MS Degree Program
Area of Concentration in
BioinformaticsThe goal of Bioinformatics is to apply the tools and techniques of computer science, mathematics and statistics to the analysis of biological data. By employing computational algorithms, databases, and statistical and visualization tools, Bioinformatics can answer a host of questions raised in biological research. These would include comparing DNA sequences, predicting protein structures, and discovering drugs. To make progress in these areas, biologists now need to go beyond the standard tools of their discipline and embrace the help of computers. Students with a Bioinformatics concentration will apply their computational skills to the most current and pressing questions in biological research.
A background in biology is helpful but not required. Students will learn through lectures, readings, presentations, and projects they conduct in their areas of interest. Students completing the program will pursue careers in drug design, biotechnology, image interpretation, and environmental sciences.Degree Requirements
The Bioinformatics concentration requires 30 credit hours of coursework, a nine-credit-hour individual research project, and successful completion of a comprehensive exam.
The course listings below indicate in greater detail the content of our training in Bioinformatics.
The four (4) required core courses are: CIS501 Information System Design CIS502 Database Management Systems CIS503 Theory of Computation CIS504 Programming Languages
The six (6) required area courses are:CIS523 Computational Mathematics for Bioinformatics CIS524 Bioinformatics I CIS525 Bioinformatics II CIS526 Bioinformatics III CIS527 Bioinformatics IV BA531 Data Mining MS Project (9 credits) · CIS599 A, B, C
- Research Project
>> For those who are lack of an adequate computer science and/or biological background, there may be prerequisite requirements of up to eight (8) courses within a chosen concentration.
