Biological Sciences, M.S., Bioinformatics Concentration

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Bioinformatics has grown from the creation of large biological databases that required computational approaches for efficient manipulation and analysis to a multi-faceted discipline that also includes microarray technology, statistical analysis, and molecular modeling. We offer non-thesis and thesis options for this interdisciplinary degree. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 40 semester credit hours of coursework and a non-thesis report. The thesis option requires a minimum of 26 semester hours of coursework and 14 credit hours of research.

Biology and Chemistry courses must be selected from courses numbered 6000 and 8000. (Biol and Chem 7000-7999 are not applicable toward the M.S. Degree in Biology.) Math and Computer Science courses at the 7000 level that serve as prerequisites for 6000 and 8000-level interdisciplinary courses may be applied towards the coursework requirement.

Concentration Requirements

Biochemistry Course

This requirement may be waived if the student has taken and successfully completed an equivalent undergraduate course with a grade of B or higher.

Required Courses (8 hours)

BIOL 6564 - Advanced Genetics 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 6640 - Fundamentals of Bioinformatics 4 Credit Hours

Seminar Courses

Two seminar courses this must include at least one BIOL 8700 and can include a second BIOL 8700 or BIOL 6960 or BIOL BIOL 6970 .

Interdisciplinary Courses

Fifteen hours of interdisciplinary coursework to be selected from among the following:

CSC 6350 - Software Engineering 4 Credit Hours
CSC 6710 - Database Systems 4 Credit Hours
CSC 6730 - Data Visualization 4 Credit Hours
CSC 6740 - Data Mining 4 Credit Hours
CSC 6810 - Artificial Intelligence 4 Credit Hours
CSC 8630 - Advanced Bioinformatics 4 Credit Hours
CSC 8850 - Advanced Machine Learning 4 Credit Hours
MATH 6544 - Biostatistics 3 Credit Hours
MATH 6548 - Methods of Regression and Analysis of Variance 3 Credit Hours
STAT 8540 - Advanced Methodologies in Biostatistics 3 Credit Hours

Non-Thesis Option

Elective Courses

Thirteen hours of electives which may include:

Biology courses including four hours of research (BIOL 8800)
CHEM 6110, Physical Chemistry I (3) and CHEM 6450, Molecular Modeling Methods (3)
Additional computer science or math and statistics courses in excess of the 12 hour requirement.

Research Paper

The successful completion of a laboratory or literature-based research paper on a topic that includes a relevant bioinformatics component. The guidelines for the research paper are similar to those for the Biology, M.S. non-thesis research paper; however, one of the committee members must be from the math or computer science department.

Thesis Option

An approved and successfully defended thesis proposal. The guidelines for the written proposal and oral defense are similar to those for the Biology M.S. thesis proposal; however, the thesis topic must be on a topic that includes a relevant bioinformatics component and one of the thesis committee must be from the math or computer science department.
Fourteen hours of BIOL 8999 Thesis Research
A thesis.
A final oral presentation directed primarily to defense of the thesis.