PSM Program Details

Two great locations:

Fort Collins
and CSU Spur

The PSM in Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology program isn’t limited to a single campus; it thrives across two dynamic locations—CSU Fort Collins and CSU SPUR in Denver.

Our PSM program, with its flexible lectures and laboratory schedules, is designed to align with your educational and career objectives in the heart of Colorado’s biomanufacturing and biotechnology landscape.

Embark on a transformative journey with us, where knowledge intersects with opportunity across two vibrant campuses.

Admissions Criteria

The program welcomes both domestic and international applications from well-qualified students. Applications from recent and future graduates, as well as working professionals are encouraged.

Visit our Graduate Program Details page for the details you need to apply to our graduate programs, application requirements and deadlines, graduate funding availability, and general frequently asked questions.

Tuition

Tuition for the Masters of Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology program is based on a combination of fees based on Colorado State University Graduate programs, PSM program charge, and the CSU College of Business.

For the most up-to-date tuition information, please see the “Graduate” and “Graduate Differential Tuition” on the CSU Financial Aid site.

What is a PSM degree program?

The PSM in biomanufacturing and biotechnology is designed with engineering courses that focus on key technology areas of interest to the Colorado bioscience and biotechnology industries. These include:

  • Protein engineering
  • Cell and tissue engineering
  • Biofuels engineering

Applicants with a background in engineering or life sciences are encouraged to apply, however the program is accessible for non-engineers who want to pursue this PSM to advance their biotech career.

PSM degree programs have emerged over the last two decades
These programs provide students and practicing professionals with practical, career-specific advanced training in a specialized field.
PSM programs consist of two years of academic and practicum training.

Flexible and supportive

Curriculum

The PSM curriculum requires 32-credits of coursework and 7-credits of internship totaling 39 total credits.

Review the details below by semester, including electives.

Graduate-level prerequisites for each course are listed. All of the courses with the BUS prefix are online courses.

Overall curriculum

Please review noted symbols in the next section.
  • CBE 504 Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering;
     Credits: 3 (3-0-0); offered: Fall
  • BUS 500 Business Systems and Processes;
    2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • MIP 300 General Microbiology;
    3 (3-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • BUS 620 Leadership and Teams;
    Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall; Prerequisite: Bus 500 may be concurrent
  • CBE 522 Bioseparation Processes;
    Credits: 3 (2-2-0); offered: Spring, Fall
  • BUS 601 Quantitative Business Analysis;
    Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Spring; Prerequisite: BUS 500 may be concurrent
  • Bio/Engineering Elective*;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)
  • Bio/Science Elective° ;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)
  • CBE 505 Biochemical Engineering Laboratory;
    Credits: 1 (0-3-0); offered: Fall; prerequisite: CBE 504, may be taken concurrently
  • BUS 614 Accounting Concepts;
    Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer; Prerequisite: BUS 500 may be concurrent
  • Bio/Engineering Elective†;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)
  • Bio/Science Elective‡ ;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)
  • CBE 687 Internship§;
    Credits: Variable (0-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
  • BUS Elective#;
    Credits: 2

§Students must take a minimum of 7 credits of CBE 687

Electives

Please review noted symbols in the previous section.
  • CBE 504 Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering;
     Credits: 3 (3-0-0); offered: Fall
  • BUS 500 Business Systems and Processes;
    2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • MIP 300 General Microbiology;
    3 (3-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • BUS 620 Leadership and Teams;
    Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall; Prerequisite: Bus 500 may be concurrent
  • CBE 522 Bioseparation Processes;
    Credits: 3 (2-2-0); offered: Spring, Fall
  • BUS 601 Quantitative Business Analysis;
    Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Spring; Prerequisite: BUS 500 may be concurrent
  • Bio/Engineering Elective*;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)
  • Bio/Science Elective°;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)

  • BUS 626 Managing Human Capital; Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Spring

  • BUS 655 Marketing Management; Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring; Prerequisite: BUS 500, may be taken concurrently

  • BUS 640 Financial Principles and Practice; Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring; Prerequisite: BUS 601 and BUS 614.

  • CBE 505 Biochemical Engineering Laboratory;
    Credits: 1 (0-3-0); offered: Fall; prerequisite: CBE 504, may be taken concurrently
  • BUS 614 Accounting Concepts;
    Credits: 2 (2-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer; Prerequisite: BUS 500 may be concurrent
  • Bio/Engineering Elective†;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)
  • Bio/Science Elective‡;
    Credits 3 (3-0-0)
  • CBE 687 Internship§;
    Credits: Variable (0-0-0); offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
  • BUS Elective#;
    Credits: 2

Frequently Asked Questions

The PSM in Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology program isn’t limited to a single campus; it thrives across two dynamic locations—CSU Fort Collins and CSU SPUR in Denver. Whether you’re drawn to the scenic landscapes of Fort Collins or the urban energy of Denver, our PSM program is designed to align with your educational and career goals in the heart of Colorado’s biomanufacturing and biotechnology landscape.

The PSM in Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology program offers flexible lecture and laboratory schedules. Some courses are available entirely online, while others include online lectures and in-person flexible laboratory components.

Students in the PSM program are not supported on assistantships. However, they may be eligible for graduate-level scholarships, fellowships, and work study. Most internships, which are required as part of the program, are paid positions.

The program requires 33 credits of coursework and 7 credits of internship (CBE 687)

Maybe. If the credits were used to satisfy degree requirements for another graduate degree, then they cannot be transferred. You will not be required to retake courses you have already passed (at CSU or somewhere else). Instead, those credits will be substituted for other courses. If you have graduate-level credits that are transcripted, but are not used to fulfill requirements for another degree, you may be able to transfer them to CSU, and thereby reduce the number of credits required. Please see the Graduate School’s policy for more information. At least 24 credits must be earned at CSU, and at least 21 of those credits must be earned after admission to the Graduate School.

Applications may be submitted for Fall, Spring, or Summer admission. Most admissions are made for the Fall term. Students admitted in a Summer term will have only a small number of courses available, since most of the courses are taught either in Fall or Spring.

This kind of arrangement is encouraged and supported by the program. The work must be in the biomanufacturing/biotechnology sector and provide you with opportunities to practice technical and business skills learned in the program. Your current employer must be willing to arrange this position so as to meet the requirements of the internship/practicum, which will include some periodic evaluations by an immediate supervisor.

Matt Thompson, graduate advisor

Questions about our PSM program?

We're ready to help!

Do you have a question that’s not featured on our website? Our graduate advisor Matt Thompson is happy to help! Email your questions to Matt below.

Email Matt