Biomedical Entrepreneurship: Graduate Certificate Program

A Foundation for Growth

The Biomedical Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate Program is designed to bring together the brightest minds to affect positive change in health via technology and robust interdisciplinary work.

The certificate will give you a leg up with the skills you’ll need to recognize an innovative idea, evaluate and refine it, advocate for it, and work in an interdisciplinary team to move it forward. The certificate is not meant to turn every student into a startup founder; rather, it instills an entrepreneurial mindset so that as scientists, clinicians, and engineers, you can maximize your personal impact and contribute to health innovation wherever you are.

Program Requirements

The program requires 12 hours of graduate course credit and is designed to take a year to complete with part-time enrollment. All courses are offered remotely from the Tallahassee campus and are designed for flexibility. Although it varies according to which classes you choose, the standard track requires an estimated time commitment of 5 hrs per week. An internship in a biomedical startup is highly encouraged in the latter portion of the program, which can be remote or in-person. Up to 15 credit hours may be taken for those wanting more elective opportunities. Coursework must be completed within 2 years.

Learners have the opportunity to customize the certificate through “deep dive” electives, offered according to instructor availability and student interest. Topics include medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, imaging, artificial intelligence, and omics such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. For course descriptions, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at https://gradschool.fsu.edu ($30 fee) and submit the program-specific application on the “Applications” tab above.

  • Novel Therapeutics

    Learn from scientists and start-up founders in the pharmaceutical industry.

  • Medical Imaging

    Explore Magnetic Resonance Imaging with subject matter experts from the National High Field Magnetic Laboratory, as well as point-of-care ultrasound, CT, and more.

  • Medical Devices

    From product development to IDE to regulatory approval, medical devices are used in surgery, clinics, and home-based care.

Certificate Coursework

Foundations of Biomedical Entrepreneurship I: (2 credit hours) This course applies the principles of value proposition, differentiation, market assessment, revenue streams, competitive landscape, go to market strategy, and capital formation for life sciences or medical devices. No prerequisites. Course is offered asynchronously.

Foundations of Biomedical Entrepreneurship II: (2 credit hours) This course is divided into two parts. The first covers the path to market for medical companies, including the fundamentals of brand development, product development, pricing/pricing structures. The second half of this course includes an introduction to intellectual property, regulatory pathways, and reimbursements specific to medical diagnostics, therapeutics, devices or services. Prerequisite: Foundations of Biomedical Entrepreneurship I. Course is offered asynchronously.

Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship: (3 credit hours) This course explores emerging biomedical technologies spanning molecules, RNA/DNA, cells, tissue, hardware, software, and healthcare delivery. The course assesses business models of companies who are marketing these disruptive innovations through case studies of their business models. Prerequisites: Foundations of Biomedical Entrepreneurship I and II. Course is offered in a hybrid format.

Scientific Innovation Strategies: (2 credit hours) This highly interactive course introduces key elements of the entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills necessary to promote innovation. Human-centered collaborative design strategies such as design thinking and systems thinking are combined with rigorous scientific experimental design to discover new drugs, design prototypes, assess feasibility, and develop market-driven products with true impact for human health. The course also introduces and develops leadership skills in strategic decision making, uncertainty/risk assessment, mentorship and communication. No prerequisites. This course is offered as a 2-week intensive evening course.

Biomedical Entrepreneurship Elective Mini-Course(s): (1 credit hours each) Each mini-course targets a specific area of biomedical entrepreneurial development and addresses sector-specific challenges and opportunities. Topics may be expanded according to student interest and scheduling depends on faculty availability. Prerequisites: Foundations of Biomedical Entrepreneurship I and II.

Internship: (1-3 credit hours) Students will apply their knowledge in practical biomedical applications in a med tech startup, incubator, or intrapreneurial disruptive project within a well-established company. Internship placement is intended to combine a learner’s new entrepreneurial skills with their existing clinical, scientific, or engineering expertise. Students may locate an internship on their own or work with the FSU internship coordinator to find a suitable opportunity. Timing and length of the internship may vary and should be coordinated with your FSU internship coordinator and external internship mentor. In addition to on-site work hours, students will also have the opportunity to receive feedback and mentoring through discussions and one-on-one instructor interaction. Once an internship is approved by the Program Coordinator, international students on an F-1 visa must work with the Center for Global Engagement to ensure all requirements are met before initiating work.