Biotechnology MS

Major: Biotechnology
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 41.0
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 41.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code:
11-9121; 19-1029; 25-2031

About the Program

The Master of Science in Biotechnology is designed to train laboratory personnel in the theory and practice of state-of-the-art technologies for biochemical analysis. It is an innovative, graduate degree program that emphasizes hands-on training in the latest laboratory techniques used across the biotechnology and biomedical industries. This program furnishes students with the necessary technical skills to successfully seek gainful employment in both biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms and academic laboratories. It does so by using a two-pronged approach that combines theory with hands-on instruction under the direct supervision of our diverse and accomplished research faculty. The program is appropriate for recent college graduates or experienced technicians wishing to bolster their methodological base.

This program includes both academic coursework and hands-on practica.

Additional Information

For more information, visit the College of Medicine's Biotechnology program website.

Admission Requirements

For acceptance to the program, the applicant must have completed a four-year biology or chemistry-based bachelor's degree program, or equivalent. While there are no minimum requirements, applicants should be competitive with regard to grades, entrance exam scores and letters of recommendation. Students must fulfill all requirements for consideration as defined by the Executive Committee of the Division of Biomedical Science Programs:

  • official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • official transcript evaluation such as WES, for transcripts from international institutions that are not in English, or that do not use a 4 point GPA scale;
  • official entrance exam scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT);
  • references from at least three instructors or industry professionals;
  • an application fee of $75; 
  • international applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate the ability to speak, write, and understand the English language by submitting an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or IELTS, with the exception of those who have received their undergraduate degree in an accredited US institution;

Students applying to the program will be expected to have undergraduate experience in chemistry, cell biology, biochemistry, and mathematics--including, at a minimum--two semesters each of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, calculus and biology.

Additional Information

To learn more about applying to Drexel College of Medicine programs, visit the College of Medicine’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies website.

Degree Requirements (Thesis)

Required Courses
BIOC 507SBiochemistry Seminar Series *3.0
BIOC 508SExperimental Approaches to Biochemical Problems3.0
BIOC 513SBiotechnology Practicum I4.0
BIOC 514SBiotechnology Practicum II4.0
BIOC 521SIntroduction to Biochemical Data2.0
BIOT 512SBiotechnology Journal Club *3.0
BIOT 600SBiotechnology Thesis Research **18.0
IDPT 500SResponsible Conduct of Research2.0
IDPT 502SLearn Early As Professionals I (LEAP I)1.0
IDPT 504SLearn Early and Practice (LEAP II)1.0
IDPT 533SCore Principles in Biochemistry & Cell Biology4.0
MCBG 515STechniques in Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics2.0
General Electives
Communication for Researchers
Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Group Dynamics in STEM
Professional Portfolio Development
Special Topics in Biotechnology
Thesis Defense
Total Credits47.0
*

1 credit course, may be repeated for credit

**

9 credit course, may be repeated for credit. 

Degree Requirements

This program offers a set of required didactic courses designed to provide students with the theoretical underpinnings of modern Biochemistry and Biotechnology, and will form a foundation for the four hands-on practica. These practica will provide detailed exposure and experience in four different aspects of biochemistry/biotechnology: protein expression and purification; crystallography; gene expression and manipulation; protein-protein and protein-ligand interaction with SPR; and imaging/microscopy. Each practica will be conducted under the close supervision of a faculty member with expertise in the area, and will progress from an initial set of experiments in which the results are already known (allowing students to become familiar with techniques), then progressing to a project tightly associated with the ongoing research in the mentor's laboratory. The third practicum will be 8.0 semester credit hours, and will include preparation of a scholarly paper that reviews a topic related to the techniques associated with that particular practicum.

Required Courses
BIOC 507SBiochemistry Seminar Series *3.0
BIOC 508SExperimental Approaches to Biochemical Problems3.0
BIOC 513SBiotechnology Practicum I4.0
BIOC 514SBiotechnology Practicum II4.0
BIOC 515SBiotechnology Practicum III8.0
BIOC 516SBiotechnology Practicum IV4.0
or BIOT 560S Biotechnology Internship
BIOC 521SIntroduction to Biochemical Data2.0
BIOT 512SBiotechnology Journal Club *3.0
IDPT 500SResponsible Conduct of Research2.0
IDPT 502SLearn Early As Professionals I (LEAP I)1.0
IDPT 504SLearn Early and Practice (LEAP II)1.0
IDPT 533SCore Principles in Biochemistry & Cell Biology4.0
MCBG 515STechniques in Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics2.0
Advanced Electives0.0-5.0
Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Group Dynamics in STEM
Professional Portfolio Development
Special Topics in Biotechnology
Total Credits41.0-46.0
*

Taken a minimum of three times, for one credit each.

Sample Plan of Study (Thesis)

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOC 507S1.0BIOC 514S4.0
BIOC 513S4.0BIOC 521S2.0
BIOT 512S1.0BIOT 512S1.0
IDPT 502S1.0IDPT 500S2.0
IDPT 533S4.0IDPT 504S1.0
MCBG 515S2.0 
 13 10
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOC 507S1.0BIOC 507S1.0
BIOC 508S3.0BIOT 600S9.0
BIOT 512S1.0 
BIOT 600S9.0 
 14 10
Total Credits 47

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOC 507S1.0BIOC 514S4.0
BIOC 513S4.0BIOC 521S2.0
BIOT 512S1.0BIOT 512S1.0
IDPT 502S1.0IDPT 500S2.0
IDPT 533S4.0IDPT 504S1.0
MCBG 515S2.0 
 13 10
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOC 507S1.0BIOC 515S8.0
BIOC 508S3.0BIOC 507S1.0
BIOC 516S or BIOT 560S4.0 
BIOT 512S1.0 
 9 9
Total Credits 41
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