Master of Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology at University of New Hampshire

The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences (MCBS) in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) offers the professional M.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology (MCBT). This non-thesis degree program addresses the growing workforce and educational needs of the bioscience industries (including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, biomanufacturing, and medical device companies). The M.S. in MCBT provides continuing and accessible graduate-level education for individuals from broad backgrounds currently in the workforce, as well as for UNH undergraduate students seeking to enroll in an accelerated Master's program, to gain specialized knowledge and skills prior to entering the workforce.

Distinctive Features of the Program

The program is founded on the existing academic rigor of the thesis-based graduate programs offered in MCBS and on the substantial innovative experiential learning opportunities enabled by existing biotechnology-relevant Centers: the University Instrumentation Center (UIC), the Center of Integrated Biomedical and Bioengineering Research (CIBBR), the NH Center for Multiscale Modeling and Manufacturing of Biomaterials (NH BioMade), and the Biomanufacturing Innovation Center (BIC). These resources will enable offering instrumentation training workshops in the following areas: genetic engineering of cells; recombinant protein production and purification; biological mass spectroscopy; nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy; cell imaging and phenotyping; visualization of macromolecules.

Why get a professional Master's of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology?

Our professional M.S. in biotechnology equips you with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and industry contacts required to take your chosen career in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or biomanufacturing industries to the next level. Unlike a thesis-based M.S. program, students in the MCBT Program take core and elective courses in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology of immediate relevance to working professionals. Our mission is to efficiently provide our students the specialized knowledge and skills needed to successfully enter or advance their careers in a range of bioscience industries. This M.S. program concludes with a training experience in a research lab or industrial setting that will help launch you onto the next stage of your career journey in the biotechnology and associated industries.

Why choose UNH's professional M.S. in MCBT?

As a Carnegie research-intensive (R1) institution, UNH offers outstanding opportunities to engage with world-class researchers, develop your analytical skills with state-of-the-art instrumentation, and be centrally located in the northeast biotech corridor that ranges from Boston to Portland. Whether you complete the M.S. in MCBT on a part-time or full-time schedule, you'll graduate with the skills, knowledge, and connections to propel your career forward in the rapidly growing fields of biotechnology, pharmaceutical science, or biomanufacturing.

Admission Requirements

A distinguishing feature of the M.S. in MCBT curriculum is its flexibility to accommodate students of diverse backgrounds, and to provide a customized curriculum to meet the career goals that attracted them to this program. For admission, program applicants will be expected to meet the following prerequisites:
"¢ GPA > 3.0 in prior academic programs, and/or excellent relevant work experience.
"¢ Demonstration of English proficiency for non-native, English-speaking applicants (i.e., TOEFL score).
"¢ Three letters of recommendation
"¢ Personal statement specifying the applicant's professional development and career plan.
"¢ Required prerequisite courses: introductory biology (two semesters), genetics, organic chemistry.
"¢ Strongly recommended prerequisite courses: microbiology, cell biology, math/statistics, biochemistry.

Please note that no departmental financial aid (i.e., teaching assistantships or research assistantships) is available to students admitted into this program.  Information regarding tuition and fees is located here.  Information about other types of financial aid is located here.

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements for UNH Seniors

Accelerated master's admission is designed for highly motivated and qualified UNH students seeking additional training to further their career goals as a researcher in the life sciences.  This program is an optimal way for qualified undergraduate students to begin earning graduate credits during their senior year. Students in most programs are able to take up to 12 credits that will count for both undergraduate and graduate credit, allowing them to maximize their time on campus and the return on their educational investment as they seek to increase their marketability after graduation.

Admission to the Accelerated Master's is highly competitive. Students wishing to pursue this option must have a grade point average greater than 3.2 at the time of application. A faculty advisor must be identified during the junior year and the approval of the advisor must be obtained. Prior to the first semester of the senior year, the student must formally apply to the Graduate School and receive admission to the Accelerated Master's MCBT Graduate Program.

All MCBS graduates will be able to:

• Critically apply theories, methodologies, and knowledge to address fundamental questions in their primary area of study.
• Pursue research of significance in the discipline (or an interdisciplinary or creative project). Students plan and conduct this research (or implement their project) under the guidance of an advisor, while developing intellectual independence that typifies true scholarship.
• Demonstrate skills in oral and written communication sufficient to present and publish work in their field, and to prepare grant proposals.
• Follow the principles of ethics in their field, and in academia.
• Demonstrate, through service, the value of their discipline to the academy and community at large.
• Demonstrate a mastery of skills and knowledge at a level required for college and university undergraduate teaching in their discipline and assessment of student learning.
• Interact productively with individuals from diverse backgrounds in the roles of team members, leaders and mentors with integrity and professionalism.

Graduates of the Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology M.S. degree program will be able to:

• Demonstrate hands-on, broad based technical skills in biotechnology methodology.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically review current scientific literature in biotechnology.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills to solve problems in biotechnology.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of biotechnology concepts.
• Demonstrate professional and scientific communication skills in biotechnology settings.