Master of Biotechnology
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MS in Speech-Language PathologyAn innovative combination of laboratory-based science and graduate-level business courses, our two-year, 13-course Master of Biotechnology (MBT) stands out with its direct mentorship opportunities and access to Silicon Valley biotech companies.
Our Master of Biotechnology, founded in 2003, has a five-semester cohort-based curriculum with small class sizes and great opportunities for networking. The program also offers hands-on training to elevate your education and advance your career.
San Jose is just an hour away from South San Francisco, the "Birthplace of Biotechnology." Students in this program can take advantage of our location, getting greater access to industry experts and companies within the valley.
Program Snapshot
36
units
Fall
admission
Empower Yourself and Community
Faculty members and students share how this unique program integrates the science and business aspects of biotechnology to provide students with tremendous job opportunities in Silicon Valley, the heart of the industry.
Program Features
Direct experience
Students are required to complete a summer internship in biotechnology companies and have access to companies like Genentech, Genencor, Affymetrix, Agilent Life Sciences, Abbott, Roche, and Applied Biosystems.
Exceptional faculty
The program faculty consist of academic experts and industry leaders who bring biotech and business experience to the classroom.
Networking opportunities
Through internships, access to faculty in the industry, and small class sizes, you have countless opportunities to connect, broadening your network and increasing your job outlook. Greater than 90% of our students have jobs by graduation.
Biotech opportunity
According to go.bio.org, the demand for STEM talent in the bioscience industry continues to grow. On average, biotech workers earn 85 percent greater than others working in the industry.
Career Opportunities
- Graduates work in a variety of biotechnology positions, and over 300 of our MBT alumni work in Silicon Valley.
- Biospace.com has named the San Francisco Bay area as Biotech Bay, a hotbed for over 3,000 biotech companies and more than 96,000 life science professionals.
- Biotech startups are at the cutting edge of the industry and have launched 40% of new active substances in the last 3 years, oftentimes collaborating with big pharma. Our program offers graduate-level business entrepreneurship courses, a great elective to take if you are considering joining a startup or becoming an entrepreneur yourself.
There are a lot of biotech companies in the Bay Area, and we have quick access to them. I found an internship through one of the emails the MBT professor sent, and that’s how I met the CEO. I interviewed the next day and pretty much got hired the day after.
Ramtej Pinisetty
MBT Student, SJSU
Fast Facts
- Startups are a great way to break into a career in biotech. Biospace.com lists the top 30 up-and-coming life science companies in North America, of which 11 of these companies are in California.
- 3,418+ Biotech companies in close proximity to SJSU, including many of the top biotech companies like Gilead, BioMarin, and Fiberogen
I got a Biotech internship in Silicon Valley in the summer, and with the skill set I gained from the MBT experience, it was smooth sailing. And under the mentorship of MBT Faculty, I became one of the Silicon Valley Innovation Challenge (SVIC) finalists
Sreelakshmi Chandra
MBT Student, SJSU
Apply To The Program
Learn more about how to apply below.
- Admission Requirements
- US 4-year Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- General GRE-writing 4.0 (lower scores can be reviewed by the Directors)
- Minimum GPA 2.5 (last two years of university coursework: 3.0 recommended)
- TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5 (international) or Duolingo 120
- Financial statement as required by GAPE (international)
- A one-page "Statement of Purpose"
- A resume
- Two letters of recommendation
For more information, please visit the MBT website.
- How to Apply
For a full checklist and links to apply, visit the Biotechnology Admissions page.
- Application Deadlines
Fall 2025 - Domestic
- Application Deadline: April 1, 2025*
- Document Deadline: April 20, 2025*
Fall 2025 - International
- Application Deadline: April 1, 2025*
- Document Deadline: April 20, 2025*
*These dates are not final and are subject to change.
Webinars are held each semester. For more information, see our
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Contact Information
Dr. Sabine Rech
sabine.rech@sjsu.edu