Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta (MSofM) is known for its world-renowned school. But did you know that MSofM also offers an online one-year biotechnology master’s program and a 14-month health informatics master’s program? In fact, Intelligent.com ranks the school’s biotechnology master’s program No. 1 out of hundreds of programs nationwide.
What is biotechnology? It is a broad area of technology that uses living organisms and specimens to develop or make products. Examples of biotechnology include beer brewing, agricultural sciences, animal breeding, genetic engineering of cells and plants, drugs such as biologics like insulin and, most recently, the COVID-19 vaccine.
James Lillard, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology and associate dean for research affairs at MSofM, said biotechnology exists everywhere in our everyday lives. “The protein in paint on your wall is engineered. The clothes you wear are engineered cotton,” Lillard explained.
The common occurrence of biotechnology led leaders at the school to create the online master’s program. Angelita Howard, Ed.D., MSofM’s assistant dean for online education and expanded programs, said the school’s five-week summer bridge program introduces and exposes potential graduate students to the field of biotechnology or health informatics. This program provides students with a $500 stipend, guaranteed admissions into either program, along with a $1,000 tuition scholarship.
Ultimately, the hope is for students to have access and gain knowledge of this lucrative industry. “It’s important to create new entrepreneurs in this space,” Lillard said.
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