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Biotechnology Degree Programs - Online & On-Campus

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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 the planet’s lives and health. Biotechnologists efficiently manufacture medicine, food, and even fuel, among other products, by manipulating 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 how 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 and three well-known professors in the field.

Johns Hopkins University (AAP)
MS - Bioinformatics
MS - Biotechnology
MS - Biotechnology Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
MS - Individualized Genomics & Health
MS - Regenerative and Stem Cell Technologies
The George Washington University (Health Sciences)
MSHS in BLS - Immunohematology & Biotechnology
Online MSHS - Biomedical Informatics
Arizona State University
Biochemistry - Medical Chemistry (BS)
Biological Sciences - Biomedical Sciences (BS)
Biological Sciences - Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology (BS)
Chemistry (BA)
sponsored

SELECT * FROM `mts_online_offline_data` WHERE `page_url` = '/biotechnology' AND ( `table_type` = 'Offline' OR `table_type` = 'BOTH (Online + Offline)' ) ORDER BY `grads` DESC

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 to Biotechnology Programs

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 a 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. Emphasizing practical application and critical thinking, the program’s hands-on curriculum includes a six-credit internship within industry or academia.

This 120-credit program includes 37 credits of general science classes, nine credits of applied science core classes, 36 credits of biotechnology courses, 24 credits of KU Core courses not covered by major requirements, and 14 credits of open electives. Examples of coursework for the general science requirements include foundational chemistry; organic chemistry; physics; principles of molecular & cell biology; principles of organismal 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; biotechnology ethics and responsible conduct of research; molecular & microbial techniques; and bioinformatics.

  • Location: Overland Park, KS
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Four years
  • Estimated Tuition: Resident ($452.95 per credit); non-resident ($1,015.20 per credit)

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. Students must complete courses to earn a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, include genetic engineering, the biology of microorganisms, organic chemistry, calculus for life sciences, and statistics for life science. The school also offers an accelerated degree option for interested students.

Graduates will be prepared for several positions, such as bioinformatics scientists, bioinformatics technicians, biological sciences professors, clinical trial managers, geneticists, health sciences managers, hydrogeologists, medical scientists, molecular biologists, and nanosystems engineers.

  • Location: Tempe, AZ
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Four years
  • Estimated Tuition: Arizona residents ($1,021 per credit); non-residents ($1,485 per credit)

Liberty University

Liberty University offers a bachelor of science program in biotechnology that is packed with the courses and laboratory experience required by students to pursue their careers directly after graduation or attending the medical school of their choice. Nearly all chemistry and biology courses have labs associated with them. This means that students will get hands-on experience in their classes, which will be essential to their future in laboratory work or medical school.

This 120-credit program includes courses in biochemistry; general biology; genetics; microbiology; cell biology; molecular techniques; organic chemistry; analytical chemistry; and origins.

Graduates will be ready to take up positions such as biomedical laboratory supervisors, college professors or researchers, industrial laboratory technicians, laboratory research assistants, pharmacists, and physicians.

  • Location: Lynchburg, VA
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Four years
  • Estimated Tuition: $23,800 per year

Online Biotechnology Bachelor’s Degree Programs

University of Maryland Global Campus

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 combines laboratory work, applied coursework, and an internship. The degree requires the completion of 120 credits, which includes 36 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, MD
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
  • Estimated Tuition: Maryland residents ($312 per credit); non-residents ($499 per credit)

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 regulations, 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 a seminar in biotechnology. Students also complete an intensive laboratory course in biotechnology which provides them with hands-on experience in biotechnology methods. The school requires 15 credits of electives, which include entrepreneurship in biotechnology; molecular biology of cancer; biotechnology law; cellular neurobiology; genetics; systems neurobiology; cell biology; immunology; and molecular biology.

  • Location: New York, NY
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Full-time students (one year); part-time study is also available
  • Estimated Tuition: $66,640 for two full-time years

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 and the pharmaceutical industry; biotechnology and health care; biosensors and biochips; biocatalysis in the industry; and protein engineering. Additionally, students will be required to take nine to fifteen credits of electives in bioanalytical chemistry; biochemistry; drug delivery; genetic engineering; neuroscience, and six credits from two elective courses in guided studies in biotechnology.

Students must earn at 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, NY
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
  • Estimated Tuition: $2,102 per credit

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: biodefense, bioinformatics, biotechnology enterprise, regenerative and stem cell technologies, regulatory affairs, and drug discoveries.

All students complete four core courses in biochemistry; molecular biology; advanced cell biology; and cellular signal transduction, then six electives according to their concentration. The program comprises 40 credits.

  • Location: Baltimore, MD
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: One to two years; both full-time and part-time available
  • Estimated Tuition: $5,008 per course

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 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. Before enrolling in this program, they must also possess an undergraduate degree in engineering or life sciences.

  • Location: Worcester, MA
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
  • Estimated Tuition: $1,610 per credit

Northeastern University

Northeastern University’s MS in biotechnology is an innovative, non-thesis graduate degree that combines advanced interdisciplinary training in biology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, and chemistry. Graduates are prepared to collaborate, lead, and innovate as managerial, technical, or research professionals in various biotechnology specialties. The program offers students the opportunity to pursue one of the ten available concentrations for furthering their knowledge in a specific topical area of the field.

Concentration options include agricultural biotechnology; biodefense; biopharmaceutical analytical sciences; biotechnology enterprise; biotechnology regulatory science; manufacturing and quality operations; molecular biotechnology; pharmaceutical technologies; process science; and scientific information management. Some concentrations require a two-week Boston residency.

The program's core courses consist of 34 credits, including molecular cell biology for biotechnology; foundations in biotechnology; the biotechnology enterprise; scientific information management for biotechnology managers; cell culture processes for biopharmaceutical production; experimental design and biostatistics; and protein chemistry.

  • Location: Boston, MA
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
  • Estimated Tuition: $58,800 total

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 61 credits. Courses are taught by faculty members with extensive experience in research settings.

Examples of courses include an introduction to biotechnology and lab; applied molecular biology; biomolecular separation and analysis; college biology; cell culture; advanced molecular methods; and two sessions of general chemistry with labs. Students also choose three elective credits, such as microbiology; statistics for applied science; and organic chemistry. Salt Lake Community College also offers a 16-credit certificate of proficiency in biotechnology. The certificate of proficiency stacks fully into the AS degree in biotechnology.

  • Location: Salt Lake City, UT
  • Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Two years if full-time
  • Estimated Tuition: Utah residents ($312.25 per credit); non-residents ($950.50 per credit)

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; business principles of the biotechnology industry; legal & ethical issues in the science professions; and management, leadership, 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, MD
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: One year part-time
  • Estimated Tuition: Maryland residents ($699 per credit); non-residents ($1,201 per credit)

Other Online Biotechnology Programs

Northeastern University

The biotechnology graduate certificate at Northeastern University requires the completion of four three-credit courses. These include molecular cell biology for biotechnology; foundations in biotechnology; cell culture processes for biopharmaceutical production; and protein chemistry. The certificate was designed in response to the growing need in the biotechnology industry for students without a biotechnology background looking to gain a strong foundation in basic biotechnology skills and concepts.

Available both part-time and full-time, this graduate certificate can serve as a gateway to the MS in biotechnology program. The program comprises 12 credits.

  • Location: Boston, MA
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: One year
  • Estimated Tuition: $20,100 for certificate

Harvard University Extension School (Hybrid)

This hybrid graduate program requires the completion of 12 courses, two or more of which must be completed on campus. Students can choose electives relevant to their certificate topic or a second graduate credential, including bioinformatics, biotechnology management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and project management.

The bioinformatics certificate teaches students to work with genetic and biological data in various contexts. The biotechnology management certificate introduces the business side of biotechnology. The innovation and entrepreneur certificate focuses on these topics relating to biotechnology and the project management certificate focuses on technical and business management skills. Students can also choose a thesis or capstone track as they complete their courses.

  • Location: Cambridge, MA
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: One to two years
  • Estimated Tuition: $775 per credit

Accreditation and State Authorization for Online Programs

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:

  • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • 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 (NWCCU)
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Finally, 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.

Professors to Know at Schools with Biotech Programs

Iva Greenwald Columbia University

Dr. Iva Greenwald, an American biologist, is a cell and molecular biology professor at Columbia University. He teaches or has taught cellular and molecular biology as well as developmental biology and laboratory coursework at Columbia University. Her main research interests include cell-to-cell interactions, signal transduction, and cell fate specifications in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Dr. Greenwald has three recent publications to her credit. Her research has been published in prominent journals such as Genetics and Genes & Development. She has received several awards, including the Senior Scholar Award from the Ellison Medical Research Foundation, the Promising Investigator Award from the Metropolitan Life Foundation, and the DuPont Young Faculty Award. Dr. Greenwald completed her PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982.

Thomas Koval Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Koval currently teaches advanced cell biology sections I and II and radiation biology in the master of science program in biotechnology at Johns Hopkins University. 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 with the 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.

Mark Schenerman University of Maryland Baltimore County

Currently, Dr. Mark Schenerman is the graduate program director and professor of the practice of biotechnology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He is also the president of CMC Biotech-MAS Consulting, a consulting firm that was founded by him. His teaching involves courses in biopharmaceutical development and regulation.

Being an experienced bio-pharmaceutical scientist, Dr. Schenerman has over 25 years of experience. He earned his doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Florida and completed his bachelor’s degree in medical technology at the University of Maryland.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani Writer

Farheen Gani is a freelance writer, marketer, and researcher. She writes about technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).

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