The Department of Biology provides courses in the life sciences, emphasizing advances in molecular genetics, embryology, development and evolutionary biology. Faculty members conduct research in developmental biology, evolutionary biology, neurobiology, microbiology, ecology, oceanography, immunology, and molecular biology. Students are encouraged to participate in research projects at all levels.Students have the opportunity to visit, observe, and intern in some of the nation's most prestigious biological research centers, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

As a partnership between the American University science departments and the Kogod School of Business, the Professional Science Masters program in Biotechnology is a unique opportunity to acquire cutting edge biotechnology skills while developing an entrepreneurship and business management portfolio. While in the program, students complete a sequence of innovation courses in preparation to translate scientific research into commercial enterprise. This is complemented by advanced science courses that give the practical and theoretical foundations for innovation including genomics, neuroscience, developmental biology and analytical chemistry.

The American University Biotechnology Masters provides the flexibility for students to either pursue scholarly research through on-campus research assistantships or to gain practical industry experience through external internships at the many scientific institutions in the Washington DC metro area. Our graduates have gone on to:

  • advance their careers in private industry
  • pursue doctoral and medical degrees
  • become biotechnology entrepreneurs

Our students credit the unique integration of innovation and business training with advanced science coursework in preparing them for the next step in their careers.