MBA for Biotech Professionals

Biotech Engineers at work

The MBA for Biotech Professionals program is tailored to working professionals in the biotech, pharma, or life sciences industries or those who wish to join these industries. The program provides graduates the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to assume greater management responsibilities within their organizations or similar ones, large, established organizations or startups.

Clinical researchers, scientists, and business professionals in the biotech, pharma, or life sciences industries are especially encouraged to apply to the program.

The Lam Family College of Business at San Francisco State University has been a leading institution for quality business education in the Bay Area for over 50 years, with an emphasis on preparing students for professional success in a global economy.

Is the MBA for Biotech Professionals program right for me?

  • I have several years of experience in the biotech industry
  • I have earned a four-year bachelor's degree
  • I'm ready to enhance my knowledge and skills for greater organizational responsibilities
“The MBA for Biotech Professionals program is great for working professionals in the life sciences industry because it provides knowledge and skills that can be applied directly in day-to-day work, as well as provides opportunities for networking.”
– Patti Viri, Senior Project Manager, Genentech

Apply Now for Admission

The Program

Program Features and Benefits

  • 32-month part-time program
  • Classes held two nights a week in South San Francisco, CA
  • Distinguished faculty teaching business courses
  • Guest speakers from biotech industry
  • Cohort class of diverse biotech industry professionals

Admissions

Sign up to attend an Information session to learn more about our program and admissions. Or, for urgent questions, contact us at mba@sfsu.edu.

Admissions Criteria

The admissions committee reviews an applicant's overall qualifications and takes the following requirements into consideration:

  • Completion of a degree equivalent to at least a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
  • GMAT or GRE test. MBA for Biotech Professionals applicants may waive the GMAT/GRE test if at least one of the following conditions is met (applicants will instead be invited in for an interview and a 45-minute writing examination): 
    • Completed doctoral or master's degree from a recognized/accredited program
    • Minimum 3.0 GPA with five or more years of full-time, professional work experience
    • Completed an undergraduate degree in business from AACSB-accredited school with a cumulative 3.0 (or higher) GPA
  • statement of purpose
  • résumé
  • two letters of recommendation
  • foreign language test is required of all applicants who have earned their undergraduate degree from a country where the official language is not English. Any of the following tests taken within the past two years are accepted: TOEFL Internet Based Test minimum score of 88 (or 570 on PBT), or IELTS score of at least 7.0, or Pearson Test of English (PTE) minimum academic overall score of 65.
  • open to all applicants except those who need an F-1 visa to study in the United States due to part-time format of the program

Application Period

This program only accepts students in the Fall semester.

Cohort Structure

Our cohort structure facilitates the development of strong classroom relationships that blossom into long-lasting professional networks. With the same set of colleagues throughout the program, students develop a tight, supportive network within the Bay Area biotech industry. The cohort diversity provides an exciting mix of participants that creates the opportunity to develop a strong, positive learning community. Participants explore and develop individual potential, as well as learn to operate together throughout their courses. Cohort members stay in touch long past graduation, supporting one another as they progress in their careers.

Class Hours and Location

Classes are held Mondays and Thursdays, 6 - 8:45 p.m. in South San Francisco, California 94080.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of 16 courses:

  • eight basic business courses
  • eight advanced business courses

Two courses are taken each semester during spring, summer and fall.

Participant Profile

Participants may have a four-year bachelor's degree in any subject. Many are likely to have advanced master's or doctorate degrees in life-science related fields with three to seven years of professional work experience.

Faculty

The Lam Family College of Business is honored to work with more than 120 tenure-track and adjunct faculty who are committed to excellence in teaching and innovation. As scholars and practitioners of their specific disciplines, our outstanding faculty provides participants with a relevant and challenging curriculum.

Biotech MBA Advisory Council

Our Biotech MBA Advisory Council, consisting of leading practitioners from industry and academia, meets once a semester to advise us about curriculum and outreach. Advisory Council members also participate as guest speakers in some of our classes as needed.

View Biotech MBA Advisory Council Members

Woman, Krista McNally, with blonde hair and glasses, and with testimonial.

Students of our MBA for Biotech Professionals program work for some of the top employers in the Bay Area, including:

Biotech MBA Sponsors

View the MBA for Biotech Professionals flyer, which is a downloadable pdf file.

To view PDF files, you may download Adobe Reader

Future Undergraduate Students: Request Information

Future Graduate Students:


Complete this form to request information about our graduate business programs.









You can also call or email Graduate Business Programs to learn more:


Frequently Asked Questions

Telephone: (415) 817-4300

Fax: (415) 817-4340

Emailmba@sfsu.edu

Office Hours:

Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

San Francisco State University
Downtown Campus
160 Spear Street, Suite 1230
San Francisco, CA 94105