Microbial biotechnology is any technological application that uses, changes or genetically modifies microorganisms in order to produce valuable, economical and environment-friendly commercial products. Therefore, it seeks to optimize fermentation processes and improve upstream and downstream processes of biological production. Its achievements will be of great avail to food industry, pharmaceutical industry, medicine, environment protection and agriculture.

Taking note of the significant role of microbial biotechnology in environment protection and the unique status of Iran as a biodiverse country, Iranian academic circles considered the need to train professional experts in this field. Therefore, the first students of biotechnology were admitted to Iranian universities in 1999. At present, academic programs are offered at bachelor, master and doctorate levels across the country. The University of Science and Culture admitted master students in microbial biotechnology in 2015.

This master’s academic program seeks to train competent experts who are able to use fundamental information on microbiology and biotechnology in different areas such as industrial strain production and screening, microbial strain modification, production processes optimization and microbial products purification and address the biotechnological needs of centers for higher education; research centers; research and development departments of manufacturing and service units, and industries.

As per the act ratified by the MSRT Supreme Council of Educational Planning in its 49^th session on 22 June 2014, microbial biotechnology academic program lasts for at least 24 months and at last 30 months. The students are required to pass educational credits and write and defend a thesis. The education system is semester and credit-based in which the students are expected to complete six makeup credits, 14 major credits, 10 elective credits, two seminar credits and finally six thesis credits.