Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship, M.S.

The 30-credit curriculum of this program comprises 3 parts:

1. 4 required courses offering a broad overview of cutting-edge areas of biotechnology: biocatalysis and biomaterials, biotechnology and health care, biosensors and biochips, biotechnology, and the pharmaceuticals industry (12 credits)
2. 1 required and a wide choice of elective 1.5- and 3-credit courses on technology innovation, intellectual-property management, finances, marketing, business-plan preparation, and fund-raising (12 credits)
3. 2 more electives up to 6 credits or an optional project involving either technology-competition analysis and business-plan preparation or a placement in an early-stage start-up company (6 credits)

To meet graduation requirements, students must attain an overall GPA of 3.0 (average of a B) in all their courses and at least a B- in each of the required courses. Students also must take at least 15, but no more than 20, credits of Biotechnology or related courses, including 4 required Biotech courses, listed below.

3 Credits Biotechnology and the Pharmaceutical Industry BTE-GY 6013

The course looks in depth at the modern process of drug development?from the early stage of target identification and generation of lead compounds to the modern methods of drug delivery, and the role of biotechnology in this complex process. The course, featuring significant participation by industry professionals, looks at all key aspects, including preclinical development, clinical trials and regulatory requirements. Real-life case studies illustrate critical points in the development process. M major classes of biotech drugs are discussed. Many lectures are delivered by scientists from major U.S. pharmaceutical companies.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

3 Credits Biotechnology and Health Care BTE-GY 6023

The contribution of biotechnology to modern health care stretches far beyond developing therapeutic entities. This course provides an overview of key cutting-edge technologies such as stem-cell research and therapeutic cloning and demonstrates how their applications change ?the conventional? for the availability of new treatments, monitoring services and diagnostics. The course examines the Human Genome Projects and its implications for health care and epigenetic modifications of the genome and their role in disease. The course also highlights the role of biotechnology in managing several sociologically high-impact diseases, in developed and developing countries.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

3 Credits Biosensors and Biochips BTE-GY 6033

Biosensors and biochips are two of the most exciting, complex and fast-growing areas of biotechnology today?the interface between biotechnology, nanotechnology and micro-electronics industries. The course covers conventional biosensors based on whole cells, nucleic acids, antibodies and enzymes (e.g. enzymatic glucose monitoring) as well as new and emerging technologies related to designing, fabricating and applying multi-array biochips and micro-fluidic systems (lab-on-the-chip). The goal is to familiarize students with basic principles of biosensors design and applications. The course also covers practical applications of this technology in health care, medical diagnostics, defense and other areas.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

3 Credits Biocatalysis in Industry BTE-GY 6043

The course focuses on the commercial use of biological catalysts across various industry segments, including pharmaceuticals, health care, fine chemicals and food. The course combines a broad overview of cutting-edge technologies with industrial insights into the economics of bio-processing and deals with newly emerging trends in biomaterials. Case studies are presented to facilitate analysis, formulate trends and underline major challenges.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

3 Credits Entrepreneurship MG-GY 7703

This course focuses on entrepreneurship and venture creation as key engines for wealth creation and successful business strategy in the modern, innovation- intensive, high-tech economy. The course deals with key issues such as: (1) assessing attractiveness of opportunities; (2) launching a new venture; (3) nurturing, growing and entrepreneurial venture; (4) obtaining the necessary financial, human and technology resources; (5) managing the transition from a small entrepreneurial firm to a large, sustainable, professionally managed but still entrepreneurial corporation; and (6) being an entrepreneur and promoting entrepreneurship in a large corporation.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

You must take courses from the list below, which will amount to at least 6 credits in total, e.g., two 3-credit or four 1.5-credit courses:

3 Credits Organizational Behavior MG-GY 6013

Introduction to theory, research and practice to better understand human behavior in organizations. Topics include motivation and job satisfaction; decision making; group dynamics; work teams; leadership; communication; power, politics and conflict; organization culture, structure and design; impact of technology; management of work stress; organizational change and development; and career management. Analysis of organizational behavior problems by self assessments, case studies and simulations.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

3 Credits Economics and Strategy MG-GY 6023

This is a course in Economics, Strategy and the Firm with a primary focus on the needs of managers. It draws upon a range of concepts and tools from the fields of Industrial Organization and Strategic Management to review the cognitive building blocks that provide an economic foundation to strategic thinking. Strategy is ultimately about value creation and capture of economic value. Value-based strategies show that a firm that introduces a technological innovation creates value, and if it fails to protect it from competition it will be driven out of business. This basic level of insight is linked to the rich tradition in economics to untangle some ambiguities surrounding these concepts and provide a deeper understanding of strategic decisions made by managers within the bounds imposed by competition.
Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing

3 Credits Financial Analysis for Technology Managers MG-GY 6033

The course will focus upon accounting issues as well as financing and investment functions/decisions of the financial manager as applied to practical real world situations. We will first cover basic concepts of accounting (including cost accounting); as well as basic concepts of finance. Some of the course will involve analysis of actual case studies of real business situations. In the process of analyzing the cases students will be able to apply these accounting and finance concepts to actual business problems and their solutions.
Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing

3 Credits Marketing MG-GY 6073

This course emphasizes the imperative to be customer-focused in the information sectors. Topics include market definition and redefinition due to technological change; analysis of customer decisions; strategic choices of markets and products; positioning for competitive success; product pricing, distribution and communications decisions; new product development; market-system dynamics and the value chain.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

3 Credits Communication for Technology Managers MG-GY 6183

This highly interactive and participative experience introduces powerful concepts and approaches for effective technical communication, strategy, and delivery. Deliverables will include written documents and oral presentations. You will present both individually and in a team, and will receive feedback to improve your presentation effectiveness.
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing

3 Credits Operations Management MG-GY 6303

This course focuses on developing a deeper understanding of the role that operations management plays in determining business strategy and in developing competitive advantage. The primary emphasis is on how to develop and effectively manage operations in knowledge-intensive enterprises. Participants discuss the operational design and managerial implications when the emphasis of the operations group is more on knowledge management than on production and facilities management; managing the effective integration of technology, people and operating systems; understanding the complexities and challenges of operations management; the challenges of developing and managing supply chain networks; and the critical role of technology in developing operational capabilities in an organization.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

3 Credits Global Innovation MG-GY 7953

This course focuses on global technology-enabled innovation. Topics covered include accessing global sources of innovation, coordination and organization of activities worldwide, new product development globally, the role of revitalized global R&D, growing prominence of IT and e-Business in global innovation, and the role of alliances and linkages with customers, suppliers and other third parties.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

3 Credits Project Management MG-GY 8203

This course focuses on managing technology- based projects, ranging from individual research and development to large-scale and complex technological systems. It covers topics such as feasibility and risk analyses, project selection and portfolio optimization, functional and administrative structures, coordination and scheduling of activities, personnel planning, negotiations and contracts, cost estimation, capital budgeting, cost controls and effective matrix management.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval and Graduate Standing

3 Credits Design Strategies MG-GY 8623

As change has become one of the only constants in today's economy, established businesses are being disrupted, and business strategies need to be constantly re-framed. To be successful companies cannot only acquire more customers. They also need to successfully meet their customers? changing needs, leverage technology to create new value propositions that are meaningful to them and generate revenues and sustainable growth for the business. To address these new demands, managers and entrepreneurs alike need a different set of tools and frameworks. Design thinking, a human-centered approach to innovation, one that starts with understanding what customers need and strategically connects to the organization that offers such a set of tools. This course draws on design thinking to equip students taking this class with tools to address business challenges and develop innovative new products, services, and brand experiences, transformative value propositions and creative strategies and business models. The course's premise is that strategy in design rather than simply problem-solving. In other words, to resolve a given strategic issue, one needs to truly explore options before making a choice. Participants in this class will learn tools and develop skills that allow them to explore multiple options and develop new, creative and sustainable strategies.
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing

3 Credits New Product Development MG-GY 8643

The dynamics of technology and the pressures of competition drive enterprises to make their product development and production processes strategically more effective and economically more efficient in time and cost. The course deals with the state of the art in new product activities for services and manufacturing firms and examines in-depth the marketing, technology and manufacturing technology linkages.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

3 Credits Managing Technological Change & Innovation MG-GY 8653

The course focuses on effectively managing technological change and innovation, which is accomplished with a dual perspective. One perspective is based on individual, group and organizational theory, research and practice. This body of literature, viewpoints and experience provide essential guides to manage successfully the introduction of newtechnologies. Realizing the full potential of
new technologies requires effectively managing change to assure the commitment of all stakeholders. The second perspective is based on innovation theory, research and practice. This body of literature, viewpoints and experience provide key insights to for effectively managing the process of innovation and the impact of innovation on all parts of an enterprise. Specifically, the course explores a firm's explicit need to manage and inspire people so they can communicate and innovate effectively.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval and graduate standing

3 Credits Technology Strategy MG-GY 8673

This course examines in depth the strategic technological decisions that a general manager faces. From entrepreneurial start-ups to established companies, in dynamic as well as mature environments, a firm must create a conscious process of formulating and implementing a technology strategy to serve its business interests. Such a strategy guides investments in research and development, selection among and timing of alternate technologies, organization and communications, formation of alliances and funding of ventures.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

3 Credits Entrepreneurial Finance MG-GY 8713

This course focuses in detail on the financial requirements of entrepreneurial ventures and on different sources of finance available to entrepreneurs. Students develop an understanding of how to assess entrepreneurial financial strategies. It also examines the unique roles played in the entrepreneurial finance arena by such actors as retail banks, investment banks, VCs, angels, internal sources of capital and incubators.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval and graduate standing.

3 Credits Protein Engineering BT-GY 9433

This course introduces modern protein-engineering techniques available to researchers to understand protein structure and function and to create entirely new proteins for many purposes. This new field lies at the interface of chemistry, biology and engineering. The first section discusses protein composition and structure, and various genetic, biochemical and chemical techniques required to engineer proteins, followed by specific topics. Topics include designing highly structured proteins that are active at high temperatures and in non-aqueous solvents; that interact selectively with other proteins, small molecules and nucleic acids for therapeutic purposes; and that catalyze new reactions.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

3 Credits Special Topics in Biotechnology BT-GY 7013

Special topics include a number of courses, such as Advanced Cell Biology and Advanced Molecular Biology (lectures only or lectures and labs).
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

3 Credits Introduction to Neuroscience for Biotechnologists BT-GY 6053

The understanding of brain function represents a unique challenge by virtue of the tremendous complexity of neural circuits and their role in controlling behavior. This course is designed to provide graduate students with a comprehensive introduction to the basic mechanisms of brain function. It covers the basic mechanisms of neuronal excitability, how neuronal function is connected to cellular structures, how neurons act as elements of networks and how malfunctions lead to mental and neurological disorders. The goal is to provide graduate students a foundation of knowledge which will guide them in their decision to enter and navigate the vast field of neurobiology.
Advisor/Instructor Permission Required

3 Credits Immunology: Concepts, Mechanisms and Applications in Biotechnology BT-GY 6063

The purpose of this course is to develop a general understanding of the established biochemical, molecular, cellular, and organ-level principles that govern the workings of the mammalian immune system, and to prepare the student for immunological research in the academic, government, or industrial laboratory. Topics covered include cells of the immune system and their development, pattern recognition receptors and innate immunity, molecular mechanisms of antigen processing and presentation, long distance communication and immune cells? migration, homing, and trafficking. Applications in Biotechnology and autoimmune diseases and the use of immunotherapy in industry will also be discussed.
Advisor/Instructor Permission Required

3 Credits Genetic Engineering BT-GY 6073

Genetic engineering underpins practically every aspect of modern biotechnology. This course aims at familiarizing students with the current methods of DNA manipulation and practical applications of recombinant DNA technology, including the use of vectors, construction of libraries, PCR, restriction digests, mapping, and cloning. The class includes lectures as well as a semester-long 3h/week lab.
Advisor/Instructor Permission Required

3 Credits Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology BT-GY 6083

The course aims to advance students' knowledge in key areas of cell and molecular biology. Topics covered included cell-cell communications, organization of the cytoskeleton, mechanisms of cell signaling and signal transduction, chromatin organization and structure and genome regulation, maintenance and repair. The lab component of the class is designed to provide students with advanced bench-top skills used in modern cell and molecular biology experimentation.
Advisor/Instructor Permission Required

3 Credits Biomedical Materials & Devices for Human Body Repair BT-GY 6093

The main objective of this multidisciplinary course is to provide students with a broad survey of currently used biomaterials and their use in medical devices for reconstructing or replacing injured, diseased, or aged human tissues and organs. Topics include a broad introduction to the materials used in medicine and their chemical, physical, and biological properties, basic mechanisms of wound healing and materials-tissue interactions.
Advisor/Instructor Permission Required

You may take up to 3 Projects in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship:

BTE-GY 9503 Please refer to the bulletin for more information

3 Credits Project in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship II BTE-GY 9513

This practical course offers students the opportunity to apply practically their knowledge and skills to analyzing technology, preparing their own business plans or working at an early-stage biotech company. The student can sign up for three projects.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

3 Credits Project in Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship III BTE-GY 9523

This practical course offers students the opportunity to apply practically their knowledge and skills to analyzing technology, preparing their own business plans or working at an early-stage biotech company. The student can sign up for three projects.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval.

Subject to advisor’s approval students can also take an elective course at other Schools of NYU. For example, Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship students can select a course at NYU Stern School of Business.

Biotechnology, M.S.

The program aims to advance students’ knowledge beyond the BS level and equip them with the skills needed in the rapidly evolving environment of life sciences-based industries. Suitable for students who plan to pursue carriers in industrial and/or academic research.

Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship, M.S.

The program is designed to provide students with a broad coverage of key areas of modern biotechnology and a basic understanding of business and finance issues. Suitable for students who are interested in early stage technology companies and/or aspire to start.

Other electives are available for both programs.

With advisor’s permission students can take courses at other Schools of NYU.