Why Grad School Is Important

Although college enrollment has declined in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduate school enrollment has risen. According to a November 2021 report from the Council of Graduate Schools, graduate school admissions applications rose 7.3% from fall 2020 to fall 2021. By contrast, the year-over-year growth from the previous 10 years was an average of 2.5%.

For many, pursuing an advanced degree is a way to become more competitive in the job market in light of the declining economy. For others, having more time on their hands due to reduced work hours or unemployment has inspired them to seek new passions—including continuing their education.

However, an advanced degree alone does not guarantee a higher income. You should consider whether a graduate degree is necessary in the first place for your desired career path and whether it will pay off in the long run.

If you currently work in or plan to pursue a career in healthcare or biotech, you will likely need a graduate degree to advance past entry-level positions. A reputable graduate program can equip you with the technical and soft skills required to thrive in these competitive industries.

Set Yourself Up For Success at KGI

To keep up with the fast-paced nature of the biotech and healthcare industries—where breakthroughs are the norm rather than the exception—consider Keck Graduate Institute (KGI). KGI offers genuinely innovative programs that blend the life and health sciences, business, pharmacy, engineering, medicine, and genetics, emphasizing hands-on industry projects and team collaboration.

What sets KGI apart from more traditional academic institutions are the faculty, speakers, and school partners who work in the healthcare and biotech industries, providing insider knowledge on industry trends and the latest research. As a result, the curriculum reflects this dynamic landscape while grounding you in science fundamentals.

KGI is a leader in higher education, offering deep intellectual challenges and enormous potential to benefit humanity. The healthcare and applied life sciences industries are unleashing the potential to improve every aspect of our lives while opening up vast new career opportunities.

Grad Program Spotlight: Master of Science in Applied Life Sciences

In KGI’s Master of Science in Applied Life Sciences (MS) program, discover how to translate scientific research into medical products that benefit society. Not only will you learn how to perform hypothesis-driven analysis, evaluate research design and methodology, and analyze and report data results, but you will also learn how to collaborate productively with an interdisciplinary team composed of scientists, engineers, and business professionals.

Whether you want to work in healthcare, research, or industry, this program is flexible to your needs. Enjoy a range of professional development opportunities, including industry speakers, thesis-writing workshops, and shadowing. Choose from the following concentrations:

• Translational Research Thesis
• Clinical Research Thesis
• Public Health Research Thesis
• Infectious Diseases Research Thesis
• Bioprocessing Research Concentration
• Team Master’s Project

The skills you learn in the MS program go far beyond the lab. You will learn valuable teamwork and leadership skills, enabling you to excel in positions that involve delegating complex tasks to large teams of scientists.

Top occupations for KGI MS graduates include lucrative and fast-growing positions such as clinical trial manager (with an average annual salary of $124,000), medical science liaison ($110,000), and natural sciences manager ($137,000).

Other graduates pursue medical school or work in research and development, medical and health services, and medical writing.

Grad Program Spotlight: Master of Business and Science

Get the best of both worlds—a rigorous grounding in the life sciences offered by a typical MS program with the management and entrepreneurial skills taught in MBA programs—with KGI’s Master of Business and Science (MBS) program. Gain real-world experience in the biotech industry through paid internships and hands-on projects sponsored by leading life science companies, concluding with a Team Master’s Project.

Learn from faculty with years of industry experience, bioscience management experts, and translational scientists actively developing and bringing treatments for elusive and debilitating diseases to market.

The core curriculum covers translational science, business, and regulatory affairs fundamentals. You can then hone in on a specific area of industry with the following concentrations:

• Bioprocessing
• Biotech Management
• Clinical and Regulatory Affairs
• Medical Devices and Diagnostics
• Pharmaceutical Discovery and Development
• Healthcare Economics
• Infectious Diseases

Graduates of the MBS program obtain successful careers in the biotech and healthcare industries. Top fields for KGI MBS graduates include:

• Consulting
• Project management
• Marketing / sales
• Market analysis / competitive intelligence
• Business development
• Clinical / regulatory
• Research and development
• Manufacturing operations
• Quality assurance
• Supply chain
• Bioprocessing

Access an extensive network of more than 1,000 MBS alumni employed in industry, eager to connect with and help current students. Rest assured that you are in good hands in KGI’s MBS program. The statistics speak for themselves:

• 90% of alumni are placed in the industry within six months of graduation
• 70% of graduates earn their first job through a direct KGI connection
• Alumni 3+ years post-graduation have an average salary of more than $150,000

Other KGI Programs to Jumpstart Your Biotech or Healthcare Career

While KGI’s MS and MBS programs will immerse you in the biotech industry, equipping you with the skills to thrive in a broad range of fields, other KGI graduate degree programs offer a more targeted approach. These include:

• Master of Engineering in Biopharmaceutical Processing: Learn how to discover and manufacture medications and therapies.
• Master of Science in Community Medicine: Work with underserved and underrepresented communities to improve health and prevent illness and injury.
• Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling: Join the ranks of innovative genetic counselors who serve the needs of individual patients, the healthcare system, and the bioscience industry.
• Master of Science in Medical Device Engineering: Learn to develop medical devices such as wearables and assistive technology and work with industry sponsors to solve real-world problems.
• Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomic Data Analytics: Gain hands-on experience with the technologies and information revolutionizing medicine’s future.
• Master of Science in Regulatory Affairs: Learn translational and applied experience in regulatory affairs for all FDA-regulated product classes throughout the product lifecycle
• Master of Science in Translational Medicine: Gain an in-depth understanding of how to translate basic research into medical products.
• Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies: Become integral members of a healthcare team and provide compassionate care to your community.

Are you ready to become a leader in healthcare and biotech? Contact KGI to learn more about your options and how to get started.