Degree Requirements
Students must complete 30 credits of coursework with at least a 3.0 (B average) to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy. Students may complete the program in one year (two semesters) attending full-time, and two to three years part-time.
Students have the flexibility to choose from the recommended electives as well as any elective offered by the Department of Microbiology in order to tailor the program to fit their interest.
Students can take an optional capstone course (BHTA 7906 for Fall, BSPA 7907 for Spring). You may take one or two semesters of the capstone course depending on the length and complexity of your project. Please reach out to Dr. Tomoko Steen to discuss a plan of action before registering.
You can find course descriptions on the Department of Microbiology & Immunology Course Descriptions page.
CHECKLIST
☐ 7 Required Courses (18 credits)
☐ 12 Credits of Electives
☐ *Optional Capstone Course
Review our Department Course Schedule, course syllabi, and course catalog.
Fall Semester
Fall Required Courses
BSPA 6606: Public Policy for Scientists
3 credits
Course Instructors: Julie Fischer & Taylor Winkleman
BSPA/BHTA 6589: Environmental Health & Policy
2 credits
Course Instructors: Tomoko Steen & Lisa Jaeger
BSPA/BHTA 6603: Science and Technology in Global Arena
4 credits
Course Instructors: Tomoko Steen, Taylor Winkleman & Sumegha Asthana
BSPA/BHTA 7800: Global Infectious Diseases: International Perspective
2 credits
Course Instructors: Richard Calderone & JP Gonzalez
Fall Electives
BSPA 6607: Pharmaceutical, Biotech, and Medical Device Innovation & Regulation
2 Credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructor: JP Auffret
BSPA/BHTA 7001: Regulatory Science I: Law & Science
3 credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructor: Lisa Jaeger
*Not offered in Fall 2024
BHTA 6515: Microbiology of Biological Threat Agents
3 credits | Fall Semester
BHTA 6551: Seminar: Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases
2 credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructors: Mike Bray & Seth Carus
BHTA 6590: One Health and Health Security
2 credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructor: Jenny Witthoff
BHTA 6741: Policy & Pandemic Management
2 credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructors: Matthew Sharkey & David Stiefel
BHTA 7906: Biomedical Science Policy & Advocacy Capstone Project
2 credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructors: Tomoko Steen & Taylor Winkleman
BHTA 7950: Internship Experience*
2 credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructor: Contact program for more information
* Requires Instructor Approval. Students must have taken at least 12 credits in order to take this course. Contact program director, Tomoko Steen, for more information.
MICB 6852: Seminar in Microbiology and Immunology – Fall
1 credit | Fall Semester
Course Instructor: Stephan Menne
MICB 7008: Immunogenetics in Health & Disease
2 credits | Fall Semester
Course Instructor: Colm O’Huigin
Spring Semester
Spring Required Courses
BSPA 6562: Shaping National Science Policy
3 credits
Course Instructors: Taylor Winkleman & Tomoko Steen
BSPA/BHTA 7005: Science Diplomacy & World Health
2 credits
Course Instructor: Tomoko Steen
BSPA/BHTA 7801: Seminar in Global Infectious Diseases: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
2 credits
Course Instructors: JP Gonzalez & Sumegha Asthana
Spring Electives
BSPA 6599: Survey of International Policy
3 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructor: Taylor Winkleman
BSPA 7907: Biomedical Science Policy & Advocacy Capstone Project
3 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructors: Tomoko Steen, JP Gonzalez & Sumegha Asthana
BSPA/BHTA 7003: Regulatory Science II: Law & Science
3 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructors: Lisa Jaeger & Tomoko Steen
BSPA 6570/SYSM 5700: Clinical Applications of the Microbiota
2 Credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructors: Tomoko Steen & Sona Vasudevan
BHTA 6724: Integration of Public Health Preparedness & Emergency Management
2 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructor: Jim Banaski
BHTA 6803: Biosafety, Biosecurity & Biodefense
2 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructors: Joshua Kurjan & Matt Sharkey
BHTA 6805: Emerging Biotechnologies
2 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructor: Julie Fischer
BHTA 7950: Internship Experience*
2 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructor: Contact program for more information.
* Requires Instructor Approval. Students must have taken at least 12 credits in order to take this course. Contact program director, Tomoko Steen, for more information.
MICB 6853: Seminar in Microbiology and Immunology – Spring
1 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructor: Stephan Menne
MICB 6600: Concepts of Immunotherapy
3 credits | Spring Semester
Course Instructor: Stephan Menne