News Release

Students anywhere can now study online to earn a master of science in biotechnology or bioscience regulatory affairs at The Johns Hopkins University, the university's Advanced Biotechnology Studies program announced.

The online degree programs, which received Maryland Higher Education Commission endorsement in October, will open for student enrollment for the spring 2008 semester. The new online degrees join the university's master of science in bioinformatics to expand the breadth and depth of Johns Hopkins' fully online degree offerings.

"Now, biotechnology students from Bangalore to Baltimore can study together and continue to expand the global talent pool for disciplines such as bioscience regulatory affairs, biotechnology and bioinformatics," said Richard McCarty, chair of the Advanced Biotechnology Studies program in the university's Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. "And our mature online platform ensures that students receive a convenient, flexible, yet rigorous, education in the biotechnology sciences."

Since January 2006, Johns Hopkins has offered its fully online master of science in bioinformatics, a joint program between the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Whiting School of Engineering. This experience has allowed program coordinators and professors in the ABS program to develop and refine a comprehensive approach to online education.

"The university is dedicated to a bold initiative of augmenting our existing on-site degree offerings with quality distance learning in a robust, interactive, and asynchronous online format," said Sarah Steinberg, associate dean in the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. "The success we've had with our bioinformatics program reassured us that providing the biotechnology and bioscience regulatory affairs degrees in the online platform as well was the right thing to do. And because the format is asynchronous, students can keep pace with their peers regardless of where they live."

Master of Science in Biotechnology
Grounded in biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology, this program allows students to delve into basic science, applied science, lab science, regulatory affairs, and biotechnology enterprise. They can pursue a general master's in biotechnology or focus on one of three concentrations that are available fully online: bioinformatics, biotechnology enterprise, or regulatory affairs. Concentrations in biodefense and molecular targets and drug discovery require some on-site instruction.

Master of Science in Bioscience Regulatory Affairs
In a market of expanding drug and product development and the need to comply with federal and state regulations, companies and federal agencies report an increasing need for trained professionals educated in bioscience regulatory affairs. To meet this need, Johns Hopkins offers a master of science in bioscience regulatory affairs program that taps the expertise of professionals from the federal government, industry, and academia.

Master of Science in Bioinformatics
Joint offering of the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Whiting School of Engineering
This innovative program prepares bioscience professionals for success by drawing from the strengths of Johns Hopkins* biotechnology and engineer*ing programs to create a comprehensive bioinformatics curriculum. The program integrates disciplines like computer science, bioscience and bioinformatics.

For more information about Johns Hopkins' part-time graduate degree available through the Advanced Biotechnology Studies program, please visit http://biotechnology.jhu.edu or contact our academic advisors:

Dr. Patrick Cummings
Senior Associate Program Chair
Biotechnology
410-516-4724
[email protected]

Lynn Johnson Langer
Senior Associate Program Chair
Biotechnology (MS/MBA, Bioscience Regulatory Affairs, and Biotechnology Enterprise)
301-294-7063
[email protected]

Dr. Kristina Obom
Associate Program Chair
Biotechnology/Bioinformatics
301-294-7159
[email protected]