Degree Overview: Master’s Degree Program in Biotechnology Management
Majors Overview April 25, 2015Get information about master’s degree programs in biotechnology management and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Master’s Degree Programs in Biotechnology Management
A combination of genetic engineering, diagnostic techniques, and cell and tissue techniques employed for various environmental, agricultural, and medical applications defines the basis of the biotechnology industry. These biological topics are supplemented by master’s degree programs in biotechnology management with leadership, economics, marketing, and business training.
While some schools offer Master of Science (M.S.) in Biotechnology Management degree programs, at others, a Master of Biotechnology (M.B.)/Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) joint degree program is available. Those who successfully graduate from these degree programs can obtain a strong grasp of the complex, technical, and scientific components of biotechnology, in addition to the ability to apply this knowledge in a commercial setting.
Program coursework is devised to teach enrolled students about business management as well as biotechnology, whereby they can learn about ways of applying business principles to management in this field. An internship in a biotechnology firm is a requirement for students enrolled in most programs.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree from an area of engineering, science, or an unrelated area. Applicants would benefit from having undergone previous training in areas such as statistics, calculus, and molecular biology.
Requirements also include submission of TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT scores, in addition to an essay, including a statement of purpose and career objectives, along with letters of recommendation. Typically, applicants for admittance to the M.B./M.B.A. joint program must make separate applications to both departments.
Coursework
The highly interdisciplinary coursework in a master’s degree program in biotechnology management combines courses in biotechnology science, biotechnology industry, and general policy and management. An internship is a requirement for students enrolled in some schools at the end of the degree program and is intended to help them gain practical experience. Core coursework may include topic areas such as the following:
•Principles of project management
•Strategic, structural, and industrial elements of biotechnology
•Cellular and molecular biology
•Appraising and selecting biotechnological projects
•Societal and ethical issues in biotechnology
•Bioinformatics
•Techniques and fundamentals of biotechnology
•Marketing administration
•Organizational administration
•Managerial finance accounting
Career Choices
Graduates may seek occupations with biotechnology companies. This may require them to produce materials for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of human diseases, conduct biotechnological research, vaccinate animals, and detect soil pollutants to show expertise in specialty areas in the field. Graduates of the program may seek specific career titles such as:
•Public relations officer
•Regulatory affairs officer
•Project manager
•Laboratory supervisor
•Marketing specialist
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2010 – 2020 decade, job growth rate of 19% have been predicted for biochemists and biophysicists (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $81,480. During the same year, medical scientists earned $76,980 on average and were predicted to see job growth of 13% between 2012 and 2022 (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Those who complete the bachelor’s program may seek continuing education by earning a doctoral degree in business administration or biotechnology in accordance with their intended area of expansion. Highly advanced coursework and extensive dissertation research are within both doctoral degrees. After they earn a doctoral degree, graduates can advance their careers or pursue postsecondary-level teaching jobs.
