Our Biotechnology Program is internationally renowned and offers exciting, hands-on research-based in this rapidly expanding scientific area. Through their participation in national research collaborations, students are trained in the scientific disciplines most in demands by the biotechnology industry and government laboratories, including recombinant DNA technology, mammalian cell culture, and chromatography with special emphasis on High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Biotechnology students intern at some of the most prestigious research institutions in the world, such as Dana Farber (Boston), Boston Medical Center, The University of Edinburgh (Scotland), Moscow State University (Russia), University of the Amazon (Brazil), and the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières (Canada).

Upon completion, the Associate in Science Degree in Biotechnology is awarded.

Career Forecast

• Biotechnology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. The demand for highly-skilled technicians is high worldwide and is anticipated to continue to grow throughout the 21st century.
• Technicians with biotechnology research skills are also in great demand at academic and government laboratories.
• The Biotechnology program enjoys a 100% job placement rate for graduates. Indeed, a large percentage of Biotechnology students obtain industry employment prior to graduation.
• Approximately fifty percent of Biotechnology students pursue advanced degrees. Thus the program offers articulated transfer agreement with baccalaureate institutions nationwide.

Program Requirements:

Program Footnotes:

* Pre-Calculus (MA104) may substitute.

A grade of C or better is required for all Biotech program courses.

Humanities Electives: Art, Communications, Film, French, Humanities, Literature, Philosophy, Photography, Sign Language, Spanish, Oral Communication, Theater Arts

Social Science Electives: Anthropology, Geography, History, Economics, Government, Psychology, Sociology, Law & Society

This program qualifies for Joint Admissions with certain Massachusetts State Colleges.


BI 210 Molecular Biology
This course is an in depth examination of the principles that govern the structure and function of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes. Emphasis is placed on gene structure, function, expression, and regulation. The laboratory presents a concise presentation of the state-of-the-art methods utilized in molecular biology, as well as an overview of the far-reaching applications of recombinant DNA technology.
Prerequisites: BI 120, CH 120

BI 220 Immunology
This course emphasizes the molecular and cellular interactions involved in immune responses. Topics covered include antibody structure and function; applications of monoclonal antibodies in biotechnology and medicine; gene rearrangements in B and T cells; cellular cooperation and role of the MHC; tolerance; and immunopathology (hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, transplantation, cancer immunity and immunotherapy, and AIDS). Laboratory involves antibody purification, immunoprecipitation assays, immunoblotting, and ELIS as (indirect, sandwich, and competitive).
Co-requisite: BI 210

BT 101 Rotation I: Introduction to Biotechnology
In this hands-on laboratory course students are introduced to the scientific method and key biotechnology methodologies through their participation in an ongoing molecular research project(s) conducted by the Biotechnology Program called the Grand Project. The research and training focus will be at the molecular level and emphasize electrophoresis-based methodologies: Western-, Northern, and Southern-blot hybridization analysis. Students will also be introduced to mammalian cell culture.
Pre-requisites/Co-requisites: CH 110, BI 110

BT201 Rotation II: Cell Culture
In this hands-on laboratory course students are trained to establish and maintain mammalian and bacterial cell lines and perform sophisticated molecular experiments and methodologies in cell systems. Proficiency in cell culture will be conferred through the student’s semester-long advancement of a molecular sub-project to be assigned by the instructor. Each sub-project will converge on the ongoing Grand Project conducted by the Biotechnology Program. Through their individual research sub-projects students will learn to apply the key molecular methodologies learned in Rotation I to addressing real scientific problems through the use of cell systems. Research training emphasis will be placed on extraction, purification and analysis of cellular proteins and nucleic acids, transfection, cloning and short-term and long-term cell storage, and cell fusion.
Pre-requisites: CH 110, BI 110, BT 101

BT 211 Rotation III: Protein Analysis
In this hands-on laboratory course students learn the isolation, purification and characterization of cellular proteins from kilogram to nanogram scales. Emphasis will be placed on training the student in protein characterization: peptide mapping, amino acid analysis, ultrafiltration, low and medium pressure and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gel filtration, ion exchange, reverse phase and affinity chromatography.
Pre-requisites: CH 110, BI 110, BT 101

BT 221 Rotation IV
In this course students demonstrate their ability to conduct independent research through their formulation and advancement of a semester-long project that addresses an original scientific question. Students first submit to the instructor a research proposal outlining research goals and methodologies to be employed. Students will be graded on the scientific quality of their research data as demonstrated in a power-point presentation before a panel of scientists selected by the instructor. Grades will be assigned by the instructor and based on the feedback of the panel and the quality of the student’s data.
Pre-requisites: CH 210, BIO 120, BT 211

BT 240 Biotechnology Internship
Students will apply and enhance their biotechnology training by engaging in an independent research project. At the discretion of the instructor, students will conduct either internal internships at MassBay or external internships at academic or industrial laboratories in the United States or abroad. Internship grades will be based on an evaluation of the student’s performance by the host institution and assigned by the forensic faculty.
Pre-requisites: CH 210, BI 120, BT 107, BT 201, BT 205

CH 210 Biochemistry
A one-semester study of the facts and principles of chemistry as they apply to biological macromolecules and biological systems, with emphasis on the structure-function correlation. This course has a mandatory lab that complements the lecture. Topics include reemphasis of lab safety; water in biological systems; protein chemistry – including the structure, function, purification, sequencing and synthesis of peptides; carbohydrate chemistry – including thermodynamics and mechanism of glycolysis and the Kreb’s cycle; nucleic acids – including solid phase nucleotide synthesis; enzymes – including, mechanism, kinetics and regulation; lipids – including biological membranes and transport, fatty acid metabolism; biosignaling; oxidative phosphorylation; endocrine regulation.
Prerequisite: CH 201 or the equivalent