The Professional Science Master's (PSM) in Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology is ideal for students who want to prepare for careers in a variety of industries that use bioprocesses, biomanufacturing, and biotechnology. The program is also designed to provide opportunities for professionals working in these industries to get the training they may need to advance in their careers. The program includes a balanced combination of bioscience, engineering, and business courses, appropriate for students with either a science or engineering background. The program culminates with an internship experience at a partnering organization, company, government entity, or non-profit, where the student puts into practice their bioscience, engineering, and business training.
The PSM in Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology is an affiliated Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree. Affiliation is administered by the Commission on Affiliation of PSM Programs (formerly named PSM National Office) to ensure a strong and distinctive PSM brand. The PSM is designed for students who are seeking a graduate degree in science or mathematics and understand the need for developing workplace skills valued by top employers.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
Graduates will demonstrate:
- A working knowledge of the core areas of biochemistry, including genetics, structural biology, cell biology, and molecular biology.
- Ability to apply engineering problem solving and design skills to analyze, design, and optimize continuous and batch bioprocesses for production and purification of value-added products.
- Professional leadership, communication, and strategic decision making skills.
- Ability to integrate current bioscience, engineering, and business theory and techniques into their knowledge base and professional pursuits.
- Ability to identify ethical issues in business and biotechnology, and understand the ethical implications of practicing their profession in society.
Effective Fall 2025
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course Requirements | ||
| BUS 500 | Foundations for Business Impact 1 | 2 |
| BUS 601 | Quantitative Business Analysis | 2 |
| BUS 614 | Accounting Concepts | 2 |
| BUS 620 | Leadership and Teams | 2 |
| CBE 504/BIOM 504 | Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering | 3 |
| CBE 505 | Biochemical Engineering Laboratory | 1 |
| CBE 522/BIOM 522 | Bioseparation Processes | 3 |
| CBE 687 | Internship | 7 |
| MIP 300 | General Microbiology 2 | 3 |
| Biological Engineering Courses | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Quantitative Systems and Synthetic Biology | ||
| Cell and Tissue Engineering 3 | ||
| Biological Physics 4 | ||
| Biomolecular Tools for Engineers | ||
| Engineering of Protein Expression Systems | ||
| Biomolecular Engineering/Synthetic Biology | ||
| Advanced Biological Wastewater Processing | ||
| Business Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 2 credits from the following: | 2 | |
| Managing Human Capital | ||
| Financial Principles and Practice 5 | ||
| Marketing Management | ||
| Bioscience Courses | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Physical Biochemistry | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Molecular Regulation of Cell Function | ||
| Principles of Macromolecular Structure | ||
| Molecular Genetics 6 | ||
| Molecular Regulation of Cell Function 7 | ||
| Quantitative Biochemistry | ||
| Plant Molecular Genetics | ||
| Principles of Chemical Biology | ||
| Methods of Chemical Biology | ||
| Computational Cell and Molecular Biology | ||
| Data Graphics and Visualization | ||
| Linux as a Computational Platform | ||
| Genomics Data Analysis in Python | ||
| Fermentation Microbiology | ||
| Introduction to Fermentation Unit Operations | ||
| Food Biotechnology 4 | ||
| Microbial Genetics | ||
| Microbial Metagenomics/Genomics Data Analysis | ||
| Microbial and Molecular Genetics Laboratory 8 | ||
| Next Generation Sequencing Platform/Libraries | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Advanced Microbiological Research Methods | ||
| Applied Microbiology and Virology | ||
| Modern Molecular Biology for Microbiologists | ||
| Microbiomes of Soil Systems | ||
| Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 39 | |
A minimum of 39 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
BUS 500 is a prerequisite (or concurrent) for the other BUS courses.
- 2
Students who have taken MIP 300 or who otherwise have a strong microbiology background should substitute a more advanced microbiology course.
- 3
May be offered every other year (even).
- 4
May be offered every other year (odd).
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
MIP 550 has multiple prerequisites. Students must take MIP 300, then MIP 450, then meet with the MIP 550 instructor to discuss whether the course is a good fit and thereby potentially obtain an override.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |