Biotechnology Degree Programs

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Ever since the introduction of genetic engineering in the 1970s, biologists have increasingly implemented chemistry, math, and physics to acquire an in-depth knowledge of how living cells create substances at the molecular level. Biotechnology emerged from that research.

Biotechnology uses living systems to create various products that improve lives and the health of the planet. Biotechnologists efficiently manufacture medicine, food, and even fuel, among other products, through the manipulation of living cells and components of cells.

Thanks to biotechnology, traditional industries such as fermentation and food processing have undergone significant changes in the last few decades. For example, technologies now exist that change the way people create and work with antibiotics, hormones, energy and food sources, and waste material processing.

People do not have to look far to see the effects of biotechnology in their everyday lives. It covers numerous disciplines, including biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. One of the primary use cases for biotechnology is the development of new medications. Other uses include biofuels, modified plants, and the production of chemicals, food, paper, and textiles.

The biotechnology field has many opportunities for specialization, including in the following areas:

Students and young professionals wishing to join the biotechnology industry have many academic options. Many biotechnology programs in the United States offer the above specialties for aspiring biotechnologists.

Depending on each student’s career path, aspirations, professional experience, academic background, and time-commitment, students can choose to enroll in a bachelor’s or master’s program in biotechnology that can be completed online, on-campus, or as a hybrid of both—usually referred to as “blended.” More seasoned professionals can opt for a graduate certificate.

Read on to explore various programs in biotechnology as well as three well-known professors in the field.

The George Washington University (Health Sciences)
Online MSHS - Immunohematology & Biotechnology
Online BSHS - Biomedical Informatics
Online MSHS - Biomedical Informatics
Johns Hopkins University (AAP)
MS - Biotechnology
MS - Individualized Genomics & Health
MS - Bioinformatics
*sponsored
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Professors to Know at Schools with Biotech Programs

Thomas Koval – Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Koval currently teaches advanced cell biology sections I and II and radiation biology in the master of science in biotechnology program at Johns Hopkins University. He is also the program coordinator for the biotechnology master’s program and oversees the independent research project course. Some of his previous employers include Hahnemann Medical College, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Mayo Clinic. In 2006, the Krieger School awarded Dr. Koval an excellence in teaching award. Dr. Koval earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Pennsylvania State University and his doctorate in cell, molecular, and radiation biology from Ohio State University. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in biophysics and bioengineering.

Stephen Miller – University of Maryland Baltimore County

Dr. Miller is an associate professor and program director of the graduate biotechnology program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He teaches a course in molecular and cell biology. His primary research area is the laboratory study of green algae in the contexts of fundamental biological processes and biotechnology. The first area covers the growth and development of living organisms and the second focuses on bioremediation and biofuels platforms. Dr. Miller has been a faculty member of the University of Maryland Baltimore County for the last 15 years. He earned his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve University.

List of Biotechnology Schools

Filter by state :
School City State Website grads (2018)
Seminole State College of Florida Sanford Florida www.seminolestate.edu 206
University of Houston Houston Texas www.uh.edu 67
Portland Community College Portland Oregon www.pcc.edu 53
University of California-Davis Davis California www.ucdavis.edu 52
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester New York www.rit.edu 51
Georgetown University Washington District of Columbia www.georgetown.edu 48
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania www.upenn.edu 45
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona California www.cpp.edu 43
Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick New Jersey newbrunswick.rutgers.edu 43
Brigham Young University-Provo Provo Utah www.byu.edu 42
California State University-San Marcos San Marcos California www.csusm.edu 42
Northeastern University Lifelong Learning Network Boston Massachusetts www.northeastern.edu/learnforlife 40
Northwestern University Evanston Illinois www.northwestern.edu 40
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Indiana www.ivytech.edu 39
Columbia University in the City of New York New York New York www.columbia.edu 36
University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky www.uky.edu 36
Rush University Chicago Illinois www.rushu.rush.edu 34
University of Central Florida Orlando Florida www.ucf.edu 33
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh North Carolina www.ncsu.edu 32
Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins Colorado www.colostate.edu 31
Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington Indiana www.indiana.edu 31
University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Alabama www.uab.edu 31
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Ponce Puerto Rico www.pucpr.edu 30
Brown University Providence Rhode Island www.brown.edu 29
SUNY Broome Community College Binghamton New York www.sunybroome.edu 27
University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston Texas www.uhcl.edu 26
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill New York www.cobleskill.edu 26
Worcester State University Worcester Massachusetts www.worcester.edu 25
James Madison University Harrisonburg Virginia www.jmu.edu 24
Endicott College Beverly Massachusetts www.endicott.edu 23
University at Buffalo Buffalo New York www.buffalo.edu 23
Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts www.harvard.edu 22
University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Illinois www.uic.edu 22
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station Texas www.tamu.edu 21
Tulsa Community College Tulsa Oklahoma www.tulsacc.edu 21
Utah Valley University Orem Utah www.uvu.edu 21
Boston University Boston Massachusetts www.bu.edu 20
California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo California www.csuci.edu 18
Syracuse University Syracuse New York www.syracuse.edu 18
University of California-Irvine Irvine California www.uci.edu 18
University of Georgia Athens Georgia www.uga.edu 18
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Colorado www.ucdenver.edu 17
Alamance Community College Graham North Carolina www.alamancecc.edu 17
Kent State University at Kent Kent Ohio www.kent.edu 17
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Wisconsin www.wisc.edu 17
Bunker Hill Community College Boston Massachusetts www.bhcc.mass.edu 16
Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon oregonstate.edu 16
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Mayaguez Puerto Rico www.uprm.edu 16
Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg Maryland www.msmary.edu 15
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse New York www.esf.edu 15
University of South Florida-Main Campus Tampa Florida www.usf.edu 15
Marywood University Scranton Pennsylvania www.marywood.edu 14
Gaston College Dallas North Carolina www.gaston.edu 14
New York University New York New York www.nyu.edu 14
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City South Dakota www.sdsmt.edu 14
Brandeis University Waltham Massachusetts www.brandeis.edu 13
Temple University Philadelphia Pennsylvania www.temple.edu 13
University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha Nebraska www.unomaha.edu 13
University of Nevada-Reno Reno Nevada www.unr.edu 13
Ball State University Muncie Indiana www.bsu.edu 12
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Arecibo Puerto Rico www.arecibo.inter.edu 12
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama Guayama Puerto Rico www.guayama.inter.edu 12
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park Pennsylvania www.psu.edu 12
Roosevelt University Chicago Illinois www.roosevelt.edu 12
University of San Francisco San Francisco California www.usfca.edu 12
Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Florida www.fgcu.edu 11
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota Bradenton Florida www.scf.edu 11
The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Texas www.utdallas.edu 11
University of Arizona Tucson Arizona www.arizona.edu 11
University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Hawaii manoa.hawaii.edu 11
University of Houston-Downtown Houston Texas www.uhd.edu 11
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach California www.csulb.edu 10
Community College of Rhode Island Warwick Rhode Island www.ccri.edu 10
Erie Community College Buffalo New York www.ecc.edu 10
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indianapolis Indiana www.iupui.edu 10
Lansing Community College Lansing Michigan www.lcc.edu 10
Quinsigamond Community College Worcester Massachusetts www.qcc.edu 10
Texas Tech University Lubbock Texas www.ttu.edu 10
University of New Hampshire at Manchester Manchester New Hampshire manchester.unh.edu 10
Kean University Union New Jersey www.kean.edu 9
Pitt Community College Winterville North Carolina www.pittcc.edu 9
South Dakota State University Brookings South Dakota www.sdstate.edu 9
St John's University-New York Queens New York www.stjohns.edu 9
The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Texas www.utsa.edu 9
Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Santurce Puerto Rico www.sagrado.edu 9
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Massachusetts www.umass.edu 9
West Virginia State University Institute West Virginia www.wvstateu.edu 9
William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne New Jersey www.wpunj.edu 9
North Central State College Mansfield Ohio www.ncstatecollege.edu 8
North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo North Dakota www.ndsu.edu 8
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Gurabo Puerto Rico ut.suagm.edu 8
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Mercedita Puerto Rico ponce.inter.edu 8
California State University-East Bay Hayward California www.csueastbay.edu 8
Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne Florida www.fit.edu 8
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Harrisburg Pennsylvania www.harrisburgu.edu 8
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas Barranquitas Puerto Rico www.br.inter.edu 8
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Bayamon Puerto Rico bayamon.inter.edu 8
California State University-Fresno Fresno California www.fresnostate.edu 7
Catholic University of America Washington District of Columbia www.catholic.edu 7
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York New York www.bmcc.cuny.edu 7
Ferris State University Big Rapids Michigan www.ferris.edu 7
Fort Valley State University Fort Valley Georgia www.fvsu.edu 7
Humacao Community College Humacao Puerto Rico www.hccpr.edu 7
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Aguadilla Puerto Rico aguadilla.inter.edu 7
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato Minnesota mankato.mnsu.edu 7
Northern State University Aberdeen South Dakota www.northern.edu 7
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina Puerto Rico une.suagm.edu 7
Claflin University Orangeburg South Carolina www.claflin.edu 6
CUNY York College Jamaica New York www.york.cuny.edu 6
Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Iowa www.dmacc.edu 6
Hillsborough Community College Tampa Florida www.hccfl.edu 6
Middlesex Community College Middletown Connecticut www.mxcc.edu 6
Montana State University Bozeman Montana www.montana.edu 6
Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem Pennsylvania www.northampton.edu 6
Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City Oklahoma www.occc.edu 6
Springfield Technical Community College Springfield Massachusetts www.stcc.edu 6
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas www.ttuhsc.edu 6
University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls Wisconsin www.uwrf.edu 6
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign Illinois illinois.edu 5
Brunswick Community College Bolivia North Carolina www.brunswickcc.edu 5
Cleveland Community College Shelby North Carolina www.clevelandcc.edu 5
Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh Pennsylvania www.ccac.edu 5
CUNY Bronx Community College Bronx New York www.bcc.cuny.edu 5
Duquesne University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania www.duq.edu 5
Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown Pennsylvania www.etown.edu 5
Framingham State University Framingham Massachusetts www.framingham.edu 5
Middlesex County College Edison New Jersey www.middlesexcc.edu 5
Palm Beach State College Lake Worth Florida www.palmbeachstate.edu 5
Pima Community College Tucson Arizona www.pima.edu 5
Alma College Alma Michigan alma.edu 4
American University Washington District of Columbia www.american.edu 4
Bucks County Community College Newtown Pennsylvania www.bucks.edu 4
CUNY City College New York New York www.ccny.cuny.edu 4
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg Pennsylvania www.esu.edu 4
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida www.fau.edu 4
Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Iowa www.kirkwood.edu 4
Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Pennsylvania www.mc3.edu 4
New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury New York www.nyit.edu 4
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona nau.edu 4
Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Minnesota www.stcloudstate.edu 4
Salem State University Salem Massachusetts www.salemstate.edu 4
Southern Maine Community College South Portland Maine www.smccme.edu 4
University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler Tyler Texas www.uthct.edu 4
Miami Dade College Miami Florida www.mdc.edu 3
Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque New Mexico www.cnm.edu 3
CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside New York www.qcc.cuny.edu 3
EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San Juan San Juan Puerto Rico www.edpuniversity.edu 3
Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville Florida www.fscj.edu 3
Grand View University Des Moines Iowa www.grandview.edu 3
Northeastern University Boston Massachusetts www.northeastern.edu 3
Point Park University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania www.pointpark.edu 3
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury North Carolina www.rccc.edu 3
Tufts University Medford Massachusetts www.tufts.edu 3
University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville Alabama www.uah.edu 3
University of Southern California Los Angeles California www.usc.edu 3
Alcorn State University Alcorn State Mississippi www.alcorn.edu 2
Butler Community College El Dorado Kansas www.butlercc.edu 2
Clarkson University Potsdam New York www.clarkson.edu 2
CUNY Hunter College New York New York www.hunter.cuny.edu 2
CUNY Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn New York www.kbcc.cuny.edu 2
Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania www.drexel.edu 2
Fayetteville State University Fayetteville North Carolina www.uncfsu.edu 2
Florida Southern College Lakeland Florida www.flsouthern.edu 2
Holyoke Community College Holyoke Massachusetts www.hcc.edu 2
Iowa State University Ames Iowa www.iastate.edu 2
Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas www.k-state.edu 2
Kapiolani Community College Honolulu Hawaii www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu 2
Macomb Community College Warren Michigan www.macomb.edu 2
Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Missouri www.missouriwestern.edu 2
Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Massachusetts mwcc.edu 2
Plymouth State University Plymouth New Hampshire www.plymouth.edu 2
Roxbury Community College Roxbury Crossing Massachusetts www.rcc.mass.edu 2
Saint Peter's University Jersey City New Jersey www.saintpeters.edu 2
Stevenson University Stevenson Maryland www.stevenson.edu 2
University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland umbc.edu 2
University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Missouri www.umsl.edu 2
University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah www.utah.edu 2
Wayne State University Detroit Michigan www.wayne.edu 2
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Arecibo Puerto Rico arecibo.pucpr.edu 1
Andrews University Berrien Springs Michigan www.andrews.edu 1
Augusta University Augusta Georgia www.augusta.edu 1
Barry University Miami Florida www.barry.edu 1
Bay Path University Longmeadow Massachusetts www.baypath.edu 1
Central Baptist College Conway Arkansas www.cbc.edu 1
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati Ohio www.cincinnatistate.edu 1
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Florida www.keiseruniversity.edu 1
Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Georgia www.kennesaw.edu 1
Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville Pennsylvania www.lccc.edu 1
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis Minnesota www.minneapolis.edu 1
Southern Connecticut State University New Haven Connecticut www.southernct.edu 1
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Edwardsville Illinois www.siue.edu 1
Southern State Community College Hillsboro Ohio www.sscc.edu 1
Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches Texas www.sfasu.edu 1
University of Delaware Newark Delaware www.udel.edu 1
University of Idaho Moscow Idaho www.uidaho.edu 1
University of Kansas Lawrence Kansas ku.edu 1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Michigan www.umich.edu 1
University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke North Carolina www.uncp.edu 1
Upstate Medical University Syracuse New York www.upstate.edu 1
Ursuline College Pepper Pike Ohio www.ursuline.edu 1
Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem North Carolina www.wssu.edu 1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Massachusetts www.wpi.edu 1
2017-2018 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in November, 2019)

Admissions Requirements

The specific admissions requirements for prospective students depend on the school and the degree they decide to pursue. That said, there are some common requirements across all programs, such as:

  • A minimum grade point average, typically 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Submission of official transcripts from previous colleges
  • Letter(s) of recommendation
  • A personal statement describing the reason for pursuing the specific degree
  • Professional resume
  • Completion of prerequisite courses or an undergraduate degree in relevant field
  • Application fee
  • English language proficiency and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for international students

On-Campus Biotechnology Bachelor’s Degree Programs

University of Kansas

This bachelor’s degree program is specifically designed for people who have completed an associate’s degree or the equivalent of two years of undergraduate coursework. Students must complete 43 to 45 hours of general science classes, nine hours of core curriculum, and 31 hours of biotechnology courses. The degree requires 120 credit-hours overall. Examples of coursework for the general science requirements include foundational chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, molecular and cellular biology, and genetics. Core courses that students can expect to complete include science communications, elementary statistics or biostatistics, and a survey of management. For the biotechnology requirements, typical courses include applied immunology, ethics, and bioinformatics.

  • Location: Lawrence, Kansas
  • Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Tuition: $443.80 per credit-hour for Kansas residents; $969.40 for non-residents
  • Program length: Four years

Arizona State University

The biosciences and biotechnology program at ASU prepares students for exciting careers in agriculture, healthcare, and other industries. This degree differs from others in its intense focus on biotechnology and molecular biology. Additionally, students will complete many hours of hands-on research as a final Capstone project. Earning the degree requires a minimum of 120 credits, 45 of which must be upper-division and 30 of which students must complete at Arizona State University. Examples of courses that students must complete to earn a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology include genetic engineering, biology of microorganisms, organic chemistry, calculus for life sciences, and biostatistics. The school also offers an accelerated degree option for interested students.

  • Location: Tempe, Arizona
  • Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Tuition: $702 per credit for Arizona residents; $1,112 per credit for non-residents
  • Program length: Three to five years

Online Biotechnology Bachelor’s Degree Programs

University of Maryland University College

Students who enroll in this program must already have technical knowledge of biotechnology through direct field experience, transfer credits, or both. This bachelor’s degree provides a combination of laboratory work, applied coursework, and an internship. The degree requires the completion of 120 credits, which includes 15 credits of major coursework, 43 credits of electives, and 41 credits of general education requirements. Students should expect to take biological sciences, cellular and molecular biology, bioinformatics, laboratory safety and management, workplace learning in biology, and current applications and trends in the life sciences in the core portion of the program. Options for elective classes include biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, cell biology, immunology, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, and physics.

  • Location: Largo, Maryland
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Tuition: $289 per credit for Maryland residents; $499 per credit for non-residents
  • Program length: Two to four years

On-Campus Biotechnology Master’s Degree Programs

Columbia University

This master’s program is particularly appropriate for those who wish to pursue a career in either the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. Recent graduates of the program hold positions in research laboratories, drug approval regulation, and law firms specializing in biotechnology. Students often choose this program as an alternative to spending up to seven years to earn a doctorate. Because the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are among the largest in the country, the demand for professionals with this specialized training continues to grow.

Core courses in this 30-credit program include biotechnology, drugs and disease, and seminar in biotechnology. Students also complete several laboratory classes, including proteomics laboratory, genomics sequencing laboratory, and tissue and molecular engineering laboratory. The school requires 15 credits of electives, which include advanced genetic analysis, cellular and molecular neurobiology, cellular physiology of disease, and the neural system.

  • Location: New York, New York
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
  • Tuition: $60,400 for two full-time years
  • Program length: One year for full-time students (part-time study is available)

New York University

In response to the explosive growth of the biotechnology industry, the Tandon School of Engineering has created a master’s degree program that prepares students for careers in drug design, healthcare biotechnology, and more. The program requires the completion of 30 credits and includes 15 credits of core courses in biotechnology, biosensors, enzyme catalysts, and protein and tissue engineering, nine credits of electives in biotechnology and similar fields, and six credits from two elective courses in guided studies in biotechnology. Examples of elective courses include neuroscience for biotechnologists, genetic engineering, advanced cell and molecular biology, materials in medicine, and bioanalytical chemistry. Students must earn a least a 3.0 grade point average in all courses to graduate. The school also offers a dual biotechnology and entrepreneurship master's program for biotechnologists interested in creating and growing a business.

  • Location: Brooklyn, New York
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Tuition: $48,750 per year
  • Program length: Two to three years

Online Biotechnology Master’s Degree Programs

Johns Hopkins University

As a leading research university, Johns Hopkins offers a 10-course biotechnology master’s degree program that provides students with a strong background in biochemistry, cell biology, genomics, molecular biology, and proteomics. Students can choose from six concentrations, including biodefense, bioinformatics, biotechnology enterprise, regenerative and stem cell technologies, regulatory affairs, and drug discoveries. All students complete four core courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, and two sections of advanced cell biology, then six electives according to their concentration. Thanks to the close association of Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health, students who go through this program can apply for a fellowship with the National Cancer Institute.

  • Location: Baltimore, Maryland
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Tuition: $4,322 per course (ten courses required)
  • Program length: One to two years, both full-time and part-time available

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Hybrid)

This is a blended 30-credit program that requires online coursework and on-site laboratory work at the school’s campus in Worcester, Massachusetts. Students complete several skill-based biology and biotechnology courses, including fermentation biology, protein purification, cell biology, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics. They also complete two chemistry electives—in drug regulations and membrane protein-targeted drug design—and several business electives. Examples of the business electives include managing technical innovation, entrepreneurship, and project management. Students must take 15 credits of biology and biotechnology courses, nine credits of skills-based courses, and six credits of elective courses. They must also already possess an undergraduate degree in an engineering or life sciences field before enrolling in this program.

  • Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Tuition: $1,457 per credit
  • Program length: Two to three years

Other On-Campus Biotechnology Programs

Salt Lake Community College

This school's associate degree in science in biotechnology prepares students for entry-level or mid-career level work in the field. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits, 25 of which are related to biology and biotechnology. Examples of courses in this category include an introduction to biotechnology and lab, applied molecular biology, biomolecular analysis, cell biology, and two sessions of general chemistry with labs. Students also choose two to four elective credits, such as nucleic acid and protein biotech. Salt Lake Community College also offers a 63-credit associate of applied science degree in biotechnology.

  • Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Tuition: $185.25 per credit for Utah residents; $526.25 per credit for non-residents
  • Program length: Two years if full-time

University of Maryland Baltimore County

In addition to its master’s program, the University of Maryland Baltimore County offers certificate programs in biotechnology management and biochemical regulatory engineering. Each certificate requires the completion of 12 credits. The certificate in biotechnology management requires students to complete four three-credit courses. These include project management fundamentals, financial management, legal and ethical issues in the science professions, and management, leaderships, and communication. The four three-credit courses for the certificate in biochemical regulatory engineering include regulatory issues in biotechnology, good manufacturing practices for bioprocess, quality control and quality assurance for biotechnology products, and biotechnology GMP facility design, construction, and validation.

  • Location: Baltimore, Maryland
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Program length: One year part-time
  • Tuition: $753 per credit for Maryland residents or $1,179 per credit for non-residents

Other Online Biotechnology Programs

Stanford University

The biotechnology graduate certificate at Stanford University requires the completion of four three-credit courses. These include two classes in biotechnology, biochemical engineering, and advanced biochemical engineering, and creating new ventures in engineering and science-based industries. The certificate is appropriate for graduates of life sciences programs who want to deepen their biotechnology knowledge as well as those with a biology background who want to change their career focus.

  • Location: Palo Alto, California
  • Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Tuition: $15,120 for certificate
  • Program length: One to two years with a maximum of three years to complete

Harvard University Extension School (Hybrid)

This hybrid graduate program requires the completion of 12 courses, four or more of which must be completed on campus. Students have the option to choose electives relevant to their certificate topic or a second graduate credential, including bioinformatics, biotechnology management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and nanotechnology. The bioinformatics certificate teaches students to work with genetic and biological data in a range of contexts. The biotechnology management certificate introduces the business side of biotechnology. The innovation and entrepreneur certificate focuses on these topics as they relate to biotechnology and the nanotechnology certificate focuses on nano-scale technology. Students can also choose a thesis track or a capstone track as they complete their courses.

  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Tuition: $2,700 per credit
  • Program length: One to two years

Accreditation and State Authorization

When selecting a school, it is important for students to ensure that it has received outside accreditation. This means that a third-party organization has reviewed the college, its programs, admissions process, job placement rate, and several other factors and determined that all meet high standards. A school can earn regional accreditation for the entire campus or separate accreditation for various programs. The most reputable regional accrediting bodies include:

  • Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Higher Learning Commission
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • New England Association of Colleges and Schools
  • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges

As a final note, another essential component prospective students should be aware of is whether an online school located in a different state has received authorization to offer degrees to out-of-state students. The formal term for this is “state authorization.” Since each state reaches separate agreements with other states, programs may not be available to students in all locations. It’s also common for tuition to cost more for out-of-state students as opposed to in-state students.

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