Biomedical Sciences & Biotechnology Overview

The Master’s program in Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology (BSBT) provides students with a broad education and training that will prepare them for research or research-related jobs in academia or industry, or for further training in graduate or professional programs.

The BSBT Program was designed and is recognized by the National Professional Science Master’s Association (NPSMA) as a Professional Science Master’s Program (PSM), the first such program in the CU system. The program trains students beyond the STEM disciplines of biomedical sciences and biotechnology by requiring training also in arenas that are a) auxiliary to these disciplines, such as scientific writing and project management, and b) informative about biotechnology related components in business and regulatory affairs.

Microbiology & Immunology Track Overview

The Immunology and Microbiology Program Plan will provide students with a focused education in immunology and microbiology as well as laboratory skills. The goal will be to enhance career advancement in education or industry or prepare a student for a career in research, including further training in graduate and professional programs. Importantly, this program will provide extensive hands-on research experience, where students will be trained in research laboratories located within the department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Students will complete 38 units that include core course work, electives and participation in cutting-edge research, as well as write and defend a thesis.

Structural Biology Track Overview

The Structural Biology and Biochemistry track will provide students with graduate level training in structural biology, biophysics biochemistry with an emphasis on laboratory research. Students will acquire a solid foundation and specialized skills in biomedical, biophysical, and structural sciences that will be preparation for further education in graduate and professional programs as well as a career in academic research or industry. The curriculum includes 38 units of core course work, electives and participation in cutting-edge research in the laboratory of an STBB faculty member. Students will demonstrate original investigation showing critical judgment, as well as familiarity with tools and methods of research, through preparation of a dissertation that will be defended prior to obtaining the degree.

Admission Requirements

General Track Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate work and any previous graduate work
• A completed Graduate School application
• Three academic letters of recommendation
• Letter of intent describing in which way the program could support the student’s next career steps and which kind of prior training the student acquired in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology and genetics
• A nonrefundable application fee

Official transcripts from all post-secondary colleges and/or universities should be emailed directly from the issuing institution to: graduate.school@cuanschutz.edu (preferred)

If sending a physical transcript, please have it mailed directly from the issuing institution to:

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Graduate School
Mail Stop C296
Fitzsimons Building, C5000
13001 E. 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045
International students must meet ALL of the requirements above and those required by International Admissions. 

Microbiology & Immunology Track Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Official General GRE or MCAT (both optional)
• Complete transcripts of undergraduate work and any previous graduate work
• A completed application to Graduate Studies
• Three academic letters of recommendation
• Letter of intent
• Strong background in biological sciences.  BA/BA in molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology or equivalent specialty

To apply for admission applicants must submit the following:

• Online Graduate School application
  • Personal Statement: A one-page personal statement describing the applicant’s career goals and purpose for studying biomedical sciences and biotechnology
  • Resume: The applicant’s current resume or curriculum vitae, including professional work/practice since graduating with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
  • Personal statement.
  • Three recommendation letters from people who know your professional, academic and/or personal achievements or qualities well.
• Application Fee: A nonrefundable application fee of $75.00 (U.S. dollars). Checks or money orders should be made payable to the University of Colorado.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary colleges and/or universities should be sent directly to:
  • Electronic Transcripts should be sent to: graduate.school@cuanschutz.edu (preferred)
  • If sending a physical transcript, please mail to:

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Graduate School
Mail Stop C296
Fitzsimons Building, C5000
13001 E. 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045

International students must meet ALL of the requirements above and those required by International Admissions. 

Structural Biology Track Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Official General GRE or MCAT (both optional)
• Complete transcripts of undergraduate work and any previous graduate work
• A completed application to Graduate Studies
• Three academic letters of recommendation
• Letter of intent
• Training in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, biological chemistry, biophysics

To apply for admission applicants must submit the following:

Online Graduate School application

• Personal Statement: A one-page personal statement describing the applicant’s career goals and purpose for studying biomedical sciences and biotechnology
• Resume: The applicant’s current resume or curriculum vitae, including professional work/practice since graduating with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
• Personal statement.
• Three recommendation letters from people who know your professional, academic and/or personal achievements or qualities well.

Application Fee: A nonrefundable application fee of $75.00 (U.S. dollars). Checks or money orders should be made payable to the University of Colorado.

Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary colleges and/or universities should be sent directly to:

• Electronic Transcripts should be sent to: graduate.school@cuanschutz.edu (preferred)
• If sending a physical transcript, please mail to:

  University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
  Graduate School
  Mail Stop C296
  Fitzsimons Building, C5000
  13001 E. 17th Place
  Aurora, CO 80045

  International students must meet ALL of the requirements above and those required by International Admissions.

Curriculum

The Professional Science Master’s Program in Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology requires a total of 38 credits that full-time students can earn in two years. However, students can also enroll part time. An enrollment for a minimum of 5 credits is required for financial aid eligibility.

In addition to the science courses, in the General BSBT Program, students are required to enroll in professional development courses (Plus Courses) such as biomedical entrepreneurship, project management and regulatory affairs. These Plus Courses provide additional training that is very much valued by employers inside and outside academia.

The mandatory internship requires students to apply their base science and professional training in a hands-on, real-world setting. In consultation with the Program Director, students choose an internship that suits their future career aspirations. For example, students who are interested in a career in research can pursue an internship in an academic lab or a company. Students can also carry out an internship in a biotech business setting, regulatory affairs or technology transfer. Employers inside and outside academia often view the internship as an extended interview, and after graduation, quite a number of our graduates stayed at their internship site for employment. Some students have also used our program successfully as a stepping stone towards medical or DO school or a PhD program.

38 credits are required for graduation in the BSBT-PSM Program, and graduate students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (“B”). Courses with the grade of "C" are not accepted for graduation.

General Track

First Year

Second Year

Microbiology & Immunology Track

First Year

Second Year

Structural Biology Track

First Year

Second Year

Learning Objectives

Learning and Training Goals

Upon successful completion of their studies, students enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology Master’s Program will be able to:

• Apply principles of experimental design and problem solving in the biomedical sciences
• Apply statistical tools for data composition, mining and analysis
• Employ state-of-the-art techniques in biomedical sciences
• Design strategies for rational drug design
• Conduct research in an ethical manner
• Engage in critical analysis of the scientific literature
• Apply the principles of project management
• Understand and operate in the regulatory environment of life science innovation
• Analyze the process of biomedical entrepreneurship in academic, government, and corporate settings
• Write a well-supported, well-reasoned scientific or technical paper

Upon successful completion of their studies, students enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Certificate program will be able to:

1. Apply principles of experimental design and problem solving in four focus areas of biomedical sciences.
2. Employ basic tools of R programming.
3. Classify data and use statistical tools to test hypotheses.
4. Recognize and manage ethical challenges related to the responsible conduct of research.

Courses

Policies

Please refer to the Graduate School Policies page.

Contact Us

Patricia Goggans
Program Administrator
BSBT.Program@cuanschutz.edu

General Track:
Kristine Sikora, PhD
Interim Program Director
BSBT.Program@cuanschutz.edu 

Microbiology & Immunology Track:
Kelly Doran, PhD
Program Director
Kelly.Doran@cuanschutz.edu
303-724-3539

Structural Biology Track:
Mair Churchill, PhD
Program Director
Mair.Churchill@cuanschutz.edu
303-724-3670