Northeastern’s Master of Science in Biotechnology is a professional master's program, an innovative, nonthesis graduate degree. It combines advanced interdisciplinary training in biotechnology, biology, chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences with the development of high-value business skills critical to success in today’s dynamic workplace. This program is designed to prepare graduates to innovate, collaborate, and lead as research, managerial, or technical professionals in a wide range of biotechnology specialties. The two-year program offers students the possibility to pursue one of ten concentrations to further their knowledge in a specific topical area of the field.
Concentrations
Agricultural Biotechnology Concentration
The agricultural concentration goes beyond the production of biological drugs and focuses on the key agricultural biotechnology (agritech) principles and methods used today. Students have an opportunity to learn the principles of agritech and the role they play in the concepts and fundamentals of agriculture today. The concentration addresses plant, animal, food, and ecological biotechnology. The learning of the students is reinforced by both lecture courses and project-driven laboratory experience that provides hands-on learning of modern agricultural methodologies.
Biodefense Concentration
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. The learning combines the foundational biotechnology courses with case-based and hands-on bioethical, biowarfare, and bioterrorism courses.
Biopharmaceutical Analytical Sciences Concentration
The biopharmaceutical analytical sciences concentration focuses on structures and activities of biological molecules and their variants formed during the production of biopharmaceuticals. Students have an opportunity to learn the diversity of molecular forms derived from the biological products through various biological and chemical mechanisms and the impact of these structural changes on the safety and efficacy of these biopharmaceuticals. The students have an opportunity to learn the science and practice applied in the biotechnology industry to analyze and characterize these molecular forms. This is accomplished through both lecture courses of the analytical sciences and project-driven laboratory experience that utilizes analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry and molecular separations.
Biotechnology Enterprise Concentration
Biotechnology is a deeply scientific endeavor. All aspects of a biotech enterprise are related back to science, which is integrated throughout a biotech’s various operations. The biotechnology enterprise concentration offers our science students a holistic study about the business of biotech. In addition to the core biotechnology curriculum, students also study what it takes to move a product from discovery to R&D through approval and launch. Successful students are prepared for diverse roles primarily outside the lab: supporting clinical trials in project and program management roles; fulfilling associate and early career roles in medical affairs; fortifying various teams in quality, regulatory, supply chain, and manufacturing; working with and managing aspects of alliances and partnerships; offering product due diligence, product development, and market analytics rooted in science; and taking on various team lead and early career management roles soon after graduation.
Biotechnology Regulatory Science Concentration
The biotechnology regulatory science concentration focuses on the science behind good regulatory practice today. This concentration addresses the issues surrounding current and innovative science practices that influence regulatory decisions. Students have an opportunity to learn the science behind compliance. This is accomplished through both lecture courses and project-driven laboratory experience that provides hands-on learning of the science behind dossier analysis.
Manufacturing and Quality Operations in Biotechnology Concentration
The manufacturing and quality operations in biotechnology concentration has been designed in response to a need in the biotechnology industry for individuals with an advanced knowledge of the principles and practices of state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing and quality operations. In particular, the focus of this concentration is training the workforce to ensure quality medicines are produced. Individuals—particularly those who are working in the various sectors of biotechnology including basic research of biological systems, discovery, development, and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals—have an opportunity to improve their competency and learn new practical skills, which enables them to increase productivity and further contribute to their professions.
Molecular Biotechnology Concentration
The molecular biotechnology concentration provides students with didactic and practical knowledge in molecular biotechnology, protein expression, and structural biology. Students have an opportunity to learn how to generate and optimize molecular forms used to express recombinant proteins to be used as biopharmaceuticals. Particular attention is paid to cutting-edge technologies such as RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9. In addition, the students have an opportunity to learn how to purify biopharmaceuticals and analyze aggregation and how to prevent it.
Pharmaceutical Technologies Concentration
The pharmaceutical technologies concentration focuses on the conversion of purified proteins to biopharmaceutical drug products that are compatible for clinical use. This concentration addresses the design of the product formulation and the development and implementation of the drug product manufacturing processes. Students have an opportunity to learn the sciences of the interactions of the biologic molecules in the process conditions and the relevant process technology, such as aseptic operations and freeze-drying, needed for drug product manufacturing. This is accomplished through both lecture courses and project-driven laboratory experience that offers hands-on learning of formulation design and drug product process development.
Process Science Concentration
The process science concentration focuses on the production of drug substance of biopharmaceuticals from cell culture process to purification of the biologic molecules. Students have an opportunity to learn the principles of development and implementation of biological manufacturing processes through the integration of concepts and fundamentals of engineering and life sciences. The concentration addresses biochemical engineering, mammalian cell culture process development, and protein purification. The learning of the students is reinforced by both lecture courses and project-driven laboratory experience that provides hands-on learning of cell culture and protein separation.
Scientific Information Management Concentration
The scientific information management concentration focuses on the collection, analysis, and visualization of scientific data. This concentration addresses the issues surrounding big data that face industry today. Students have an opportunity to learn how to manage, store, visualize, and provide overall analysis of large scientific datasets. This is accomplished through both lecture courses and project-driven laboratory experience that provides hands-on learning of the impacts of data on the scientific process.
Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership
Master's Degree in Biotechnology with Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership
Students may complete a Master of Science in Biotechnology in addition to earning a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership. Students must apply and be admitted to the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program in order to pursue this option. The certificate program requires fulfillment of the 16-semester-hour curriculum required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership, which includes an industry-based challenge project with multiple mentors. The integrated 42-semester-hour master’s degree and certificate requires 26 hours of biotechnology coursework.
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
Core Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Core | ||
BIOL 6299 | Molecular Cell Biology for Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOT 5120 | Foundations in Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOT 5219 | The Biotechnology Enterprise | 2 |
BIOT 5621 | Protein Principles in Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOT 5631 | Cell Culture Processes for Biopharmaceutical Production | 3 |
BIOT 6214 | Experimental Design and Biostatistics | 2 |
Co-op and Experiential Learning | 0 | |
Professional Development for Co-op | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
Co-op Work Experience | ||
Projects for Professionals 1 |
- 1
The option of BIOT 5964 Projects for Professionals is not available at all campus locations. Please refer to your advisor or admissions coach for course availability each semester at your campus location.
Concentrations
Complete one of the following concentrations or the elective option:
- Agricultural Biotechnology
- Biodefense
- Biopharmaceutical Analytical Sciences
- Biotechnology Enterprise
- Biotechnology Regulatory Science
- Manufacturing and Quality Operations in Biotechnology
- Molecular Biotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Technologies
- Process Science
- Scientific Information Management
- Elective Option
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
34 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required
Agricultural Biotechnology Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 5810 | Cutting-Edge Applications in Molecular Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOT 6100 | Agricultural Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
Electives | 8 |
Biodefense Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 5810 | Cutting-Edge Applications in Molecular Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOT 6600 | Agents of Bioterrorism | 3 |
BIOT 6610 | Biosecurity and Bioterrorism | 3 |
PPUA 6532 | Building Resilience into Local Government | 4 |
Elective | 4 |
Biopharmaceutical Analytical Sciences Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 6320 | Quality Management Systems and Validation | 3 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
CHEM 5550 | Introduction to Glycobiology and Glycoprotein Analysis | 3 |
Electives | 8 |
Biotechnology Enterprise Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5225 | Managing and Leading a Biotechnology Company | 3 |
BIOT 5227 | Launching Your Science: Biotechnology Entrepreneurship | 3 |
Electives | 12 |
Biotechnology Regulatory Science Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 5330 | Drug Safety and Immunogenicity | 3 |
BIOT 5500 | Concepts in Regulatory Science | 3 |
BIOT 6320 | Quality Management Systems and Validation | 3 |
or BIOT 5340 | Introduction to Biotherapeutic Approvals | |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
Electives | 5 |
Manufacturing and Quality Operations in Biotechnology Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 6300 | Pharmaceutical Microbiology | 3 |
BIOT 6320 | Quality Management Systems and Validation | 3 |
BIOT 6340 | Sterile Manufacturing Operations | 3 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
Electives | 5 |
Molecular Biotechnology Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 5810 | Cutting-Edge Applications in Molecular Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOT 5850 | Higher-Order Structure Analytics | 3 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
Electives | 8 |
Pharmaceutical Technologies Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 5640 | Drug Product Processes for Biopharmaceuticals | 3 |
BIOT 5700 | Molecular Interactions of Proteins in Biopharmaceutical Formulations | 3 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
Electives | 8 |
Process Science Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 5560 | Bioprocess Fundamentals | 3 |
BIOT 5635 | Downstream Processes for Biopharmaceutical Production | 3 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
Electives | 8 |
Scientific Information Management Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
DA 5020 | Collecting, Storing, and Retrieving Data | 4 |
or DA 5030 | Introduction to Data Mining/Machine Learning | |
INSH 5301 | Introduction to Computational Statistics | 4 |
Electives | 6 |
Elective Option
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOT 5145 | Basic Biotechnology Lab Skills | 1 |
BIOT 7245 | Biotechnology Applications Laboratory | 3 |
Electives | 14 |
Electives List
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Complete electives from the following list and/or 1 SH BUSN graduate-level courses. Electives not on this list may be chosen with faculty advisor approval. | ||
Bioinformatics Programming | ||
Bioinformatics Computational Methods 1 | ||
Principles and Applications of Tissue Engineering | ||
Stem Cells and Regeneration | ||
Inventions in Microbial Biotechnology | ||
Medical Microbiology | ||
Biological Imaging | ||
Immunology | ||
Comparative Neurobiology | ||
Advanced Genomics | ||
Immunotherapies of Cancer and Infectious Disease | ||
Ethics in Biological Research | ||
The Role of Patents in the Biotechnology Industry, Past and Future | ||
Managing and Leading a Biotechnology Company | ||
Biotechnology Entrepreneurship | ||
Launching Your Science: Biotechnology Entrepreneurship | ||
Drug Safety and Immunogenicity | ||
Introduction to Biotherapeutic Approvals | ||
Scientific Information Management for Biotechnology Managers | ||
Concepts in Regulatory Science | ||
Bioprocess Fundamentals | ||
Downstream Processes for Biopharmaceutical Production | ||
Drug Product Processes for Biopharmaceuticals | ||
Molecular Interactions of Proteins in Biopharmaceutical Formulations | ||
Cutting-Edge Applications in Molecular Biotechnology | ||
Cellular Therapies | ||
Higher-Order Structure Analytics | ||
Vaccines and Immunization | ||
Foundations in Vaccine Regulatory Science | ||
Molecular Tools for Vaccine Design | ||
Agricultural Biotechnology | ||
Pharmaceutical Microbiology | ||
CGMP Statutes and Regulation | ||
Quality Management Systems and Validation | ||
Sterile Manufacturing Operations | ||
Agents of Bioterrorism | ||
Biosecurity and Bioterrorism | ||
Introduction to Glycobiology and Glycoprotein Analysis | ||
Protein Mass Spectrometry | ||
Protein Mass Spectrometry Laboratory | ||
Principles of Chemical Biology for Chemists | ||
Chemistry and Design of Protein Pharmaceuticals | ||
Molecular Modeling | ||
Chemical Engineering Kinetics | ||
Collecting, Storing, and Retrieving Data | ||
Introduction to Data Mining/Machine Learning | ||
Engineering Project Management | ||
Managing Operations in Early Stage Ventures | ||
Entrepreneurship: Services and Retail Business Creation | ||
Business Planning for New Ventures | ||
Financing Ventures from Early Stage to Exit | ||
Entrepreneurial Marketing and Selling | ||
Lean Design and Development | ||
Environmental Science and Policy Seminar 2 | ||
The American Healthcare System | ||
Organizational Behavior, Work Flow Design, and Change Management | ||
Acquisitions, Alliances, and Growth | ||
Introduction to Computational Statistics | ||
Managing the Global Enterprise | ||
Cultural Aspects of International Business | ||
Managing Ethics in the Workplace and Marketplace | ||
Strategic Decision Making for Healthcare Professionals | ||
Sustainability and Leadership | ||
Information Analysis | ||
Foundations in Nanomedicine: Therapeutics | ||
Nano/Biomedical Commercialization: Concept to Market | ||
Nanomedicine Seminar | ||
Nanomedicine Seminar 2 | ||
Nanomedicine Research Techniques | ||
Research Skills and Ethics | ||
Pharmaceutical Biochemistry | ||
Repurposing Drugs for Cancer Immunotherapies | ||
Nanotoxicity | ||
Behavioral Pharmacology and Drug Discovery | ||
Biophysical Methods in Drug Discovery | ||
Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory | ||
Grant Writing in Public Health | ||
Security and Resilience Policy | ||
Resilient Cities | ||
Counterterrorism | ||
Dynamic Modeling for Environmental Decision Making | ||
Big Data for Cities | ||
Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Regional Policy | ||
Building Resilience into Local Government | ||
Strategic Decision Making in a Changing Environment |