Professional Science Master’s in Biotechnology

Imagine if we had an effective medication for COVID-19, an available vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, or a reliable antibody detection kit. Would you like to be one of the people developing these drugs, vaccines or assay kits? Or maybe you are interested in marketing, selling or providing technical expertise on these products. Our professional science master’s program will prepare you for a world-changing career in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical or even clinical lab industry.

Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutics Tracker for the latest updates on vaccines and drugs that are currently being tested and developed by biotechnologists around the world.

In the news: TWU Biology provides Denton County with coronavirus testing supplies

• Advance your career and increase earning potential
  • In 2016, the full-time median salary for a postgraduate (i.e., master's) employee was 25% higher than an undergraduate (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Refine your technical skills
• Gain in-depth knowledge in the biological sciences
• Expand your professional network
• Strengthen your presentation and communication skills
• Gain business and marketing skills that will lead to more diverse job opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth in the biotechnology sector to increase at a faster pace than all other careers over the next ten years. TWU is partnering with local biotech companies to create internship and networking opportunities in a variety of areas, including:

• Research and development
• Product development and product management
• Product marketing
• Technology transfer and intellectual property
• Design and implementation of regulatory strategies
• Technical sales
• Government and public relations
• Market analysis and feasibility studies
• Technical service

Program Contact

Stephanie Pierce, Ph.D.
P.S.M. in Biotechnology
Program Director
940-898-2797
spierce9@twu.edu

Application Deadlines

Fall – July 1
Spring – December 1

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in biology or its equivalent.
• Current resume.
• Statement of purpose (1-3 pages) that describes your reasons for pursuing graduate work, background experience, and professional goals, to be uploaded in application.

Applicants who satisfy the Graduate School’s admission standards are forwarded for review to the departmental admissions committee. This committee is responsible for recommending acceptance into biology graduate programs.

Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.  

1. Apply online.
   Apply to Graduate Programs  via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below.  
2. Submit transcripts to TWU.
   • Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details.
   • International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
3. Submit Recommendation Requests
   If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application.
4. Pay the application fee.
   The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:
   1. Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
   2. Certified check or money order by mail or electronically - Payable to TWU, sent by mail to:
      TWU Admissions Processing, 304 Administration Drive, Suite 102, Denton, Texas 76204
      (include your full name and ID number).
   3. Cash (no personal checks) - Pay at the Bursar's Office. After paying, bring the receipt to Admissions Processing (down the hall in ACT).
   4. Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
   5. Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.

For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants. 

• Juliet Spencer, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biology
• Michael Bergel, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
• Christopher Brower, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Heather Conrad-Webb, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
• Nathaniel Mills, PhD, Professor of Biology
• Catalina Pislariu, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology