MS in Bioinformatics

Decoding Life Science with Computer Science

Empowering scientists to code and engineers to solve for life. We are building the workforce behind the next frontier of genomics, public health, and biomedical research.

Who This Is For

• Life Scientists: Biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, or public health graduates who realized their next career step requires real programming, statistics, and data skills. The program is designed to bridge that gap without making you start over.
• Working Researchers: Lab scientists, research associates, and clinical research staff at hospital systems, academic medical centers, or biotech firms who need formal training in computational methods to advance — and to lead the data side of their teams.
• Career Changers: Computer scientists, statisticians, and engineers who want to apply their skills to problems that matter biologically: drug discovery, genomics, disease prediction, public health surveillance.

What Our Graduates Are Doing

25 Recent Graduates Tracked

76% Stay in North Carolina

$87K Occupation-Average Wage Potential

Where our graduates work Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) University of North Carolina at Pembroke UNC Nutrition Research Institute U.S. Food and Drug Administration U.S. Department of Energy Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Wake Forest School of Medicine The Coca-Cola Company Top job titles Researcher / Research Associate Biostatistician Bioinformatics Scientist / Bioinformatician Data Scientist Research Technician / Biological Technician

_{Source: Lightcast Alumni Pathways, Q1 2026. Data covers 2022–2024 UNC Charlotte Bioinformatics graduates with confirmed employment outcomes. The MS Bioinformatics program at CCI is intentionally smaller and research-focused — graduates often pursue PhD programs, federal research roles, or biotech positions where placement timelines extend beyond the typical first-job-out window.}

What You’ll Learn

CCI’s MS in Bioinformatics is a Professional Science Master’s (PSM) — a credential designed specifically to prepare graduates for industry, government, and clinical research roles, not just academic ones. The curriculum integrates computer science, statistics, and biology, with an applied capstone.

• Python and R for biological data analysis — used by 60% and 48% of CCI Bioinformatics alumni in their current roles
• DNA sequencing and next-generation sequencing pipelines
• Genomics, computational biology, and sequence analysis
• Machine learning applied to biological data
• Linux, Bash, and the bioinformatics tooling stack used in real research labs
• Statistical methods for biomedical data — including biostatistics, the foundation for the single largest career path of CCI Bioinformatics graduates

Classes Built Around Your Career

On your Timeline

Students are admitted starting in the Fall or spring semester.

Professional Science Master’s (PSM)

Coursework integrating computer science, statistics, and biology designed for industry, research, and clinical career paths.

Applied Learning

No thesis writing required. Applied capstone or research project required for graduation.

Bioinformatics-specific career programming

We provide connections to research employers, PhD program advising for students continuing on to doctoral study, and CCI’s full-time Director of Professional Education for Graduate Studies.

Coming from a Non-Technical Background?

Any students admitted without programming or math fundamentals into the College of Computing and Informatics’ Certificates or Masters programs have access to Bridging Pathway Options. Prior experience through work and/or professional certifications will be considered during advising. 

Programming Bridge:

BINF 6111 (Bioinformatics Programming I) and BINF 6112 (Bioinformatics Programming II). BINF 6111 is cross listed with ITSC 6111

Math or Science Bridge: 

BINF 6100 (Biological Basis in Bioinformatics) if student lacks the molecular biology background.

Bioinformatics or Data Science — Which Is For You?

Both programs work with data. Both teach Python, statistics, and machine learning. The difference is what kind of data you want to spend your career working with.

If your work involves…	MS Bioinformatics	MS Data Science
Genomes, sequencing data, biological samples	✓
Drug discovery, pharma, biotech R&D	✓
Public health analytics, epidemiology	✓	✓
Hospital systems, clinical research	✓	✓
Banking, fintech, insurance analytics		✓
Marketing analytics, customer data		✓
Business intelligence, operations data		✓

If you are not sure which fits, request a conversation with our graduate team — we will help you decide based on your background and where you want to end up.

Ready to discuss the Bigger Picture?
Tell us about your background. We’ll show you exactly how to get here from where you are.