Bioinformatics, MS - Curriculum & Duration

The requirements for the master's degree are designed with a balanced emphasis on both basic science (biology and biochemistry) and computing, with special focus on the special programming skills most needed in today's pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Independent Project

A key requirement of the master's degree is the completion of an independent project over a period of two semesters. Here, you will take primary responsibility for a practical programming problem in bioinformatics, typically the creation of software needed to fulfill a specific, real-life need.

This independent work will be conducted at the site of an industrial or academic partner of the Bioinformatics Program, providing you with invaluable experience far beyond the level of a typical course or term project.

Ideally, you would work closely with one or more industry or university scientists in defining the problem to be addressed and then work independently in devising and implementing a solution, preferably using a modern Web-based approach.

Biotechnology or Computational Tracks

The Master of Science, Non-Thesis degree program can be completed through a Biotechnology or Computational track.

For detailed course descriptions and other information about the curriculum, see the University Catalog.

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
BI 765	Microarray Technology and High-throughput Sequencing	3 credits
BI 775	Proteomics	3 credits
BI 780	Advanced Systems Analysis and Design for Bioinformatics	3 credits
BI 785	Advanced Algorithms for Bioinformatics	3 credits
BI 790	Project in Bioinformatics (two semesters)	8 credits
BI 898	Graduate Seminar (two semesters)	2 credits
BS 764	Biotechnology	3 credits
BS 765	Biotechnology Laboratory	2 credits
BI 450	Bioinformatics I (Genomics)	3 credits
BI 451	Bioinformatics II (Methods and Applications)	3 credits
	Total Biotechnology Track Requirement	33 credits

Computational Track:

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
BI 765	Microarray Technology and High-throughput Sequencing	3 credits
BI 775	Proteomics	3 credits
BI 780	Advanced Systems Analysis and Design for Bioinformatics	3 credits
BI 785	Advanced Algorithms for Bioinformatics	3 credits
BI 790	Project in Bioinformatics (two semesters)	8 credits
BI 898	Graduate Seminar (two semesters)	2 credits
BI 755 or ST 760*	Advanced Probability for Bioinformatics	3 credits
BI 745	Molecular Evolution & Phylogenetics	3 credits
BI 450	Bioinformatics I (Genomics)	3 credits
BI 451	Bioinformatics II (Methods and Applications)	3 credits
	Total Computational Track Requirement	34 credits

*ST 760 Special Topics in Statistics may be substituted for BI755 with approval of the program director in advance.

Suggested Electives

BS 860 Special Topics in Cell Biology and Biotechnology (2-3 credits)
BI 425 Bioinformatic Computing (3 credits)
BI 450 Bioinformatics I (Genomics) (3 credits)
BI 451 Bioinformatics II (Methods and Applications) (3 credits)
BS 752 Advanced Immunology (3 credits)
BS 761 Advanced Cell Biology (3 credits)
BS 860 Special Topics in Cell Biology and Biotechnology (2-3 credits)
CH 728 Advanced Biochemistry (3 credits)
CH 748 Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) (3 credits)
ST 704 Statistics for Research (3 credits)
ST 720 Regression Analysis (3 credits)

Many other courses are appropriate to support the bioinformatics graduate degree and may be selected in consultation with the program director.