Introduction to Biotechnology
Biotechnology literally means the application of life sciences to industrial processes. This means that the principles of science learned in the classroom and in the laboratory are used by industry to yield products that can benefit the ultimate consumer and provide a healthy profit to businesses.

Biotechnology is a new world for processes that have been around for centuries. These processes include brewing, cheese-making, and plant and animal breeding. The recent advent of recombinant DNA techniques has meant that these processes can be made to work better and faster. These aspect of biotechnology will have a great impact on society and its economic structure in the future. These recombinant techniques allow the reshaping of the very essence of life in microorganisms, plants, and animals to improve existing agricultural products or to create new and unique ones.

The majority of the Thai people are involved in agriculture and associated industries. Because biotechnology is closely related to the agricultural sector, it has a big impact on the lives of most Thais. Biotechnology can provide agriculture with a variety of useful agents, from soil innoculents to veterinary products and possibly also aquaculture and mariculture products. It is starting to supplement traditional genetic methods for the development of new or improved plant and animal strains for conventional agriculture to use. It also provides the food industry with ingredients like starter cultures and enzyme and, increasingly, is involved directly in food processing.

In the service industries biotechnology plays a major role in both aqueous and solid waste treatment, waste valorization and water purification.

Because Assumption University is aware of the importance of biotechnology for the development of Thailand and all of the Southeast Asia it offers the following Bachelor degree courses:

1. Agro Biotechnology
2. Food Biotechnology

These are directly involved with applying knowledge in the biosciences to the food processing and agriculture industries. In the future, the Faculty of Biotechnology will diversify its Bachelor degree programs to provide further benefits to both students and Thai society. These other areas includes:

1. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
2. Natural Resources and Environmental Conversion Biotechnology
3. Aquaculture
4. Industrial Microbiology
5. Bio-Engineering

Objectives: Agro Biotechnology Program

1. To provide the agricultural industry and the nation with highly trained professionals who are able to apply basic and applied scientific principles to the production of safe and nutritious basic food communities to be further processed into finished foods. Graduates of this program will also be morally sound, committed to acting in a just manner, and open to further spiritual and intellectual growth. They will be able to assume leaderships roles in the further development of the nation.
2. To provide graduates with sufficient scientific knowledge to pursue post-graduate studies and research.
3. To design and develop efficient and environmentally safe agricultural products and processes as well as conducting basic research for the agricultural industry.
4. To dissemminate knowledge of biotechnology in Agriculture through outreach to the community by conducting seminars and workshops, by providing advice to the community, and through scientific publications.

Objectives: Food Technology Program

1. To provide the processing industry and the nation with highly trained professionals who are able to apply basic and applied scientific principles to improving the process of converting raw agricultural materials into finished food in a safe and nutritious manner. Graduates of this program will also be morally sound, committed to acting in a just manner, and open to further spiritual and intellectual growth. They will be able to assume leadership roles in the further development of the nation.
2. To provide graduates with sufficient scientific knowledge to pursue post-graduate studies and research.
3. To design and develop efficient, sanitary, and environmentally safe food processes as well as conduction basic for the food industry.
4. To disseminate knowledge of Food Science and Technology Through outreach to the community by conducting seminars and workshops, by providing advice to the community, and through scientific publications.

Department	Food Technology	Agro-Industry
Basic Courses	36	36
Core Courses	53	53
Major Required Courses	38	42
Major Elective Courses	12	9
Fee Elective Courses	3	3
Total	142	143

For further information, contact:
Faculty of Biotechnology (B.S.) Assumption University, Thailand
HuaMark Campus
Queen's Tower (Q) Floor 9
Direcline : (662) 719-2700 Tel. (662) 3004543-62 ext. 3796
Fax. (662) 3004543-62 ext. 3792
Internet: www.biotech.au.edu
Email: biotech@au.edu or abac@au.edu