Certificate Overview
The Biotechnology Management Graduate Certificate builds your fluency in the business principles and industry dynamics that drive the biotech and life sciences sectors. In four courses, you’ll explore strategy, finance, product development, regulatory considerations, and commercialization.
Designed for professionals looking to bridge science and business leadership, this fully online certificate gives you the flexibility to tailor your coursework to your goals, with options spanning vaccinology, RNA therapeutics, financial valuation, entrepreneurship, and management. You’ll study with faculty working at the forefront of the biotech industry.
98%
Of Certificate Earners Would Recommend Certificate
92%
Reported being prepared for their next career steps
Skills You'll Gain
Through the Biotechnology Management Graduate Certificate, you’ll learn to:
- Apply business and management principles to biotechnology and life sciences organizations.
- Evaluate the development and commercialization of biomedical products and technologies.
- Analyze industry practices, including clinical research, regulatory considerations, and market dynamics.
- Integrate scientific knowledge with strategy, finance, and operational decision-making.
- Lead teams and manage projects within biotechnology and biopharma environments.
Career Outcomes
Because biotechnology management is at the intersection of two in-demand disciplines, biotechnology management professionals can seek the right fit at a diverse spectrum of organizations and industries.
Our certificate earners are employed at a wide range of organizations, including:
- Alexion Pharmaceuticals
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Mass General Brigham
- Merck
- Novartis
They work in roles like:
- Medical scientist
- Clinical research coordinator
- Marketing research analyst
- Biological technician
- Regulatory affairs manager
Courses
The Biotechnology Management Graduate Certificate includes four online courses:
- 1 biotechnology course
- 1 management course
- 1 elective course
- 1 application of knowledge and skills course
Selecting courses. Multiple course options are available during fall, spring, and summer terms. Offerings vary by term. Explore current options in the DCE Course Search & Registration platform.
Upcoming Term: Fall 2026
Enroll in your first certificate course this fall — no application required.
Pre-registration opens July 6. Registration opens July 20 at 9 a.m. ET.
Stackable Certificates and Degrees
Stackable credentials allow you to earn multiple credentials by completing courses that meet overlapping requirements.
If you pursue the master’s degree in biotechnology, you can earn this graduate certificate along the way by completing courses that fulfill both certificate and degree requirements.
This approach allows you to build business and life sciences expertise while making measurable progress toward your graduate degree.
I leave not only with a master’s degree and certificate, but also a business plan and the knowledge, experiences, and resources that allow me to take this idea I had and turn it into something that can help others.
Master of Liberal Arts in the field of Biotechnology '21; Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology Management
Tuition
Support and Resources
Access to career resources, including webinars, advising, and career fairs
Weekly virtual office hours with the student advising team
Affiliate membership in the Harvard Extension Alumni Association
Earning Your Certificate
If you take two courses per semester, you can complete your certificate in 8 months. If you prefer a more flexible pace, you have up to three years to finish.
There is no formal application required. You simply register for each course.
To meet the requirements for the certificate, you must:
- Complete the four certificate courses for graduate credit.
- Earn at least a B grade in each course.
- Complete all courses within three years of starting your first eligible certificate course.
Learn more about pursuing a certificate and the process of requesting your certificate.
