A degree in applied biotechnology prepares you for careers in food production, health and sustainability. It also can serve as a springboard for graduate school. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for popular careers related to applied biotechnology in agricultural and food sciences is $76,400 per year (2023).

There are a variety of career opportunities available to students who complete a B.S. in Applied Biotechnology, including:

• Biological technician: Conduct scientific tests, experiments and analyses in collaboration with biological and medical scientists.
• Food scientist: Create new food and beverage varieties and improve the safety and nutrition of existing food products.
• Industrial microbiologist: Monitor and solve problems related to the use of microorganisms in the production of food, medicine and other materials.
• Biomedical engineer: Combine biology and medicine with engineering to develop machines and processes to solve medical and health-related problems.
• Process development associate: Develop processes to improve product yield and reduce costs in various areas, including fermentation and purification, and research and implement new methods and technologies to enhance production.

As an applied biotechnology student, you’ll gain knowledge and skills in microbiology, plant biology, genetics, food science, nutrition and more. Courses required to complete a bachelor of applied biotechnology are subject to change, so remember to meet with your advisor regularly to review your course plan.

Applied Biotechnology students have the unique opportunity to gain fundamental and practical experience in the classroom, lab and field with courses like the following:

• Biotechnology Laboratory
• Food Toxicology
• Plant Biotechnology
• Microbial Genetics
• Industrial Biotechnology
• Bioethics

A bachelor's degree in applied biotechnology, applied biotechnology emphasis, is your most versatile option for customizing your learning experience involving microbiology, plant biology, modern food production and human health.

This degree emphasis is highly customizable and prepares you for a career conducting basic or applied research in academic, institutional or governmental laboratories, or developing products in the biotechnology industry, including vaccines, enzymes, biofuels and biologics. The degree also can help you pursue graduate studies, such as a medical or veterinary doctoral degree.

You’ll work with your advisor to create a course plan that includes core and elective classes. Some applied biotechnology emphasis course options include:

• Biotechnology Laboratory
• Plant and Animal Genetics
• Recombinant DNA Methods and Applications
• Plant Biotechnology
• Microbial Genetics

A bachelor's degree in applied biotechnology, food and beverage fermentation emphasis, lets you focus your studies on the science of fermentation as it applies to turning various ingredients into new, higher-value food and beverage products.

This degree emphasis can lead to a career in the food industry, such as monitoring product quality and safety in food production facilities or developing new or improved products in the food and beverage area, including plant-based meat substitutes and kombucha. It also can be a launch pad for graduate studies or research positions in industrial, governmental or academic institutions.

You’ll work with your advisor to create a course plan that includes core and elective classes. Some food and beverage fermentation emphasis course options include:

• Fundamentals of Food Science
• Food Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Microbial Genetics
• Nutrition and Metabolism
• Food Toxicology

A bachelor's degree in Applied Biotechnology, industrial plant and microbial biotechnology emphasis, allows you to gain an in-depth understanding of the genetic engineering and growth of plants and microbes to make products.

This degree emphasis can lead to a career in a range of industries -- from developing manufacturing processes for biotechnology products, to monitoring product quality and safety in biotechnology facilities, to genetically engineering microorganisms and plants to synthesize products such as vaccines, enzymes and biofuels. It also can lead to graduate studies in agriculture, manufacturing, medicine, business and more.

You’ll work with your advisor to create a course plan that includes core and elective classes. Some industrial plant and microbial biotechnology emphasis course options include:

• Core Concepts in Molecular Microbiology
• Industrial Biotechnology
• Plant Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering
• Bioethics
• Biotechnology Laboratory