By the start of their junior year, undergraduates at Catholic University may elect to enter the dual degree program. Students in this program earn both a B.S. degree in biology and an M.S. degree in biotechnology. The program requires 30 credits.

This program offers several advantages:

  • A bachelor’s and a master’s degree earned in 5 rather than 6 years
  • A summer internship in biotechnology offers experience and employment opportunities
  • Graduates with a dual degree will earn higher pay
Graduates with a dual degree start earning a year sooner. In addition to the basic requirements for the B.S. degree in biology, the curriculum includes the following:
  • Graduate-level biology courses are double counted for 12 credits
  • Four new biotechnology courses provide 12 credits
  • Summer internship earns 4 credits
  • Graduate research seminar gets 2 credits

Why Get an M.S. in Biotechnology Degree?

Interested in a career paying an average of over $100,000 a year?  See https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/scientist-i-biotech-salary/md

Interested in an industry projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 14% between 2022 and 2030?  See https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/biotechnology-market#:~:text=Report%20Overview,13.9%25%20from%202022%20to%202030.

Then the exciting field of biotechnology that offers options in both science and business is for you.

At its simplest, biotechnology is technology based on biology - biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help heal the world, feed the world, and fuel the world.

Biotechnology offers opportunities in five major subsectors:

  • Drugs and pharmaceuticals: Traditionally, chemistry has been the means by which new medicines have been isolated or synthesized. The rise of biotechnology, however, now promises pharmaceuticals that are created through biological processes found in living organisms. Future advances in medicine are relying more and more on the use of biotechnology and, as a result, the role of biotechnology in healthcare is rapidly expanding.
  • Agricultural feedstock and chemicals: By manipulating plant genomes, biotechnologists can create new breeds of crops. Through the transfer of specific genes, for example, scientists can create plants with enhanced characteristics such as self-fertilization, resistance to drought or disease, and enhanced nutritional value. Current biotechnology research on crop-based fuels may dramatically increase the production of ethanol.
  • Research, testing, and medical laboratories: Biotechnology research is growing more complicated through genomics, proteomics, and metabiomics. As a result, the products generated are often unique. New test procedures are needed by both companies and regulatory agencies to ensure that biotechnology products are safe and effective.
  • Environmental applications: One of the earliest applications of biotechnology involved the genetic engineering of microbes to feed on petroleum products.  These novel microbes were patented for use in containing oil spills. Aquaculture will also benefit from the insertion of genes in fish and shellfish that will speed their growth and enable them to better ward off parasites and microbial infections.
  • Medical devices and equipment: Biotechnology makes use of macromolecules that can very precisely recognize certain biological materials. When engineered into sophisticated medical devices and equipment, biotechnology processes can, for example, enhance the sensitivity and speed by which medical diagnoses can be made.