Program Objectives
Our Master of Science in Biotechnology program is a non-thesis, research and laboratory training program. It prepares you for careers in research or education or additional education.
This program is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees who are interested in furthering their scientific education. The customized curriculum helps you meet you career and professional goals.
You can choose from one of three tracks:
- Preprofessional
- Research
- Education
Graduation Requirements
The program consists of three components:
- Minimum of 34 graduate credits
- Track components:
- Preprofessional: standardized test preparation and test anxiety workshops, and experiential opportunities
- Research: capstone independent research project, internship/practicum and experiential opportunities
- Education: capstone independent research project, internship/practicum (Chicago Public Schools teachers only)
- Courses in the following subject areas:
- Biomedical Informatics
- Biostatistics
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Career Professional Development
- Preprofessional Track: professional school preparation, internships and experiential learning
- Research Track: internship/practicum and capstone research project
- Education Track: internship/practicum and capstone research project
It is your responsibility to register for all core courses that are offered within a given term to fulfill program requirements.
Course Curriculum
Required Courses for all Preprofessional and Research Students (24 Credits)
- BTN - 523 Career Planning (Credits: 1)
- BTN - 531 Laboratory Techniques I (Credits: 2)
- BTN - 532 Laboratory Techniques II (Credits: 2)
- BTN - 533 Laboratory Techniques III (Credits: 2)
- BTN - 534 Laboratory Animal Procedures and Techniques (Credits: 2)
- GCC - 506 Biomedical Ethics (Credits: 1)
- GCC - 516 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences Credit(s): 7
- GCC - 546 Principles of Biostatistics I (Credits: 2)
- GCC - 547 Principles of Biostatistics II (Credits: 2)
- GCC - 548 Bioinformatics (Credits: 1)
- GCC - 900 Independent Study: Experiential Learning (Credits: 1-9)
Additional Required Courses Preprofessional Track (5 Credits)
In addition to the required core coursework, students in the preprofessional track are required to take the following courses:
- GCC - 900 Independent Study: Preprofessional Development (Credits: 1-9)
- BTN - 525 Experimental Design and Models in Disease (Credits: 2)
Additional Required Courses and Forum Research Track (5 Credits)
Research Forum
Research track students must identify a research capstone mentor to host them in their laboratory prior to the start of the spring term.
A Research Forum is hosted each fall to help facilitate the identification of a capstone mentor. You are provided with descriptions of faculty research and can talk to them about their projects.
In addition to the required core coursework, students in the research track are required to take the following courses:
- BTN - 537 Research Capstone (Credits: 4)
- GCC - 549 Bioinformatics II (Credits: 1)
Preprofessional and Research Track Electives (5 Credits)
Students in the preprofessional and research tracks must complete five credits of Graduate College elective coursework.
Experiential Learning (Preprofessional and Research Tracks)
You participate in an experiential learning opportunity in addition to their didactic and capstone projects.
You may choose to participate in an internship/practicum. A minimum of 10 weeks of participation is required for completion (typically conducted in the spring term).
The internship/practicum provides you with hands-on exposure to research in a variety of environments.
You will work with a mentor and participate in the development, execution and evaluation of a research project or a research-related activity.
You will be exposed to research-related activities that are aligned with your career goals. For example, students in the preprofessional track may shadow physicians while those in the research track conduct an independent project in a lab.
The internship/practicum may be completed with a mentor who is conducting research within a research or hospital setting.
A practicum may also be performed under the direction of a professional within the following areas:
- A drug, device or biotechnology company
- A clinical research organization (CRO)
- A site management organization (SMO)
Capstone Research (Research Track)
Students in the research track must complete a capstone project. You apply principles learned in your coursework to an independent research project.
A mentor and research proposal are usually identified during the second semester. The project must involve the analysis and interpretation of data.
You are encouraged to conduct primary data collection, but it is not a requirement.
You will present your project in a public forum that includes your capstone mentor, biotechnology students, faculty and any other interested parties.
Required Courses Education Track (26 credits)
Students in the education track are required to take the following courses:
- BTN - 531 Laboratory Techniques I (Credits: 2)
- BTN - 532 Laboratory Techniques II (Credits: 2)
- BTN - 533 Laboratory Techniques III (Credits: 2)
- BTN - 534 Laboratory Animal Procedures and Techniques (Credits: 2)
- BTN - 537 Research Capstone (Credits: 4)
- GCC - 506 Biomedical Ethics (Credits: 1)
- GCC - 516 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences (Credits: 7)
- GCC - 546 Principles of Biostatistics I (Credits: 2)
- GCC - 547 Principles of Biostatistics II (Credits: 2)
- GCC - 900 Independent Study: Experiential Learning (Credits: 1-9)
Capstone Research (Education Track)
Students in the education track must complete a capstone project. You apply principles learned in your coursework to an independent research project.
These projects are translatable to laboratory curricula appropriate for secondary education. You develop a project in collaboration with assigned mentors.
Projects involve the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. You will present your project in a public forum that includes your capstone mentor, biotechnology students, faculty and any other interested parties.
Experiential Learning (Education Track)
The experiential learning component of the education track gives you an opportunity to translate biotechnology skills into lesson plans for secondary school students.
During the summer teaching practicum, you will practice teaching the laboratory curricula you developed for your capstone research projects.
You teach the material to secondary school students invited to RUSH’s campus over the final week of the summer semester.
After completing the practicum, you are eligible to check out laboratory equipment and reagents from the Experiment Library. You can use this material in your own classrooms during the academic year.
Additional Required Coursework Education Track (8 credits)
Students in the education track must select an additional eight credits of Graduate College coursework.
You can select courses based on your career goals.
View the current course catalog
Refer to the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.