Bioinformatics Technology Certificate
The Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate is designed to train graduates who will bring interdisciplinary expertise in biological sciences and computing to bear on large-scale analysis problems in genomic biology. The fields of bioinformatics and computational biology provide methods to extract significance from high-throughput experimental results and develop models of complex biological systems. A recent study of the biotechnology community in the Charlotte metro area alone identified 700 companies, nearly one third of which will have need of bioinformatics professionals in the near future.
The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics Technology is to train individuals in method development for analysis of large-scale biological data and modeling of complex biological systems, with a focus on acquiring complementary skill sets in life sciences and in programming, statistical analysis, and database development. The certificate requires fifteen (15) credit hours of coursework. A Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate will serve as an important qualification for individuals that will seek employment in North Carolina’s biotechnology sector. In addition, it will provide an excellent foundation for further graduate study in the life sciences, bioinformatics, genomic medicine, and other health disciplines.
The certificate may be pursued concurrently with a related non-bioinformatics graduate degree program at UNC Charlotte, or as a standalone program. The certificate may not be pursued concurrently with the Masters in Bioinformatics or with the Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, but Upon successful completion of the Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate, students can transfer the course credit into the Bioinformatics MS or PhD programs, after a student has applied and been admitted into the MS or PhD.
Admission Requirements
| Bioinformatics Technology Certificate |
|---|
| A bachelor’s degree in related field, including, but not limited to, a life science, physical science, mathematics, or computing discipline. |
| Practical experience and confidence with computers, for instance use of common web browsers, word processing, plotting, and spreadsheet applications. |
| Online Graduate School Application |
| Statement of Purpose |
If English is not the applicant’s native language and he or she has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution. Required is either a minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 220 on the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 557 on the paper-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall bandscore of 6.5 on the IELTS.
Bioinformatics Technology Program Requirements
Students will follow one of two pathways through the program, depending on their bachelor’s degree field and previous experience. The following courses make up the required core:
| If the bachelor’s degree is in life sciences: | If the bachelor’s degree is in computing or mathematics: |
|---|---|
| BINF 6200 Statistics for Bioinformatics (3)BINF 6111 Bioinformatics Programming (3) BINF 6112 Bioinformatics Programming II (3) BINF 6203 Genomics (3) | BINF 6200 Statistics for Bioinformatics (3)BINF 6100 Biological Basis of Bioinformatics (3) BINF 6112 Bioinformatics Programming II (3) BINF 6203 Genomics (3) |
| And one of the following courses:BINF 6201 Molecular Sequence Analysis (3) BINF 6211 Design and Implementation of Bioinformatics Databases (3) | |
If a student wishes to enter the program having completed coursework that is equivalent to the core course requirements, the core requirements may be waived at the discretion of the certificate coordinator. In this case, the required 15 coursework hours may be selected from the electives listed above, or from other advanced graduate courses offered by the Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics.
Transfer credit from other Universities may not be applied toward the certificates.
It is suggested that students in the Graduate Certificate Program arrange formal co-mentorship by a Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics faculty member, if the student is concurrently enrolled in another thesis-based degree program on campus and intends to extend or enable their thesis research through the application of bioinformatic methods.
The proposed certificate will serve as an important qualification for individuals that will seek employment in North Carolina’s biotechnology sector. In addition, the program will provide an excellent foundation for further graduate study in the life sciences, bioinformatics, genomic medicine, and other health disciplines.
Program Contacts:
- Dr. Liz Cooper, Faculty Director