Carthage adds bachelor’s degree in biotechnology

Beginning this fall, Carthage College students can choose a major or minor in biotechnology, one of the faster-growing areas in scientific research.

This new program offers pathways into genetic engineering, personalized medicine, cell and gene therapy, soil and water remediation, sustainable agriculture, and other rewarding biotechnology careers. Depending on their interests, Carthage students who select the major can pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (60 credits) or a more in-depth Bachelor of Science (72 credits).

Nationwide, the biotech research and development workforce recently reached an all-time high, according to a report by the CBRE Group.

“These new offerings provide students with the opportunity to study in a cutting-edge field with immediate and growing demand in local and national industries,” says Robert Nagel, dean for the Division of Natural and Social Sciences.

Emerging biotech market

Emily WollmuthProfessor Emily Wollmuth, who coordinates the new program, noted the proximity of the campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to industry-leading companies. Carthage is just 15 miles northeast of the Eli Lilly facility in Pleasant Prairie, where the developer of Mounjaro, Prozac, and breast cancer drug Verzenio plans a massive $3 billion expansion.

Even closer is the new Kenosha Innovation Center, where innovative life sciences startup Kivi Bio is among the first tenants. Carthage also sits on the edge of a Chicago market that experts consider one of the nation’s top biotechnology clusters.

“We’re one of the few colleges in the region offering an undergraduate major that prepares students for such a broad range of biotech careers,” says Prof. Wollmuth. “Our program equips students not just for success in the lab, but also for thinking across subjects and solving real-world problems.”

Core classes in biology, chemistry, and computing form the foundation of the program, and students who declare the major can pick a concentration in computational, molecular, or environmental biotechnology. There’s also a pathway for those interested in bioengineering.

The program neatly ties into the Biology Department’s long-running genomics research collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Freshmen immediately conduct field and laboratory experiments for the Molecules, Cells, and Organisms course, with the option to build on that research for up to three additional semesters as part of the SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES programs.

Biotechnology pairs well with a major or minor in business management, marketing, computer science, data science, engineering, and environmental science. Admitted students who plan to pursue the major can apply for the Math/Science Scholarship, a competitive Carthage award that covers full tuition.

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