
Bachelor of ScienceBiotechnology
The Biotechnology Bachelor of Science degree program incorporates the foundations of biology, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology and chemistry.
Biotech focuses on the manipulation of living organisms, their products, and their processes to further knowledge, improve quality of life, and engineer new tools and applications.
Biotechnology is applied to a broad range of industries including the pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, food development and manufacturing sectors, to name a few. Biotechnology has improved the fields of medicine, health, environmental science and technology, and will continue to in the future.
Program Goals
Graduates of the Biotechnology program are able to:
- Demonstrate a broad range of basic laboratory skills and technical competencies applicable to the field of biotechnology and to the workplace;
- Develop a broad understanding of foundational concepts, mechanisms and principles which can be applied across the fields of applied biotechnology, molecular and microbial biotechnology, food biotechnology, and nanotechnology;
- Demonstrate scientific reasoning and critical thinking skills including the ability to evaluate and integrate multiple sources of information, recognize problems, evaluate data, and draw conclusions;
- Model independent and collaborative work environments in the classroom, the laboratory, the field and the workplace;
- Demonstrate the successful ability to communicate scientific information to a variety of audiences and incorporate multiple modes of technology to achieve that goal; and,
- Connect the classroom to the world of work through multi-modal and interdisciplinary learning experiences.
Program Concentrations
- Food Safety and Quality Assurance
- General Biotechnology
- Medical Biotechnology
- Nanobiotechnology
- Nanobiotechnology and NanoFabrication
- Pharmaceutical Design
Interested in a medical career? HU Biotechnology and Integrative Science majors offer programs that set you up for success in medical, veterinary or pharmacy school. You can tailor our programs in Integrative Sciences and Biotechnology to meet the exact requirements of your chosen health professional school. Plus, the experiential learning you’ll gain through the HU academic program can help you score a health-based internship or complete a medically based applied project that will help smooth the way for your entrance into a health professional school.

The Capital Area Biotechnology Partnership (CABP)
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology plays a leadership role in the Capital Area Biotechnology Partnership (CABP). Working with educators and other leaders from Central Pennsylvania’s area biotech firms, government agencies, industry, local community colleges, and area school districts, CABP delivers a quality education to high school and college students, and science career-seekers.
Program Lead

Mrunalini (Leena) Pattarkine, Ph.D. Professor of Biotechnology
Full Time Faculty
Corporate Faculty
Program Courses
This program requires a total of 48 to 55 semester hours: 23 semester hours from core courses and 25-32 semester hours completed in one of the following concentrations: Food Safety and Quality Assurance, General Biotechnology, Medical Biotechnology, Nanobiotechnology, Nanobiotechnology and Nanofabrication, and Pharmaceutical Design. The semester hour value of each course appears in parentheses ( ).
Program News
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During the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Commencement 2023 Ceremony, several graduating seniors proudly shared their accepted job offers,…
HU professor presents at international conference
Dr. Leena Pattarkine recently gave the keynote speech during the ‘”First Annual Conference on Application of Computer Science for Health…
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Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is set to host the PA BioGENEius 2023 virtual event on May 24, 2023,…
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Harrisburg University’s Hands-On Lab Work Prepares Biotech and Integrative Science Students for Success
Lab work provides critical ‘hands-on’ learning experiences for students at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, experiences that cannot be…
Harrisburg University’s Biotech and Integrative Science Majors Set Students Up for Success in Health Professional Schools
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s Biotechnology and Integrative Science majors offer programs that set students up for success in…
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