The Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology aims to promote human welfare by applying the knowledge and understanding about the life processes of living organisms and their principles. It is an interdisciplinary field of study, which includes biology, chemistry, physics, and other basic sciences. The program develops a better understanding and a deeper knowledge of conventional medicine and pharmaceutics, which can also lead to better applications and the education of skills and knowledge that are learned in those areas. Bioscience and biotechnology are frontier fields that enhance human welfare by understanding and applying the underlying phenomena of living organisms. They are considered innovative next generation technologies, which will be able to solve mankind's problems, such as incurable diseases, food shortages, and environmental pollution. By combining the knowledge of natural sciences, which include chemistry, biology, and physics with that the knowledge from applied sciences and technology, such as medicine, pharmacology, agronomy, and engineering, those problems can be solved. The department emphasizes enhancing their research levels in order to be the world's best especially in regards the development of new therapeutic agents for incurable diseases and the genetic improvement/engineering of economic plants for food and the environment. The Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology also focuses on fostering highly qualified experts who can cope with the rapid progress in these areas. It is highly recommended that the applicants to this major have the willingness to learn the broad spectrum of natural science and engineering, which includes the creativity to pursue new frontiers as well as the readiness to pursue persistent endeavors. For freshmen, the curriculum provides basic training in general chemistry and biology, and serves as an introduction to each specific major as well as provide the fundamentals of natural product chemistry, molecular biology, and plant genetics and breeding. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors receive specialized education along with intensive experiments in various fields of bioscience and biotechnology. These fields include genetic engineering, cell biology, cell technology, plant tissue cultures, biochemical engineering, fermentation, and food technology.