Chemistry and Biotechnology

Year 1

The first year of the CBT study program is dedicated to building on and expanding students' previous qualifications through disciplinary education. Students have the opportunity to select introductory modules totaling 45 credit points (CP) from the CHOICE area of various study programs, with 15-30 CP being from their chosen major. If they wish to change their major, they can do so at the start of the second year of studies if they have completed the corresponding modules of their intended study program in the first year.

In the first year of study, CBT students are required to take the following discipline-specific CHOICE modules:

• CHOICE Module: General Biochemistry (7.5 CP)
  Students gain a comprehensive understanding of biochemistry and learn how to apply and analyze basic biochemistry concepts through hands-on laboratory work.
• CHOICE Module: General and Inorganic Chemistry (7.5 CP)
  Students are introduced to general and inorganic chemistry, covering topics such as chemical foundations, types of chemical reactions, bonding, acid-base equilibria, and laboratory techniques.
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to Biotechnology (7.5 CP)
  Students learn about the fundamentals of microbiology, focusing on cell structure, genetics, molecular biology, and genetic engineering. The module also includes an introduction to metabolism, enzymes, and metabolic engineering.
• CHOICE Module: General Organic Chemistry (7.5 CP)
  Students are introduced to organic chemistry, including general reactivity patterns, resonance, conjugation, and aromaticity. The module covers topics such as carbonyl additions, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, substitution, elimination, and addition reactions.

Year 2

In their second year, students enrolled in the CBT program must take 45 credit points for in-depth, discipline-specific CORE modules. These modules aim to deepen the student's understanding of the current state of knowledge and best practices in their major and help them critically evaluate key theories, principles, and methods.

The following 45 credit points of CORE modules must be completed by CBT students:

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

Minor Option

In addition to the required CORE modules, CBT students have the opportunity to pursue a minor in another field of study by taking mandatory CHOICE modules (15 CP) in the first year and replacing the mandatory elective CBT CORE modules "Scientific Software and Databases" and “Advanced Biotechnology Lab” and the mandatory elective METHODS module “Plant Metabolism and Natural Products” in the second year (15 CP in total) with the CORE or Specialization modules from the desired minor program.

The “Advanced Biotechnology Lab” must be completed in the third year for students pursuing the minor option. This minor will be highlighted in their transcripts and provide them with a broader knowledge base and interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, as well as help them develop an individual academic and professional profile that aligns with their strengths and interests.

Year 3

As they enter their third year, CBT students embark on a crucial stage in their academic journey, where they begin to prepare for their post-graduation careers. Students participate in a mandatory summer internship program to broaden their horizons and gain valuable hands-on experience. The third year also offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in their chosen field by selecting specialized modules while encouraging them to consider the larger responsibilities they will assume beyond their specific discipline.

The fifth semester provides CBT students with a window of opportunity to broaden their cultural and academic perspectives through diverse study-abroad options. Finally, in the sixth semester, students can further develop their research skills by completing a comprehensive Bachelor thesis project.

In order to further their expertise, CBT students are able to choose from four of the following specialized modules:

• Specialization: Advanced Organic Synthesis (from MCCB) (5 CP)
• Specialization: Organometallic Chemistry (5 CP)
• Specialization: Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (5 CP)
• Specialization: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technology (5 CP)
• CORE MCCB: Medicinal Chemistry (5 CP)
• CORE EES: Environmental Science (7.5 CP)*

*Please note that due to the size of the Environmental Science module, students who choose to take this module may exceed the typical workload of 30 CP per semester.

The CONSTRUCTOR Track

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
Methods and skills such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of the Methods area in their curriculum. The modules that are specifically assigned to each study programs equip students with transferable academic skills. They convey and practice specific methods that are indispensable for each students’ chosen study program. Students are required to take 20 CP in the Methods area. The size of all Methods modules is 5 CP.

To pursue CBT as a major, the following Methods modules (20 CP) need to 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 Metabolites and Natural Products (m, 5 CP)

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. Students in this study program are required to take the following modules in their second and third year:

• New Skills Module: Logic (m, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Causation and Correlation (m, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Argumentation, Data Visualization and Communication (m, 5 CP)

Furthermore, they must choose either

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

as well one of the following modules:

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

German Language and Humanities Modules 
German language abilities foster students’ intercultural awareness and enhance their employability in their host country. They are also beneficial for securing mandatory internships (between the 2nd and 3rd year) in German companies and academic institutions. Constructor University supports its students in acquiring basic as well as advanced German skills in the first year of the Constructor Track. Non-native speakers of German are encouraged to take 2 German modules (2.5 CP each), but are not obliged to do so. Native speakers and other students not taking advantage of this offering take alternative modules in Humanities in each of the first two semesters.