Bioinformatics, M.S.
Program Director: Miranda Darby, Ph.D., darby@hood.edu, 301-696-3650
Bioinformatics is a multidisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and mathematics to develop methods for the processing and interpretation of biological data. The M.S. in Bioinformatics is designed to ensure that students develop expertise in both the biological and computational concepts needed in today’s research and corporate biotech labs. Bioinformatics is a complex field that drives biological research through the development of computational tools. Students will acquire a full complement of skills that are highly sought regionally, nationally, and abroad. Employers are seeking bioinformaticians with a strong understanding of the underlying biology and the ability to analyze and interpret complex data. Students will learn to perform robust and reproducible analyses using existing computational resources and will gain the skills necessary to build new computational tools adapted to evolving data types. In addition, students will develop the leadership and communication skills necessary to function effectively in a complex matrix environment. Students are encouraged to showcase their skills through internships or collaborative projects, and the degree culminates in a hands-on capstone or thesis experience that can be performed at a wide variety of nearby federal and corporate biotech labs.
The MS in Bioinformatics has the following learning outcomes:
a) Demonstrate proficiency in R, Python, Unix/Linux and an understanding of programming best practices.
b) Obtain, utilize, archive, and share data using the best practices for reproducible research.
c) Understand, interpret and present results from “–omics” data, including Next Generation Sequencing results.
d) Apply principles of machine learning to identify and interpret patterns in data.
e) Utilize leadership skills to plan and execute a project in a matrix environment.
Application Requirements:
Students wishing to enter the program must have 1) a completed undergraduate degree (BA or BSc) in a life science or computer science field with a GPA of 2.75 or higher; or 2) an in-progress or completed Hood College Certificate in Bioinformatics with a 3.0 or higher; or 3) a completed Master's degree (MA or MSc) in a biology-related field or computer science related field with a 3.0 or better.
Program Requirements
The 33-credit M.S. in Bioinformatics includes 18 credits of required foundational coursework, 3 credits of a final capstone project, and 12 credits of elective coursework. All of the classes are taught in the evening by experts in the field who interact personally with their students. The degree includes a required “gateway” foundational course that differs according to the student’s background in either biology or computer science. The coursework includes the following:
Foundation Courses
Elective Courses - 12 credits required
| BIFX 504 | Advanced Molecular Bio for Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
| BIFX 546 | Machine Learning for Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
| BIFX 547 | Building and Using Web-based BIFX Applications | 3.0 |
| BIFX 548 | Data Visualization | 3.0 |
| BIFX 552 | Bioinformatics Data Skills | 3.0 |
| BIFX 553 | Applied Data Science for Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
Capstone or Thesis
| BIFX 579 | Bioinformatics Capstone | 3.0 |
| | or | |
| BIFX 580A | Bioinformatics Master's Thesis I | 3.0 |
| | and | |
| BIFX 580B | Bioinformatics Master's Thesis II | 3.0 |