Unlock Your Career Potential
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See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses, program-specific and degree-level requirements, recommended experience, industry certification exams, and more.
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This is our recommended course sequence to progress through this program. This sequence incorporates course prerequisites and program requirements but does not list course alternatives that may be available. We recommend you take a maximum of 6 credits per term. You cannot take a prerequisite with its subsequent course during the same session. Your plan will be unique and dependent on multiple factors, including the number of credits you transfer to this program.
Contact an advisor if you have any questions about this plan, course alternatives, or your course load limit.
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General Master's Degree Requirements
- You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at all times.
- All degree requirements must be fulfilled within five consecutive years.
- Any transfer credits must have been earned within the above five-year time frame to be applied toward a graduate degree.
- Please review the overall master’s degree requirements for additional considerations.
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This program is designed to help you prepare for the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC). Currently, the organization offers two RAC certification exams—RAC-Drugs (pharmaceutical) and RAC-Devices (medical device). Be sure to review the exam guides available on the RAPS website to find the right fit for you.
This information is for students who enroll in the 2024–2025 academic year. For prior year requirements for this program or to review UMGC's complete program requirements for a specific academic year, visit our program catalog archive.
Develop Knowledge in Biotechnology & Regulatory Policy
Biotechnology is a rapidly evolving field that will continue to grow in the 21st century. As the field grows, businesses will continue to play a key role in the regulation, monitoring, and testing of new biotechnical products. Employers are looking for professionals with the regulatory training required to help businesses promote safety and quality in biomedical research, clinical laboratory research, drug discovery (pharmaceuticals), medical device development, and more. This online program is designed to help you become a key asset in the biotech industry as you grow your skills in areas such as regulatory compliance, problem solving, leadership, workflow management, and communication.
UMGC program directors continually refine the curriculum, with a focus on helping students achieve these learning goals:
Pursue Highly Valued STEM Skills
This program has received a special designation as a Professional Science Master’s Degree program through the Council of Graduate Schools.
"Professional Science Master’s (PSMs) are designed for students seeking a STEM graduate degree who understand the need for developing workplace skills valued by top employers. The PSM is a perfect fit for professionals because it allows you to pursue advanced training and excel in science or math without a PhD, while simultaneously developing highly-valued business skills."
Source: Professional Science Masters Website
98K
Regulatory Professionals
More than 98,000 professionals work in regulatory compliance, covering the biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Source: RAPS & Elemed | “2021 Report: Global Regulatory Affairs Professionals Workforce” | September 2021
27%
Desire More Learning
In the North American regulatory affairs workforce, 27 percent of professionals find it challenging to identify appropriate sources of education and training.
Source: RAPS & Elemed | “2021 Report: Global Regulatory Affairs Professionals Workforce” | September 2021
Hone Skills in Your Coursework
Throughout the curriculum, your instructors will assign projects that will help you prioritize in-depth skills and experience as you pursue your career goals in the biotechnology industry.
In past courses, students have been able to complete the following projects:
- Review literature by synthesizing findings from primary sources.
- Solve problems and collaborate on team-based projects.
- Analyze case studies to apply concepts to real-world scenarios.
- Write a new biotechnology business plan that considers regulations.
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, cost, and more.
This is a state-of-the-art online graduate biotechnology program that can help you strengthen your knowledge and expertise in the quality assurance and regulatory areas of biomedical research, pharmaceutical research and development, and more. This 36-credit graduate-level program covers topics like clinical research design, the product life cycle, quality assurance, biologics, and global biotechnology. You’ll also study the roles of regulatory agencies like the FDA and EPA. Graduates may be well-prepared for careers in clinical trial management, data interpretation, or safety work in the public or private sector.
This 36-credit program features courses offered year-round. Depending on your term of admission, how many credits you complete each term, and the number of credits you may be able to transfer, you can expect to graduate in as little as two years.
UMGC is committed to keeping our tuition and fees as affordable as possible. The graduate biotechnology program follows the standard graduate program tuition rates, which appear at the top of this webpage. We also offer scholarships for eligible students, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make your education more affordable.
You don't need to have majored in a specific area to be successful in this MS in biotechnology program concentration. However, you must complete a molecular biology course to meet this program's admission requirements. We also recommend you have strong writing skills and previous biology experience through university coursework or professional experience.