Biotechnology, M.S.
| Abilene | Lubbock |
| Sanjay Srivastava, Ph.D., GSBS Associate Dean and Abilene Director | Susan Bergeson, Ph.D., GSBS Associate Dean and Lubbock Director |
| Irene La-Beck, Ph.D., Abilene Graduate Advisor | Ina Urbatsch, Ph.D., Lubbock Graduate Advisor |
About the Program
Click Here to View Program Guidelines for Biotechnology
This program is an interdisciplinary degree supported by all basic science departments in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) located on Abilene and Lubbock campuses. The biomedical sciences track is a 21-month curriculum consisting of two terms (nine months) of coursework and 12 months of full-time laboratory research. It is typically a non-thesis degree with an optional thesis at the end of the second year by arrangement with the advisor. The research component may be completed either at the TTUHSC campus or at a biotechnology-related academic or government laboratory. Students who choose to do their research at the TTUHSC campus will work with a member of the biotechnology graduate faculty. All biotechnology graduate faculty have active research programs that emphasize use of biotechnology methods. Prerequisites for the program include a bachelor’s degree in science with at least one year of organic chemistry.
Biotechnology Core Curriculum
Students entering the Biotechnology master’s degree program complete a core curriculum requirement in the first year, and elective requirements in year two. The first semester of the first year, students take the same Biomedical Sciences core curriculum required of Ph.D. students, as well as Biotechnology Lab Methods. Core curriculum courses include Molecules, Cells, Genes, and Biomedical Seminar Series. The second semester of the first year, students are required to complete the Biotechnology Core courses which include Introduction to Biotechnology, Biomedical Informatics, Biotechnology Seminar, and Techniques in Biotechnology. For more information, please see the Biotechnology Guidelines.
Admissions
Applicants apply on the GSBS application website, http://www.bioraider.com, create an account and choose the program application. Applicants also select the campus, Lubbock or Abilene.
The Biotechnology Program admits on a rolling admissions basis. As an application is completed, it is processed and sent to specific campus Biotechnology Admissions Committee.
A completed application consists of the following items: submitted application, unofficial transcript(s) from U.S. institutions and/or course-by-course transcript evaluation, GRE (required for international applicants), at least two letters of recommendation, essay/statement of purpose, resume/CV, application fee.
Incomplete applications at the application deadline are not and will not be processed or reviewed for admission. No exceptions are made.
Application materials are processed and sent to the campus Biotechnology Admissions Committee for a holistic review. Each reviewer independently scores the application based on the materials presented in the application and an interview is scheduled with the applicant. These interviews may be in person or via video conferencing at the applicant’s choice. The interview is conducted by a panel of available Biotechnology Admissions Committee members, usually consisting of at least 3-4 reviewers. During the interview, the committee scores the applicant on a number of metrics from the application (academic and non-academic) as well as the interview and ability to answer the interviewer’s questions.
After the interview is complete, the interviewers submit their Biotechnology Applicant Scoring Form and their recommendations of admit or decline. If admit, a ballot is prepared by the campus Program Director or Graduate Advisor and submitted to the GSBS Admissions Committee for independent and final approval.
99-Hour Rule
Purpose: To define enrollment limits sanctioned by the Texas Legislature and outline the process masters student approaching maximum limits.
Students who accumulate more than 99 credit hours may be required to pay non-resident tuition. Master's students may not reduce hours unless they are designated by the GSBS office as "off-campus" students. Students who are designated as off-campus students should review the guidelines under "semester of graduation" within the Enrollment section. Reduced enrollment hours may affect financial aid status and/or payroll FICA exemptions. Students are encouraged to check with the financial aid office and the payroll office before taking the reduced hours. International students should also check with the TTUHSC DSO to verify hours for compliance with the Department of Homeland Security. Typically, international students may only reduce hours in their last semester. Any exceptions must be approved and updated in SEVIS.
