Program Overview

Biotechnology, MS

Overview

The Master of Science in Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a solid foundation in laboratory skills, experimental design, and the practice of science. The program is designed to prepare students for entry into the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Program Requirements

The MS in Biotechnology requires 30 credit hours of work and can be completed in 1.5-2 years of full-time study. The program consists of the following elements:

• Biotechnology Core Curriculum: 7-10 credit hours
• Tracks in Biochemistry, Neurosciences, and Pharmacology
• Internship: 3 credit hours

Biotechnology Core Curriculum

The biotechnology core curriculum includes:

• BIOC 500: Biotechnology Laboratory: Molecular Biology Basics
• BIOC 501: Biochemical and Cellular Techniques for Biotechnology
• BIOC 502A: Biotechnology Laboratory: Molecular Biology and Biochemical Techniques
• BIOC 502B: Biotechnology Laboratory: Eukaryotic Molecular and Cellular Biology
• BIOC 502C: Biotechnology Laboratory: Mass Spectrometry and Bioinformatics
• BIOC 511: Practice and Professionalism in Biotechnology

Tracks in Biochemistry, Neurosciences, and Pharmacology

The program offers three tracks:

• Biochemistry Track: emphasizes engineering, expressing, purifying, and working with proteins
• Neurosciences Track: focuses on the application of biotechnology to the nervous system
• Pharmacology Track: prepares students for work in the pharmaceutical industry

Internship

The program requires an internship at a biotechnology company or in a faculty research lab at CWRU. The internship must be completed in a laboratory and involve some benchwork. Students are expected to work at least 150 hours to accumulate 3 credit hours.

Sample Plans of Study

The program offers sample plans of study for each track:

• Biochemistry Track Plan of Study
• Neurosciences Track Plan of Study
• Pharmacology Track Plan of Study

Biochemistry Track Plan of Study

The Biochemistry Track Plan of Study includes:

• First Year:
  • Fall: BIOC 407, BIOC 500, BIOC 501, BIOC 511
  • Spring: BIOC 408, BIOC 502A, BIOC 502B, BIOC 612
• Second Year:
  • Fall: Approved Electives
  • Spring: BIOC 610

Neurosciences Track Plan of Study

The Neurosciences Track Plan of Study includes:

• First Year:
  • Fall: BIOC 500, BIOC 501, BIOC 511, NEUR 401, NEUR 415
  • Spring: BIOC 502B, NEUR 402, NEUR 403, NEUR 415
• Second Year:
  • Fall: PHRM 528, Approved Electives
  • Spring: NEUR 610

Pharmacology Track Plan of Study

The Pharmacology Track Plan of Study includes:

• First Year:
  • Fall: BIOC 500, BIOC 501, BIOC 511, PHRM 511, PQHS 431
  • Spring: BIOC 502A, PHRM 511, Approved Electives
• Second Year:
  • Fall: PHRM 409, PHRM 528, PHRM 525
  • Spring: PHRM 610

Admission Criteria

Applicants must have a BA, BS, or equivalent undergraduate degree in chemistry or the biological sciences.