Certificate in Biotechnology

Launching Your Career

~95% of students who complete the Biotechnology Certificate find employment in biotechnology workforce, academia, or the public sector or are successful in being admitted for advanced graduate study.

Small Class Sizes with Relevant Instruction

The Biotechnology Certificate Program provides courses and hands-on laboratory experiences and research opportunities that will prepare you for success in industry, academia, or the public sector. Our program also features instruction in professional development and research design and presentation. Class sizes are kept small to give you personalized attention from faculty who are world-class experts in their disciplines.

Hands-On Research Experiences and Internships

While pursuing your biotechnology certificate, you will have the opportunity to participate in a research experience in a faculty member’s research lab or complete an internship in an academic or corporate scientific environment. These scientific experiences will boost your resume and dramatically increase your marketability with employers and advanced graduate programs.

Biotechnology Faculty Research Mentors and their research interests include

• Dr. Douglas Bernstein – RNA modifications in fungal pathogens
• Dr. Ashley Kalinski – nervous and immune system responses following traumatic injury
• Dr. John McKillip – novel approaches to combat the antibiotic resistance crisis
• Dr. James Olesen – molecular analysis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Dr. Bart Pederson – role of metabolism in development and neurological health
• Dr. Douglas Roossien – cutting-edge technologies to study neuronal circuitry
• Dr. Eric (VJ) Rubenstein – detection and destruction of disease-causing aberrant proteins
• Dr. Bikram Sharma – cardiovascular development and regeneration
• Dr. Philip Smaldino – molecular underpinnings of cancer and ALS

Eligibility

You are eligible to enroll in the Ball State biotechnology program if you meet these requirements:

• You are an undergraduate in your last two years of study
• You have earned your bachelor’s degree and want to add the certificate as a non-degree-seeking student, and you understand coursework will not count toward a degree
• You have earned your bachelor’s degree and want to include the biotechnology program as part of a master’s degree. This option requires at least two extra courses, including a thesis for those seeking a master of science.

Program Requirements

• You must have recently earned a B- or higher in BIO 215 (Cell Biology). In some circumstances (e.g. outstanding performance in comparable or more advanced coursework), this requirement may be waived.
• You must complete all seven biotech courses as well as two electives and 1-6 hours of the non-formal courses which include an internship.
• You must earn a C (2.0) grade or better in each course and maintain at least a 2.5-grade point average for all courses in the program.

Credits