shown increased retention and graduation rates and improved academic performance. Participating in the college’s LLP includes access to mentorship opportunities, networking with peers, LLP-only events, and LLP-only sections in the college’s introductory course about agriculture and related disciplines.
Our college has more than 30 student organizations across a variety of subjects and interests. Whether you're interested in Greek life, pre-veterinary medicine, equestrian events, agribusiness, beekeeping, tractor-pulling, helping others, or much more, you'll find your place with a student organization.
Learn more about all 600+ student organizations at the University of Kentucky through BBNvolved, a website to help students get connected and involved across campus.
Pre-Professional Advising
For students planning to attend professional schools after graduation, our pre-professional advisors can assist with scheduling appropriate courses, connecting with student organizations, identifying internships and shadowing opportunities, and preparing for admission tests and applications. Pre-professional advising is available in the following areas:
For highly motivated students, the opportunity exists to integrate up to 12 credit hours of undergraduate and graduate coursework. Students will save time and money by receiving dual credit for select courses taken during their senior year of undergraduate studies. Students interested in pursuing this path to a graduate degree should consult with their academic advisor.
Imagine Your Future
Medical Scientists
Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$100,890
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
119,000
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
11,600
new jobs (average)
Imagine Your Future
Pharmacists
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications and provide information to patients about the drugs and their use.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$136,030
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
334,200
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
8,700
new jobs (average)
Imagine Your Future
Physicians and Surgeons
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Number of Jobs
816,900
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
24,600
new jobs (average)
Imagine Your Future
Veterinarians
Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$119,100
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
89,500
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
17,700
new jobs (average)
Contact
Wayne Centers
Director of Student Relations
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment
