M.S. in Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Engineering
Curriculum & Graduation Requirements
Before beginning courses, all students are required to satisfactorily complete an academic integrity instructional module, as proscribed by the Steering Committee.
The university’s complete Schedule of Classes can be found at: .
To receive the M.S. degree, students must successfully complete these requirements:
- At least 108 units of coursework, which includes courses in specific categories as listed below
- Average grade of B or above (GPA = 3.0) in those 108 or more units counted toward degree certification
- Full-time course registration (at least 36 units) for each semester in the program
Coursework consists of:
1) Foundation Courses (51-69 units). Minimum C grade in each course counted toward graduation.
- 03-709 Applied Cell and Molecular Biology (Fall, 12 units)
- 06-604 Professinoal Skills for Biotechnology, Quantitative & Computational Biology (Fall, 3 units)
- 06-621 Material Balances in Bioprocesses (Fall, 9 units)
- 06-722 Bioprocess Design (Fall, 12 units)
- 03-776-A3 Molecular Techniques for Bioprocessing (Spring, 6 units)
- 06-775-A4 Analytical Techniques for Bioprocessing (6 units)
- 06-685 Bioseparations & Bioprocess Analytical Technologies (Spring, 12 units)
2) Biology Elective Courses (24 units). Minimum C grade in each course counted toward graduation. Suggested electives include:
- 03757 (F) Synthetic Biology
- 03742 (F) Advanced Molecular Biology
- 03791 (S) Advanced Microbiology
- 03729-A4 (S) Entrepreneurship and protein-based drug development
3) Chemical Engineering Elective Courses (12 units). Minimum C grade in each course counted toward graduation. Suggested electives include:
- 06609 (F) Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules
- 06607 (S) Physical Chemsitry of Colloids and Surfaces
- 06612 (S) Formulation Engineering
- 06616 (S) Protein Engineering
- 06804 (F) Drug Delivery Systems
4) Additional, Degree-Relevant Elective Courses (12 - 21 units, depending on whether more than 9 units of foundation courses are waived). Any graduate-level course from either host department can count as degree-relevant. Suggested electives to consider for other departments include:
- 09710 (S) Chemistry and Sustainability
- 09737 (S) Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Development
- 09722 (F) Kinetics and Mechanisms of Enzymatic Rx’ns
- 02604 (F) Fundamentals of Bioinformatics
Graduation Requirements
- You must have a B average (GPA = 3.00) over all courses counted for graduation
- These courses must total at least 108 units
- Students who have an undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon: Courses counted for undergraduate degree certification cannot count for M.S. degree
Addditional Curriculum Notes
Seminars
Each semester, all students are encouraged to and attend some or all of the weekly Department of Biological Sciences Research Seminars and . Graduate students are strongly urged to meet the speakers to broaden their knowledge of cutting-edge biological science and to make useful contacts; the faculty host can arrange individual or small group meetings for interested students. Students may also count up to 3 units of seminar (typically 1 semester) as depth coursework.
Research
Research is not required, but is allowed. Certain projects funded by or related to defense research or other sensitive US government areas (as determined by the Office of the General Counsel) are NOT permitted. At this time, no research ongoing in Biological Sciences, , or Departments falls under such restrictions, but some research in other departments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Machine Learning, and some other departments does. Every mentor is required to verify with the Â鶹´å General Counsel that no sensitive topics are being researched in their lab before taking a student researcher; such verification is required in all departments (even those listed above as not currently involving sensitive topics.)
Students who are interested in research for credit may take M.S. Research for credit (06-600 or 03-699). Research is not required and there is no project capstone requirement. Students may take as many units of research as they want (up to 12 units per semester). However, only 12 units total may count toward depth electives. If the student plans to write an honors thesis, they may enroll in up to 12 units of M.S. Honors Thesis Research (03-700 or 06-700) in the final semester, these 12 units may also count toward graduation.
Students should contact faculty from biology and/or directly to learn about available research opportunities (or talk to the academic advisor). M.S. students are not eligible for research assistantships, but students can work or do research for an hourly pay within the limitations of number of hours and pay range. Typically, faculty expect students to work for credit the first semester of work as they are learning lab skills and then students may ask about hourl pay opportunities for subsequent semesters. Most faculty do not expect students to take any courses as pre-requisites for research, most expect to train you during the first semester of research for credit, regardless of your coursework or previous lab work background. Students can not get course credit and an hourly wage for the same work.
Internships
Students who are interested in doing an internship in industry or at a research lab not at Â鶹´å can take 03-601R, Biology Internship, for 3 units of credit.
International students who secure paid internships outside of Carnegie Mellon must register for both 03-601R and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). The Office of International Education (OIE) oversees CPT registration. Students will need the offer letter spelling out dates of employment, hours to be worked, and wages or stipend (if any). Note that, during the summer, tuition for 03-601R will not be assessed.
It is advisable to contact the Assistant Director (Internship and Job Placement) and/or the Assistant Department Head for Graduate Affairs during the fall semester to begin seeking and preparing for an internship (i.e. resumes, cover letters and making contacts).