University Launches New BioTech/MBA Dual Degree That Combines Business and Science

The College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management are launching a new dual degree program: a master of science in biotechnology (M.S. in biotechnology) combined with the master of business administration (MBA).

The degree will help prepare students for a world where science and business are combined, by embracing STEM and life sciences with the applied commercial aspects of their work. It is the ideal program for students looking to become more versatile, multidisciplinary and future business leaders with scientific backgrounds.

The dual program is offered in a streamlined format, with a minimum of 76.5 credits. Students will be able to complete both degrees in a minimum of two and a half years. The program is available starting this fall.

Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Lois Agnew says, “We are very excited about leveraging our cutting-edge biotechnology program by combining it with the Whitman School’s equally impressive MBA program. There is increased demand for students who understand science—and biotechnology in particular—and how it can be applied in business settings. We are confident that our dual M.S. in biotechnology and MBA degree will attract highly qualified and diverse students based on the quality and unique approaches of both programs.”

Whitman School Interim Dean Alexander McKelvie says, “By partnering more closely with the biotechnology program, we see a lot of potential for our students to apply both scientific principles and business acumen to grasp the best of both worlds more fully: the actual work that goes in behind the scenes in new product development, R&D, and technology commercialization, with management, sales and business. This helps students in industries related to pharmaceuticals, biomaterials and biomedicine, among others.”

Kate Lewis, chair of the Department of Biology, says, “This partnership will provide our students with a competitive edge as they move from their education into an exciting and rapidly evolving industry. They will excel not only in the lab, but also in all aspects of business including management, sales and commercialization.”

McKelvie adds, “This also helps to support Whitman’s increased partnerships in this health-related space, such as the dual M.D./MBA we launched last year with SUNY Upstate Medical University and the recently announced new dual degree programs in public health with the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Whitman’s STEM designation for our MBA concentrations is also an attractive factor for international candidates.”

Admission requirements will remain similar for both programs and emphasize both academic credentials and leadership experience and potential. Dual degree programs are highly demanding, and students should possess the strong scientific and analytical abilities and the soft skills needed for leadership positions. Competitive scholarships at the graduate level are available based on merit.

In addition, the Whitman School is a partner with Management Leadership for Tomorrow and the National Black MBA Association that provide scholarships for underrepresented minority MBA candidates based on application.

For more detailed information about this new dual degree program, visit the M.S. in Biotechnology/MBA page.