Biotechnology

Northeastern’s MS in Biotechnology is an innovative, nonthesis graduate degree program. The curriculum of this professional science master’s combines advanced interdisciplinary training in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, and pharmaceutical science with the development of high-value business skills critical to success in today’s dynamic workplace. Graduates are prepared to innovate, collaborate, and lead as research, managerial, or technical professionals in a wide range of biotechnology specialties. The program is taught by respected faculty who are also senior leaders in their fields and bring extensive experience and firsthand knowledge of industry trends.

While all biotechnology lecture courses can be completed online, two hybrid lab courses occur across the summer terms annually. For students living in Canada, the on-ground lab coursework occurs across the full summer term, one day per week with multiple options for course timing. If students are not able to waive the laboratory coursework requirements, they must travel to campus to attend on-ground classes for the duration of these windows.

Students choose from concentrations in which core courses are combined with specialization and elective study. All concentrations feature a co-op work experience with an industry, academic, or government employer. All concentrations include wet lab coursework designed to provide students with fundamental bench/technical skills they will need to access cutting-edge advances in the industry.

Available concentrations include:

• Agricultural Biotechnology: The agricultural concentration goes beyond the production of biological drugs and focuses on the key agricultural biotechnology (agritech) principles and methods used today. The concentration addresses plant, animal, food, and ecological biotechnology.
• Biodefense: The biodefense concentration is designed to prepare students for the initial homeland biodefense and bioterrorism response. Students have an opportunity to learn the microbiology and epidemiology of biological agents that are potential threats, identify and propose countermeasures, and develop expertise in response and recovery strategies and policies.
• Biopharmaceutical Technologies and Analytics: The biopharmaceutical technologies and analytics track focuses on structures, variants, and activities of biological molecules, as well as how to convert purified proteins to biopharmaceutical drug products that are compatible for clinical use. Students learn the diversity of molecular forms derived from biological products, techniques to analyze and characterize these forms, and the impact of these structural changes on the safety and efficacy of biopharmaceuticals. 
• Biotechnology Operations: The biotechnology operations track is an operationally inclusive concentration that offers relevant insights to the inner workings of a biotech company while preparing students for new entry or promotions to a variety of biotech functions. Students learn the principles of quality, regulatory science, process science, and manufacturing, while integrating business and management skills with the science of biotechnology. 
• Interdisciplinary: Students are not required to declare a concentration. With the interdisciplinary option, students select 17 credits of electives in place of concentration-specific courses.

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