Certificate in Bioinformatics
The Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology offers a graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics to meet the growing needs for trained bioinformatics specialists. Ideal candidates for this certificate have a background in biological and computer sciences, and are either currently working in or planning to enter into the fields of biotechnology or bioinformatics. The certificate is especially designed for professionals who are interested in advancing their career goals, but who may not have adequate time available to undertake a graduate degree program.
The 15-credit certificate is based upon the set of core courses currently supporting the Bioinformatics M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs, along with a set of elective courses. Students completing the Certificate in Bioinformatics will receive the most up-to-date advanced bioinformatics education available in the region. Completion of the certificate will enhance the careers of those students who are already working in this area, and can also serve as a useful intermediate step towards later enrollment in the Bioinformatics M.S. or Ph.D. degree program.
Courses are generally offered in the late afternoon or early evening to accommodate students with full-time employment outside the university. Students may not enroll initially in any COS non degree, M.S., or Ph.D. program, then later transfer into this certificate program. The Certificate in Bioinformatics charges students a differential tuition rate of $100 per credit hour, which is added to the standard GMU graduate tuition rate (regardless of in or out of state status).
Degree Requirements
The Certificate in Bioinformatics requires a total of 15 credit hours, or five 3-credit courses. Students are required to take three core courses, plus two courses selected from the list of electives indicated below.
Required Core Courses: (all are required)
- BINF 630 - Bioinformatics Methods
- BINF 631 - Molecular Cell Biology for Bioinformatics
- BINF 634 - Bioinformatics Programming
Elective Courses: (choose two of the following or other courses approved by the coordinator)
- BINF 633 - Molecular Biotechnology
- BINF 636 - Microarray Methodology and Analysis
- BINF 639 - Biometrics
- BINF 730 - Biological Sequence Analysis
- BINF 731 - Protein Structure Analysis
- BINF 732 - Genomics
- BINF 733 - Gene Expression Analysis
- BINF 734 - Advanced Bioinformatics Programming
- BINF 739 - Topics in Bioinformatics
For courses descriptions, click here.