With the advent of “big data,” bioinformatics has become one of the major growth opportunities in the life sciences.
The master's degree in bioinformatics addresses the cross-cutting core subject areas and skill sets identified by the International Society for Computational Biology as essential for bioinformaticians. The program meets the growing demand for desk- and bench-based science professionals to demonstrate expertise in the experimental design, data handling and data analysis of biology studies that examine genes—genomics, proteins—proteomics, and metabolites—metabolomics.
It is designed to develop life science professionals who are fluent in this cross-cutting discipline. Increasingly, bioinformatics is the engine by which researchers process, analyze and interpret the vast quantities of data generated every day across Maryland and the nation and around the globe.
Students gain sound, practical knowledge in the following areas:
A dual-gateway approach allows individuals from both biology and computer backgrounds to enter the program successfully by beginning with different foundation courses. It also ensures that students receive the cross-disciplinary training necessary in today’s bioinformatics job market.
Students are strongly encouraged to pursue experiential learning with local research labs and biotechnology companies. Coursework emphasizes the leadership and project management training needed in the team-based environment of bioinformatics research today. In addition, students have access to a laboratory information management system with features that support modern laboratory operations.
Students benefit from small classes taught by faculty who are highly qualified in computer science, biology and bioinformatics and have experience with top R&D and biotechnology firms and federal and private laboratories. Their professional connections are instrumental in establishing and maintaining relevant partnerships that provide practical learning opportunities.
The 33-credit M.S. program can be completed in as little as two years or longer on a less accelerated schedule. Evening classes accommodate working professionals and are held on the Hood College campus.
Program Director
Assistant Director of Graduate Admission
Candidates for master's program must have completed one of the following:
Applicants must submit:
GRE or GMAT exams are not required.
All application materials should be submitted by July 15 for fall admission and Dec. 1 for spring admission. Applications will continue to be reviewed after the deadline on a space-available basis.
Students can complete the Bioinformatics M.S. program coursework in approximately two to three years depending on the pace of coursework that they choose. By following these two steps, students can plan on completing the program requirements at a pace that meets their professional needs.
Look up the Bioinformatics M.S. program requirements, course descriptions and Graduate School policies and procedures in the College Catalog.
Students should consult their adviser and the course schedule each semester to determine how they will fulfill the program requirements; the program director contact information is located at the bottom of the Bioinformatics M.S. homepage and students' academic advisers are indicated on their letters of admission. These faculty members can assist in planning a program of study that is based on a student's professional and career goals. All students must consult with their adviser before signing up for any final research project.
At the Graduate School at Hood College, students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty who can assist in the pursuit of academic and professional goals. Students are encouraged to get to know their faculty advisers and course professors to make the most of their graduate school experience.
The 33-credit program includes 18 credits of required coursework, 12 credits of elective coursework and a three-credit capstone project.
Initial courses cover public databases and applications, database management/data mining, programming for bioinformatics, statistics and analysis of genomic, proteomic and data modeling. Under the program’s “dual-gateway” format:
| BIFX 501/BMS 501 | Foundation in Life Sciences (for non-Life Scientists) | 3.0 |
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| BIFX 502 | Foundations in Computer Sciences (for non-Computer Scientists) | 3.0 |
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| BIFX 503 | Statistics for Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
| BIFX 530 | Introduction to Database Systems and SQL | 3.0 |
| BIFX 545 | Leadership Skills and Project Management in Life Sciences | 3.0 |
| BIFX 550 | Nucleic Acid Sequence Analysis and Protein Modeling | 3.0 |
| BIFX 551 | Programming for Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
| BIFX 546 | Knowledge Reasoning and Machine Learning | 3.0 |
| BIFX 547 | Web-based Bioinformatics & Applications in Life Sciences | 3.0 |
| BIFX 548 | Data Visualization for Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
| BIFX 552 | Bioinformatics Applications I | 3.0 |
| BIFX 553 | Bioinformatics Applications II | 3.0 |
| BIFX 579 | Capstone Project | 3.0 |
Students may elect to complete Hood’s 15-credit Bioinformatics certificate and then apply those credits* toward the M.S. degree.
| FAES Course | Hood Equivalent |
| STAT 5000 II-0 Statistics for Biomedical Scientists II | BIFX 503 Statistics for Bioinformatics |
| BIOF 518 Theoretical and Applied Bioinformatics | BIFX 550 Nucleic Acid Sequence |
| BIOF 509 Applied Machine Learning | BIFX 502 Foundations in Comp Science (Certificate Only) |
*An FAES student may count up to 9 FAES credits toward their BIFX degree or up to 6 credits toward their BIFX certificate, pending approval of the program director.
Miranda Darby, director of the bioinformatics program, and Katharine Coykendall, a bioinformatics student, discuss what bioinformatics is and who should pursue the field, with Laurie Ward, executive director of marketing and communications.
