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Accredited Online Biotechnology Degrees

Graduates from online biotechnology degree often work in labsGraduates of online biotechnology degree programs are the experts responsible for innovations in agriculture, medicine, and more. In this scientific field, workers research ways to use living organisms and biological processes to create a better world. They are vital in many fields, helping us simultaneously have better healthcare, a stronger food supply, and a cleaner environment. It’s complex, detailed, and fascinating, but it also requires the right degree. With an online biotechnology degree, graduates can find work as microbiologists, environmental scientists, food scientists, and more.

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Types of Online Biotechnology Degree Programs

Certificate

Biotechnology certificates generally don’t lead directly to a career. They are instead meant to bolster a current career or education. Most science careers require at least a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Certificate programs are often specifically designed for current workers and students who want to learn more about a certain topic. The Certificate in Molecular Biosciences from Washington State University is for those with an interest in science, students in a non-biology science program, or current employees who need additional training. This online biotechnology degree program is also useful for teachers who need up-to-date science knowledge.

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Bachelor

A bachelor’s level online biotechnology degree is the typical education for a host of careers in biology, bioscience, and biotechnology. Biomedical engineers, chemists, natural scientists, and microbiologists, in fact, all need to have a bachelor’s degree.

Bachelor’s degrees require roughly four years of study, encompassing 120 credit hours or more. Online biotechnology degrees cover courses such as biomedical technology, ethics, immunology, and human health. These degrees only require a high school diploma for enrollment. This makes them ideal for those with no previous college experience.

An example is the bachelor’s degree in Biohealth Sciences from Oregon State University. The tuition cost is around $60,000 for this 100% online program. Coursework covers topics in human health, disease, and treatments. Graduates of online biotechnology bachelor degrees will be prepared for jobs working in biohealth sales, education, patient advocacy, and more.

Bachelor Completion

Students with an associate’s degree or some college experience can enroll in a bachelor completion online biotechnology degree program.

These degrees allow students to complete a bachelor’s degree in less time, as their past courses can be applied to the degree. For example, if you have an associate’s degree, you may apply the credits to a bachelor’s degree, reducing the completion time to just two or three years. Students must speak with a college’s admissions office to see which courses will transfer.

Many bachelor completion online biotechnology degree programs are entirely remote, but some have in-person requirements. The Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from the University of Maryland Global Campus offers fully online courses. However, students must complete an in-person internship or work project related to their degree.

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Graduate Certificate

There are numerous graduate certificate options for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, molecular biology, anatomy, or a similar field.

These online biotechnology degree programs can be completed entirely online. They allow students to deepen their expertise in a specific subject. One area of focus is bioinformatics, which is tracking and analyzing data in biology. Students can also complete programs in biotechnology enterprises, covering issues like product development, finance, and marketing. From public policy to science innovation to bioethics, there are graduate certificates for every facet of biotechnology.

Graduate certificates vary in time requirements. Many are designed for working adults who need a lighter course load. For example, the Graduate Certificate in Population Health Analytics from the Could not look up degree for "University of North Dakota" using "327390"! requires 13 credit hours but can be completed over two years. For perspective, a typical two-year associate degree encompasses 60 credit hours.

Master’s

Graduates of biology and biotechnology bachelor’s degrees can further their knowledge with a master’s degree. Students can enroll in programs that focus on lab science, computational biology, biostatistics, biomedicine, and more.

These online biotechnology degrees come in many forms. These include master of science, master of biotechnology, and master of public health (MPH). There are also master of business administration (MBA) concentrations that focus on both business and science.

Most science-based careers do not specifically require a master’s degree. Many jobs require bachelor’s degrees, while others require a doctorate. However, to enroll in a doctorate program, students must first complete a master’s level online biotechnology degree. Therefore, these programs often serve as a step towards a doctorate.

Master’s degrees require roughly two years of study, although some can be completed faster. The Biomedicine & Business degree from Drexel University can be completed in just over one year. This pace requires a four-semester course plan – fall, spring, summer, and fall.

The lowest cost master’s level online biotechnology degree in our database is from the University of Maine. In fact, the Professional Science Master’s in Bioinformatics will only cost students a little over $16,000. Among accredited online master’s degrees, prices range all the way up to nearly $60,000. Use the information and resources on GetEducated.com to make the best decision for your budget and academic needs.

Post-Graduate Certificate

A post-graduate certificate is an online biotechnology degree program that comes after a master’s degree. To enroll, students first need to have a master’s degree or doctorate in a related field. Some of the acceptable majors include biotechnology, biology, anatomy, molecular biology, and biochemistry.

Many post-graduate certificates are for current workers who want to further their knowledge in a topic. The online Post Master’s Certificate in Sequence Analysis & Genomics from Johns Hopkins University helps scientists add bioinformatics to their skill set.

Certificates, including the post-graduate variety, are generally shorter than full degrees. The program from John Hopkins requires 20 credit hours of study. Courses cover bioinformatics, DNA sequencing, biostatistics, personalized medicine, and more.

what is the Best Accreditation for Online Biotechnology Degrees?

Accreditation is an important part of the academic process. Granted by independent organizations, accreditation is overseen by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. These two groups approve accrediting bodies.

There is institutional accreditation, which is granted to entire schools. This type of approval is granted by national or regional groups such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Programmatic accreditation is granted to specific programs by groups that focus on that subject. For example, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits degrees in engineering, technology, and science.

There is no one group that accredits online biotechnology degree programs. However, some groups provide programmatic accreditation to degrees that encompass biology-related fields. The Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) approves associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in various science subjects, including biology. The American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) also accredits some biotechnology-related degrees.

Mostly though, online biotechnology degrees will not have programmatic accreditation. It will be most important for students to verify that the college or university they are considering has institutional accreditation.

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Can an Online Biotechnology Degree Meet Licensing or Certification Requirements?

With a few exceptions, licensing is not required for biotechnology jobs, so this is typically a non-issue. But these online biotechnology degrees will prepare students for voluntary certification and licensing when required. One example is the Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE). This is a voluntary industry certification. After completing an accredited program that focuses on biotechnology, students can take the BACE exam.

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Licensure & Certification for Careers with an Online Biotechnology Degree

Unlike many other industries (legal, medical, aviation, etc.) biotechnology careers rarely require licensing. Most professions, including microbiologist, natural science manager, food scientist, and biochemist do not need licensing.

There are some exceptions. Food scientists often have training such as an online biotechnology degree. In some states, a professional working as a soil scientist, a type of food scientist, needs licensing. This is one of the rare instances where a biotechnology professional may need a state license. According to the Soil Science Society of America, soil scientists must be licensed in the following states:

  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Wisconsin

To understand the process, let’s look at how a soil scientist becomes licensed in Minnesota, for example:

  1. Complete a degree. Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree in soil science or a related topic, such as biology. Applicants must have soil science credits in their education.
  2. Gain professional experience. The amount of experience required depends on your degree level. The more education you have, the less experience you need.
  3. Apply for licensing tests. Applicants fill out an application. Once the application is accepted, the applicant will be informed of the test location and schedule by mail.
  4. Pay exam fees of up to $280 and take the exam.
  5. Those who pass the test can apply for licensing, which costs an additional $120.

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Career Outlook

Growth in this career will be strong but not massive. The expected growth for all occupations between 2021 and 2031 is 5%. Many biotechnology-related careers will grow at a faster rate, but not by a large margin.

Agriculture and food scientists should see a 9% growth rate, resulting in 40,200 jobs by 2031. Microbiologists will see similar growth at 8%, but the total numbers will be less since this is a smaller field. By 2031, the number of microbiologists will grow from 20,800 to 22,600.

Experts in biotechnology can find employment all across the country. For food biologists, the highest concentration is in Kansas, which has 0.36 food scientists for every 1,000 jobs. Minnesota is #2 on the list with 0.34 per 1,000. Both of these states are heavy in the agriculture industry, so this should come as little surprise.

For plant and soil scientists, the highest concentrations are in a four-state bunch. The highest rate is in South Dakota (0.75), followed by neighboring states Nebraska (0.70), North Dakota (0.66), and Iowa (0.66).

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Expected Salary for Online Biotechnology Degree Graduates

Biotechnology experts can expect decent salaries. With experience, they can move into management and leadership roles, where there is significant potential for high incomes.

Farming and food scientists, who need a bachelor’s degree in most cases, have a median salary of $74,160. Even more, the top 10% in this field earn over $128,160, making this a lucrative profession.

Microbiologists enjoy even higher numbers. The median annual income for this profession is $79,260, while the top 10% earn over $136,780.

Other careers with an online biotechnology degree have strong incomes but may fall short of food scientists and microbiologists. A biological technician, which is a technical job but may include education in biotechnology, has an average income of $48,140.

With experience, biotechnology employees can become natural science managers. This field has a median salary of $137,900, while the top 10% have earnings over $208,000.

With education beyond a master’s degree, there is significant earning potential. Doctorate-level scientists have excellent earnings. This includes biochemists and biophysicists ($102,270), as well as bioengineers ($97,410).

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Enter an Exciting Industry with an Online Biotechnology Degree

Whether you need a bachelor’s degree to launch your career or a master’s degree to transfer into a doctorate, you’ll find options with GetEducated.com. Submit your information and let’s find the right online biotechnology degree for your future!

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