The MS in Biotechnology program was created to respond to regional and national needs for a stronger scientific workforce by preparing our students with the biotechnology expertise and professional skills they need to be immediately productive in industrial, governmental, and clinical settings.
Part-Time
Northeastern’s MS in Biotechnology is an innovative, non-thesis 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. They bring extensive experience, first-hand knowledge of industry trends, and assure that the curriculum is rigorous, current, and relevant.
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 except the biotechnology enterprise concentration include a hands-on lab experience and opportunities to take part in independent work in research labs. The following concentrations are available on our Boston campus:
The biopharmaceutical analytical sciences concentration focuses on structures and activities of biological molecules and their variants formed during the production of biopharmaceuticals. Students 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 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 spectroscopy and molecular separations.
The biotechnology enterprise concentration integrates business and management skills with the science of biotechnology. Students learn the fundamental concepts of leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation, financial decision making and marketing. They gain teamwork, management, and business development skills in the process and graduate prepared to become scientist-managers. Some of the specialization courses for this concentration are offered only online.
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 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 provides hands-on learning of formulation design and drug product process development.
The process development concentration focuses on the production of drug substance of biopharmaceuticals from cell culture process to purification of the biologic molecules. The students 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.
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Unique Features
- Boston location is known for world-class biomedical research, life science innovation, pharmaceutical corporations, and biotech companies—large and small.
- Four available concentrations
- Industry aligned faculty
- Opportunities to participate in hands-on lab experience
- Co-op real world work experience with a leading industry, academic, or government employer
Career Outlook
The multi-billion dollar biotechnology industry is diverse, growing, and filled with opportunity. Individuals with advanced scientific knowledge, intellectual flexibility, drive, and professional skills can pursue paths of innovation with the potential to meet critical healthcare and environmental challenges—and to change lives. The industry’s unparalleled growth is projected to continue in the coming years. The result is an ongoing expansion of career opportunities on every level and in every industry sector, from large pharmaceutical operations to entrepreneurial biotechnology start-ups.
Testimonials
Vasudev J., Program Graduate
Greg Zarbis-Papastoitsis, Lecturer
Dr. Jared Auclair, Academic Director, Biotechnology
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Admissions Dates
Application deadlines vary based on the program you’re applying to, and are available on the College of Science website. In addition to submitting your online application, all required application materials must be received by the stated deadlines in order for your application to be considered.
Program Costs
Requirements
- Online application
- Application fee
- Unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended
(Official transcripts required upon acceptance of admission offer) - Personal statement
- Resumé
- GRE
- Proof of English Proficiency for all applicants (from one of the following):
- Degree earned or in progress at a U.S. institution
- Degree earned or in progress at an institution where English is the only medium of instruction
- Official exam scores from either the TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or PTE exam
General Requirements
General Core
Co-op
Electives
Electives on this list may be chosen with faculty advisor approval.
Concentrations
Choose one from the following:
Choose any 5 credit hours from the electives table above.
Choose any 6 credit hours from the electives table above.
Choose any 5 credit hours from the electives table above.
Choose any 5 credit hours from the electives table above.
Choose any 5 credit hours from the electives table above.
Northeastern's signature experiential learning model combines academics with professional practice to help students acquire relevant, real-world skills they can apply to their desired industry. Each program offers its own unique experiential learning opportunities, but they might include:
- Full-Time Co-op Opportunities — Students on co-op work in a paid position in their field of study for three to six months.
- In-Class Case Studies — Professors integrate case studies and exercises into the classroom to bring a real-world perspective and relevance to what they’re teaching.
- Research — Students collaborate with faculty in our more than 30 federally funded research centers, tackling some of the most pressing challenges in health, security, and sustainability.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and in fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors, and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.
By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 230,000 alumni and 3,000 employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global NGOs. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional campuses further foster that lifelong global community of learning and mentoring.
Below is a look at where our Science & Mathematics alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.
Where They Work
- State Street
- IBM
- Raytheon
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Amazon
What They Do
- Engineering
- Education
- Business Development
- Research
- Information Technology
What They're Skilled At
- Matlab
- Research
- C++
- Project Management
- Data Analysis
Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.