Online Master's in Biology & Stem Cell Technology
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Stem cell research is undoubtedly one of the most exciting fields within the modern medical field. While much of western medicine has been focused on finding external solutions to fighting and preventing disease, this new field of study focuses on the human body’s capabilities. As a new and rapidly growing sector within the already highly dynamic healthcare industry, stem cell technology and regenerative medicine should definitely merit attention from job seekers interested in medicine and its future.
Online master’s degree programs are proving to be a viable path into the field of stem cell research and regenerative technologies or medicine. Aimed at prospective students who have already completed their undergraduate studies in a related field, these distance learning opportunities are intended to create a fast and professional pipeline to employment with an institution, organization, or business that focuses on this area. Online programs offer a much greater degree of flexibility to working professionals and can integrate better with concurrent studies in related fields.
Most of all, online degree programs offer their participants the opportunity to learn from afar, and to benefit from all that higher education has to offer without necessarily having to live in a major metropolitan area or close to a specific institution.
Of course, this form of learning may also offer some downsides to some students, as it requires a higher degree of self-discipline than traditional in-classroom instruction. Additionally, some participants in online degree programs across disciplines report fewer interactions with their classmates or missing a social aspect that is less easily reproduced in an online format.
Whether an online master’s degree program is the correct decision for a specific individual will have as much to do with their specific interests and career goals, and with their preferred mode of learning and instruction. Some programs in the US also offer hybrid models, while other in-person master’s programs may be able to accommodate students with a remote learning model on a per-need basis.
While the individual choices that prospective students make will be their own and should be adjusted to their particular needs and preferences, this guide is designed to give an overview of several online master’s degree programs for biology, stem cell, and regenerative tech, to provide the maximum amount of information to interested individuals.
Admissions Requirements for Online Master’s Programs in Biology, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Technology
While specific admission requirements for individual programs will vary, they generally include a few basics across the board. Because a master’s degree will require a completed undergraduate degree as a prerequisite, this will generally not change between different programs.
However, specific components of the application process will be specific to every master’s program, and this list should not be read as complete. Basic application requirements for enrolling in an online master’s program:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Complete undergraduate transcripts
- Letter of intent or introduction
- Letter or letters of recommendation
- Application fee
- Competitive GPA
What Does the Curriculum of an Online Master’s Degree Program Look Like?
Again, not all online master’s degree programs are structured in the same way, and the particulars of the coursework will always depend on the institution. However, the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine is fairly new, and there are certainly a lot of similarities between the curricula of the individual programs.
A major emphasis is put on the study of stem cells and will be found in all accredited programs. Since stem cell research is a major component of the field, they are accordingly given a lot of space in the curriculum of the master’s programs. Additionally, technology is a bigger component of the learning material in this field than in others that are part of the medical realm. Because cutting-edge technological applications like robotics or algorithmic computing are often part of the day-to-day of professionals pursuing this field, these subjects appear in many schools’ curricula.
A typical overview of the topics covered through the course of an online master’s program may look something like this:
- Introduction to Stem Cells and Organogenesis
- Tools & Techniques in Stem Cell Biology
- Advanced Stem Cell Biology
- Ethics of Stem Cell Research and Business
Online Master’s Degrees in Biology, Stem Cell & Regenerative Tech
The following program’s offer master degrees for holders of undergraduate degrees, and are aimed at preparing students for careers in the burgeoning field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Prospective students preparing for a specific job or application should make sure that the program they choose is accredited in their state, and emphasizes the appropriate coursework for their interests.
The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University counts as one of the premier medical schools in the country, and the hybrid model that the school offers for students interested in the field of biology and stem cell may be among the most prestigious.
While the Johns Hopkins model is not 100 percent online, it only involves a single lab component in which students must attend and participate in person. In addition to closely collaborating with Johns Hopkins lab personnel, this program heavily emphasizes technological means and methods.
The master’s in regenerative and stem cell technology that students are awarded upon completion is not strictly geared toward medical professionals, but also towards those seeking to enter the business side of the field.
According to Johns Hopkins, the topics covered within the 12- to 36-month program are as follows: bioinformatics, epigenetics, human molecular genetics, immunology personalized medicine, pharmacology, and recombinant DNA.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 36 months
- Estimated Tuition: Ten courses; $5,008 each
Arizona State University (Related Program)
Arizona State University is one of the largest and best-known providers of online education across the country. It has a reputation for creating excellent long-distance course materials across a broad reach of subjects. The master’s in biological data science offered by the school could be a perfect fit for prospective students who are interested in the data-driven, technological aspects of the burgeoning field of stem cell research and medicine, or regenerative technologies.
The program offered by ASU places a heavy emphasis on computer and technology skills, and includes courses on programming languages and their use in medical data. ASU describes its program as existing at “the interface of mathematics and natural sciences,” and could be perfect for people whose passions lie somewhere between medicine and hard sciences.
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $5,186 per semester
Arizona State University (Related Program)
Another program offered through Arizona State University in Phoenix, the master’s in biomedical diagnostics, is also geared towards data- and technology-minded individuals interested in healthcare.
Like all other industries, the medical field increasingly relies on data to build new models of care and use computer systems and algorithms to use this new wealth of information appropriately. Students at Arizona State University’s program for biomedical diagnostics are at the forefront of this effort and learn the techniques and practices that are currently in use across the field.
Like other programs on this list, ASU’s program also includes components dealing with ethics, regulation concerning biomedical information and data, and their appropriate use on the part of practitioners in the field.
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $5,186 per semester
Baylor University (Related Program)
Baylor University is a Christian university whose home campus can be found in Waco, Texas. However, Baylor has recently expanded its robust online learning infrastructure and offers a fully online master of medical science.
While this degree program is not strictly centered around stem cell technology and regenerative medicine, it covers quite a bit of related subject matter, and could offer a great introduction to the field as well.
Additionally, as Baylor University is a fairly prestigious research university with a solid reputation in the medical field, the master’s in medical science offered by the school may be a better fit for some prospective applicants.
- Location: Waco, TX
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 36 months
- Estimated Tuition: 1,100$ per credit hour, plus 100$ per term
Northeastern University offers a master’s of science in biotechnology, a degree with a heavy emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach to the subject. Northeastern is specific in wanting to attract not only medical doctors or individuals hoping to enter a care profession but also those with an eye on the business side of things.
Prospective students at Northeastern can choose between a fully online curriculum, or attending classes in person in Massachusetts. Northeastern also boasts a highly active alumni network and connections to the many biomedical companies that are now a major component of the Boston area’s economy. Students with a particular interest in the business aspects of the biomedical field may be perfectly suited for a master’s in science via Northeastern.
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $1,730 per credit
Cleveland State University (Related Program)
CSU offers a master’s of science in health sciences, a program that may appeal to students seeking a broader entry into the medical world. In contrast to most other programs on our list, Cleveland State University allows some extra space in its curriculum for students to select electives. In this way, it offers more flexibility than more stringently oriented online courses designed for the medical field.
CSU’s online master’s in health sciences can be completed within two academic years and is geared specifically toward individuals who have already completed a health-related bachelor’s degree. It is also specifically designed to be completed next to professional engagements, for those who are already working in the industry.
- Location: Cleveland, OH
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $608.10 per credit
The master’s of science in regenerative engineering is a hard science-oriented master’s degree program that can be largely completed online. Although this master’s in science degree program contains some components and labs that must be completed in person, most of the coursework can be completed via online classes, placing the program somewhere in the “hybrid” realm.
As the title implies, this program places a heavy emphasis on regenerative medicine, making it a rarity among the relatively small and fresh crop of master’s programs across the country that share this focus. Please note that the program is open to individuals with undergraduate degrees from across the spectrum, but engineering-minded students may have some particular advantages in the application process and in completing the program for themselves.
- Location: Farmington, CT
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months
- Estimated Tuition: $1,791 per credit
