Program Director
Ramesh Raina (Executive Director of Biotechnology Program)
464 Life Sciences Complex
raraina@syr.edu
Surabhi Raina (Director of Biotechnology Graduate Programs)
462 Life Sciences Complex
sraina@syr.edu
Contact
114 Life Sciences Complex
315-443-3154
biotech@syr.edu
Faculty
Yasir Ahmed-Braimah, Abrar Aljiboury, David M. Althoff, Melanie J. Decker, Jason Boock, Carlos A. Castañeda, Arindam Chakraborty, Heather D. Coleman, Jennifer Cook, Steve Dorus, Robert P. Doyle, Scott E. Erdman, Christopher W. Fernandez, Austin M. Garner, Sarah E. Hall, Julie M. Hasenwinkel, Heidi Hehnly, James H. Henderson, James A. Hewett, James Hougland, L. Jamie Lamit, Li-En Jao, Eun-Deok Kim, Katharine Lewis, Chih Hung Lo, Sarah Lucas, Yan-Yeung Luk, Jessica MacDonald, Lauren Mavica, Mathew M. Maye, Vera McIlvain, Alexander McKelvie, Liviu Movileanu, Davoud Mozhdehi, Allison Oakes, Angela Oliverio, Susan Parks, Melissa E. Pepling, Scott Pitnick, Ramesh Raina, Surabhi Raina, Michael B. Sponsler, Nancy I. Totah, Roy D. Welch, Michele Wheatly, Jason R. Wiles, and Weiwei Zheng
Program Description
The Biotechnology MS program is designed to create a strong scientific workforce by providing students with advanced training appropriate for jobs in academia, government, or the private sector. This three-semester, non-thesis academic and laboratory master’s-level training program prepares students for careers in biotechnology research, industry or management, while also offering excellent preparation for further training in graduate school or professional doctoral programs.
Advisory Board
The Biotechnology MS program includes external collaboration in the form of an Advisory Board made up of five academic and industry professionals who will meet yearly with faculty to provide guidance and insight into emerging trends in the field. This will ensure that the program develops and maintains relevant student competencies and produces competitive applicants for future employment. The Advisory Board will also hold periodic panels with students in the program, providing contacts, insights, advice, and information for career development.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the program, students will be able to:
- Evaluate the extent to which Biotechnology research and businesses meet contemporary standards of ethical, inclusive and equitable practices.
- Formulate research questions and develop solutions to current problems in Biotechnology using a multidisciplinary approach.
- Use a variety of laboratory techniques in the design, implementation and analysis of experiments that address problems in Biotechnology.
- Critically evaluate scientific literature in the context of current, real-world applications in multiple areas of Biotechnology.
- Develop professional networking, leadership, communication and collaborative skills appropriate for professional-level employment in Biotechnology research and/or industry.
Biotechnology MS Program Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| |
| BIO 602 | Ethical Issues in Biology and Biotechnology | 3 |
| BIO 649 | Biotechnology Lab | 3 |
| BIO 663 | Molecular Biotechnology | 4 |
| BIO 664 | Applied Biotechnology | 4 |
| BIO 667 | Advances in Biotechnology Research & Ideas | 3 |
| BIO 674 | Experimental Design & Interpretation | 3 |
| EEE 620 | Foundations of Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| EEE 630 | Entrepreneurship in Engineering and Science | 3 |
| 15 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Elective Courses (15 Credits)
In addition, elective courses allow each student’s program to be individually structured to provide maximum flexibility in choice of coursework. The rich variety of available biotechnology course offerings spans three different colleges at Syracuse University:
General Biotechnology Track (15 Credits)
Students select at least 15 credits of elective courses from the course list for any of the three tracks (i.e., BioBusiness, BioMedical Sciences, or Industrial Biotechnology), including at least 3 credits from each of the three track disciplines:
- BioBusiness (EEE, MBC, or SCM courses)
- BioMedical Sciences (BCM, BIO, or CHE courses)
- Industrial Biotechnology (BEN courses)
BioBusiness Track (15 Credits)
Select at least 3 elective courses from the following list and one elective course from the Industrial Biotechnology Track and one elective course from the BioMedical Sciences Track.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EEE 600 | Selected Topics | 1-6 |
| EEE 651 | Finance for Emerging Enterprises | 3 |
| EEE 640 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| EEE 644 | Dilemmas and Debates in Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| EEE 682 | Entrepreneurial Marketing | 3 |
| MBC 600 | Selected Topics | 1-6 |
| MBC 601 | Economic Foundations of Business | 1.5 |
| MBC 609 | Accounting for Managerial Decisions | 1.5 |
| MBC 610 | Opportunity Recognition and Ideation | 1.5 |
| MBC 631 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| MBC 635 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| MBC 636 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MBC 645 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| SCM 600 | Selected Topics | 1-6 |
| SCM 651 | Business Analytics | 3 |
| SCM 656 | Project Management | 3 |
BioMedical Sciences Track (15 Credits)
Select at least 3 elective courses from the following list and one elective course from the BioBusiness Track and one elective course from the Industrial Biotechnology Track.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| BCM 678 | Perspectives in Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIO 501 | Biology of Cancer | 3 |
| BIO 503 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BIO 600 | Selected Topics | 1-6 |
| BIO 608 | Quantitative Methods for Life Scientists | 0-3 |
| BIO 610 | Graduate Research Laboratory | 1-3 |
| BIO 614 | Brain & Behavioral Plasticity | 3 |
| BIO 616 | Biology of Aging | 3 |
| BIO 630 | Genetics Laboratory | 3 |
| BIO 636 | Pharmacology of Substance Abuse | 3 |
| BIO 640 | Applied Genomics | 3 |
| BIO 644 | Seminar in Neurotoxicology | 3 |
| BIO 646 | Epigenetics of Health & Disease | 3 |
| BIO 652 | Neurodegenerative Disease | 3 |
| BIO 656 | Seminar in Human Disease Genomics | 3 |
| BIO 657 | Principles of Human Toxicology | 3 |
| BIO 659 | Plants & People | 3 |
| BIO 662 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BIO 665 | Molecular Biology Laboratory | 3 |
| BIO 668 | Microbiomes in Biotechnology and Medicine | 3 |
| BIO 671 | Cell and Developmental Biology Laboratory | 3 |
| BIO 677 | Personalized Medicine | 3 |
| BIO 679 | Mind the Gap: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility in STEM | 3 |
| CHE 614 | Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
No more than 3 credits for BIO 610 Graduate Research Laboratory can be counted towards the degree. No more than 6 credits total of BIO 610 Graduate Research Laboratory and BIO 670 Experience Credit can be counted towards the degree.
Industrial Biotechnology Track (15 Credits)
Select at least 3 elective courses from the following list and one elective course from the BioBusiness Track and one elective course from the BioMedical Track.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| BEN 500 | Selected Topics | 1-6 |
| BEN 521 | Stem Cell Engineering | 3 |
| BEN 541 | Principles of Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| BEN 568 | Biomaterials & Medical Devices | 3 |
| BEN 600 | Selected Topics | 1-6 |
| BEN 621 | Biochemical Engineering | 3 |
| BEN 633 | Drug Delivery | 3 |
| BEN 635 | Physical Cell Biology | 3 |
| BEN 662 | Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biorefining | 3 |
| BIO 670 | Experience Credit | 1-6 |
