Harvard Business School (HBS) and Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) announced a new joint master’s degree program that aims to prepare future leaders at the interface of life sciences and business. The two-year, full-time program begins in August 2020 and will confer both a Master of Business Administration from HBS and a Master of Science from GSAS, through Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (HSCRB).

The new MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences Program equips students with approaches to the science and medical aspects of entrepreneurial activities and will empower them to build organizations with the potential to transform human health. The curriculum emphasizes an understanding of effective, sustainable structures for discovery and development, the ethical implications of new therapeutics, and equitable access to the fruits of therapeutic discovery.

Students in the program will receive life-science training in HSCRB, a joint department between Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Medical School.

MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences students will complete their degree requirements over two years, augmented by coursework during August at the beginning of the program and during both January terms. Students will have the summer available between Year 1 and Year 2 to pursue an internship in the life sciences or biotech space.

The program aims to attract a diverse group of outstanding students who have an undergraduate degree in life sciences or medicine or significant workplace experience in biotechnology or life sciences. Admissions officers will consider students applying with non-STEM undergraduate degrees provided they have substantial background preparation in the life sciences. This may include advanced coursework in the biological sciences or independent laboratory experience. These admission requirements will be in addition to those of the HBS MBA Program.

Key facts about the program:

In its first year, the program will be highly selective, with a cohort of 7-10 students.

The first MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences cohort will matriculate in August 2020.

Applicants must meet HBS MBA Program admission requirements. To enroll in the program, candidates must apply to and be accepted by HBS and GSAS. To simplify the process, required elements to apply to both the MBA and the Master of Science will be hosted in the HBS application system.

Applicants with non-STEM undergraduate degrees must have substantial background preparation in the life sciences (i.e. advanced coursework or independent laboratory experience).

Candidates can apply in either Round 1 (September 4, 2019) or Round 2 (January 6, 2020).