Majoring in Biotechnology
Biotechnology is an active learning, project centered major at Marshall University. The Biotechnology Major provides educational preparation for employment in modern biotechnology fields in both the public and private sector or for graduate school. Our teaching and research facilities in the state of the art Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center are brand new. Our equipment is new and state of the art. Our curriculum emphasizes skills needed to succeed in industry because it was designed by industry veterans.
Marshall University Biotechnology Graduates are employed in a wide variety of careers including as forensic DNA analysts for the Armed Forces DNA Laboratory, WV State Police Crime Laboratory, WV CODIS Laboratory, QC Information System Specialist for Lonza (a major Biotechnology Company) and manufacturing scientist for Vandalia Research (a start-up Biotechnology Company).
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Integrated Science and Technology Department offers three options for students interested in majoring in Biotechnology:
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IST major with an area of emphasis in Biotechnology.
The Preprofessional track includes the traditional science and math courses required by professional programs including medical school. Specific medical school requirements vary, but the Premed IST advising sheet lists the courses a student must fulfill to complete the Premed curriculum with an IST Biotechnology major. Preprofessional track prepares graduates to apply to the prestigious and competitive Marshall University Forensic Science Master's Program.
The Applied Research and Development track allows students to focus on preparing for a career in the biotechnology industry after completing their four year degree. All students in both tracks are required to take a two semester capstone research project and internships are strongly encouraged.
The Integrated Science and Technology Department also offers a Major in IST with an area of emphasis in Biotechnology. This major provides the flexibility for students to take more computer or environmental science courses for a second area of emphasis.
Many students are interested Biotechnology because of the hands-on, technical program with a strong core curriculum in Chemistry and Biology. Students interested in applying to medical school, genetic counseling or graduate school in can major in a rigorous biotechnology curriculum enriched with traditional classes in the natural sciences, which also prepares them to join the workforce with a four-year degree.
In fact, eighteen of the first 40 Biotechnology graduates have continued on to graduate school in Medicine, Law, Forensic Science, Genetic Counseling, Biotechnology, Genetics, Physical Science, Computer Science and Biomedical Science.
