Admissions

Recommended coursework for a competitive application includes chemistry, organic chemistry, and additional science coursework. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required by San José State University. Higher GPAs are more competitive. The MS in Biotechnology program only accepts applications for Fall admissions.

A variety of 4-year degrees are accepted into the program including biology, molecular biology, physiology, engineering, psychology, public health, zoology, chemistry and many more.  If you have questions, please contact the MSBT directors with questions.

Graduate Admission and Program Evaluation GAPE

Step 1- Apply to the University

• Apply online at Cal State Apply. 
• Pay application fee 
• official transcripts
  
  • For domestic transcripts send to:
    
    Graduate Admissions
    San José State University
    One Washington Square
    San José, CA 95192-0100
    
    
  • For international transcripts send to World Education Service (WES).
    
    
• Deadlines for application (GAPE)

Additional for International Applicants

• Declaration of finance form (international applicants)
• Copy of passport biographic page (international applicants)
• TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.5 or DET 120 (minimum requirement for SJSU) 

Step 2 - Additional MSBT Submission Requirements

• Two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume should be either emailed to the MSBT director (Sabine.Rech@sjsu.edu for Biotechnology, Kunal.Sampat@sjsu.edu for MPDM concentration) or a hard copy can be sent to the address below:
  
  Sabine Rech, MSBT Program Director
  Department of Biological Sciences
  San José State University
  One Washington Square
  San José, CA 95192-0100
  
  
• Interview to be scheduled during Spring semester

• US 4-year Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Minimum GPA 2.5 (last two years of university coursework: 3.0 recommended)
• TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5 or DET 120 (international) 
• Financial statement as required by GAPE (international)

1. Are English Language Proficiency (ELP) Exams required for admission?

An English Language Proficiency (ELP) Exam is required for applicants who:

are from a country where English is not the primary language, and
do not hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution where English is the principal language of instruction.

Accepted ELP exams include TOEFL (iBT), IELTS (Academic/Indicator), PTE (Academic), and Duolingo English Test.

Applicants should review official requirements and exemptions here:https://www.sjsu.edu/admissions/graduate/admission-requirements/test-requirements/index.php

2. Do I need to submit transcripts from all prior institutions, including those outside the U.S.?

Yes. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended, including institutions outside the United States.

Transcripts from non-U.S. institutions require a WES evaluation. Guidance is available here:
https://www.sjsu.edu/admissions/docs/WES_Evaluations_tips.pdf [pdf]

3. What are the application and document deadlines for Fall 2026 admission?

There are two separate deadlines for Fall 2026 admission:

the application submission deadline, and
the document submission deadline.

International Applicants

Application deadline: April 1, 2026
Document deadline: April 20, 2026

Domestic Applicants

Application deadline: May 1, 2026
Document deadline: May 20, 2026

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required documents are submitted by the applicable document deadline.

For deadline confirmation or case-specific questions, applicants should contact the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations (GAPE) office directly:

Kavitha Jha
GAPE Coordinator
📧 kavitajha@sjsu.edu

4. Is the GRE required for admission to the MSBT program?

No. The GRE is not required for admission to the Master of Science in Biotechnology (MSBT) program.

This policy applies to all MSBT applicants, with or without a concentration, and is effective starting Fall 2026.

5. What is the course delivery format for the MSBT program?

The MSBT program is offered in a hybrid format, which may include:

• fully in-person courses,
• fully online courses,
• and courses with both in-person and online components.

Courses are staggered throughout the semester. On average, students are on campus once per week, though some weeks may require two in-person sessions depending on course scheduling.

Medical Product Development Management (MPDM) Concentration

6. What is the MPDM concentration within the MSBT program?

The Medical Product Development Management (MPDM) concentration is an option within the MSBT program that focuses on product development, clinical research, regulatory strategy, and project management in the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

 
7. Is there a course list for the MPDM concentration?

Yes. The MPDM concentration consists of four required courses, all of which are included within the 36-unit MSBT degree. The courses focus on the end-to-end lifecycle of medical product development and are summarized below:

SMPD 281A – Clinical Trial Design
Covers the fundamentals of clinical trial design, including study objectives, endpoints, protocol development, and trial phases.

SMPD 281B – Clinical Trial Operations
Focuses on the operational aspects of running clinical trials, including site management, monitoring, timelines, and cross-functional coordination.

SMPD 289A – Pharmacovigilance and Safety
Introduces post-market safety, adverse event reporting, risk management, and regulatory expectations related to drug and device safety.

SMPD 283B – Regulatory Affairs for Medical Devices
Covers regulatory pathways, submissions, and compliance requirements specific to medical devices across different markets.
Course titles used in official listings may be more general (e.g., “Clinical Trial Seminar”), but the descriptions above reflect the core content and learning objectives of each course.

8. Are MPDM concentration courses included within the 36-unit MSBT degree?

Yes. All MPDM concentration courses are included within the 36 units required for the MSBT degree. There are no additional unit requirements.

9. Are there any lab-based courses in the MPDM concentration?

No. The MPDM concentration does not include laboratory courses.