The central basis of environmental biotechnology is the science of microbial ecology -- the characterization of communities of micro-organisms in terms of structure, function, and interaction with the environment. Courses in molecular and cell biology, microbiology and microbial ecology are all fundamental to the science. As environmental biotechnology often involves the engineering of microbes, courses in genetics, genetic engineering and recombinant DNA techniques are also helpful. Additional courses can include computational biology and statistics, immunology and bioinformatics, the intersection of biology and computer science for the purpose of cataloging gene sequences.
A principal application of environmental biotechnology is the removal of pollutants from water, soil, sediment and sludge. A comprehensive understanding of both civil and environmental engineering is developed through courses in environmental systems, urban infrastructure, urban water systems, water quality engineering and modeling, waste and wastewater treatment, pollution control and monitoring and hazardous waste site remediation. Courses in sustainability fall within the engineering realm.
Traditional approaches to wastewater treatment rely on oxidizing reactions to remove electrons from harmful molecules and transfer to benign ones. More recently, environmental engineers have utilized bacteria for removing harmful contaminants using reducing reactions. Coursework in organic chemistry, biochemistry and aquatic chemistry is essential for understanding these oxidation and reduction reactions, the fundamental processes of life the form a significant basis of environmental biotechnology. Additional courses in mathematics, particularly calculus, statistics and physics also provide an excellent foundation for all aspects environmental biotechnology.
Fundamental concepts in biotechnology put together these pieces of microbiology, chemistry and environmental engineering in courses such as microbial biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, analytical biotechnology, food biotechnology, contaminated land bio-remediation, biological treatment processes, biogas production and composting, biofilm and reactor kinetics, leachates formation and treatment and soil remediation.