The College of Life Science and Biotechnology was establish grounded on the vision that Yonsei University will become one of the forefronts of education and research in the fields of Life Science, Biotechnology and Bio-Medical Science. Our main objectives, accordingly, are, firstly, to educate world-class research personels with a global mentality, secondly, to reinforce educational-industrial ties to enhance research efficiency, and lastly, to maximize proficiency of adding industrial value to the research products. As a necessity, a practical system nurturing fusion between relevant studies is required; a system satisfying the needs for a thorough understanding in the principles of life science as well as biotechnology and relevant fusion technology. Therefore, a future oriented combined education system, an Undergrad/Graduate program cooperated both by life science and applied biotechnology areas, is necessary to promote a synergy in the fields of education and research.

The year of 2008, The College of Life Science and Biotechnology is newly introduced to Yonsei University, founded by three departments related to Life Science: Department of Biology, Department of Biochemistry to Biotechnology: the Department ofBiotechnology. The Department of Biology was founded within The College of Science in the 1949. The establishment of the Department of Biochemistry, and the Department of Food Engineering was followed in 1969 at College of Science and Engineering. Both department were branched off in 1977 -the former joined the College of Science, and the latter was separated to the College of Engineering. In 1992, however, three departments cooperatively played a key role in establishing Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, to boost trilateral cooperation in research and education. The Department of Food Engineering was renamed into the Department of Biotechnology in 1997. In the year of 2007, The Department of Biology and Biochemistry cooperatively recruited new students to an integrated program, called the Schoolof Life Science. Since 2004, these three departments are being granted governmental aid up to a total of $25.5 billion by NURI program of The Ministry of Education and Human Resources. In addition, the Biomolecular Function Research Initiative of which three departments had jointly applied for the Brain Korea 21 (BK21) program hosted by The Ministry of Education and Human Resource has also been selected as to produce outstanding graduates.

The College of Life Science and Biotechnology offers one school, The School of Life Science and biotechnology, which is also consist of three departments -Department of Biology, Department of Biochemistry and the Department of Biotechnology. A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is conferred to graduates who have finished their coursework in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, whereas A Bachelor of Engineering will be awarded to graduates from the Department of Biotechnology. Our undergraduate degree program offers as much flexibility as possible so that the student will be able to design their own coursework. Not only will undergrads be able to choose a double major within the College, but they will also be allowed to pick an additional major regardless of their field of interest as well. The distinctive nature of our crossover major program is believed to confer an educational fusion and a double degree, B.S. in Science and B.S. in engineering simultaneously- between science and engineering. The College of Life Science and Biotechnology also offers Problem Based Learning (PBL), a Creative Research Program, and Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea (ABEEK) program, which will add creativity to the student’s education. The Creative Research Program, for example, is designed to provide students with unlimited opportunitiesto freely experience research at any three departments. Students will be given the chances to freely utilize state-of-the-art research facilities and equipments to maximize their creativity.

The College of Life Science and Biotechnology at Yonsei University is willing tobecome one of the prestigious colleges in the world, reinforced by its outstanding education program as well as ground-breaking research results. The future of Life Science and Biotechnology themselves may be shaped by us.