Acquiring a Master’s Degree in the Bioinformatics Graduate Program requires 31 credits hours.  Specific requirements to fulfill the degree requirements depend on the two separate tracks that BGP offers: the Research Track Master’s Program, and the Professional Science Master’s Program.

Research Track Master’s Program Description

The core course work requirements are listed below. In addition, students in the Research Track Master’s Program are required to participate in a research laboratory as their practical experience requirement and are also encouraged to prepare a master’s thesis.

Professional Science Master’s Program Description

The core course work requirements for the Professional Science Master’s Track cover the same areas as the Research Track Master’s Program, but students in the Professional Science Master’s track are encouraged to pursue business and administrative course options. The practical experience requirement is fulfilled in an industrial or commercial setting, especially those related to biomedical and biotech industries and the commercialization of new science in those sectors.  This experience is typically obtained as an internship during the summer between years one and two.

Advising

Courses are chosen with the help of two Master’s Program academic advisors and will depend on the student's previous training and specific career goals.

Course Work

All Master’s students are required to take Bioinformatics 527 (Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology) and Bioinformatics 602 (Journal Club). Students are also expected to take one course from at least four out of the five core areas listed below, unless they can demonstrate adequate skills in these areas and get approval from the Graduate Affairs Committee via the student services representative. The five core areas are defined as:

• Molecular Biology
• Databases & Computing
• Probability & Statistics
• Biophysics & Structural Biology
• Systemic Modeling

Practical Experience

Research Track Master’s Degree students are required to do a research rotation in the lab of one of the Bioinformatics training faculty, and Professional Science Master’s Degree students are required to do an industry internship during the summer between their first and second year.