Learn the tools to unlock the next big discovery while gaining industry experience with a graduate certificate in bioinformatics.

A graduate certificate in bioinformatics from University of Maryland University College can help prepare you to become a qualified bioinformatics professional for public- or private-sector organizations. You'll gain cutting-edge knowledge, and you'll also develop experience in the field, which can give you an advantage in the job market.

Bioinformatics is a blend of biology, computer science, and mathematics. Modern biology generates massive quantities of big data. Hidden in this data might be the next effective cancer therapy, the definitive proof that a certain gene is responsible for a disease, or the information needed to replicate a crucial biological process—and you could be on the team that discovers it.

These program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2019–2020 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, visit the catalog archive in the Current Students section.

About the Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate

The bioinformatics curriculum covers a broad range of subjects at the interface of molecular biology and computational science. You'll gain real-world experience through interactions with biotechnology companies and learn from case studies of companies tackling real challenges.

What You'll Learn

Through your coursework, you will learn how to

  • Code in Perl and Java
  • Analyze big data, next-generation sequencing data, and scientific data
  • Perform sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses
  • Use biostatistics, databases and data structures, algorithms, and mathematical modeling

Coursework Examples

In past projects, students have had the opportunity to

  • Align and analyze DNA, RNA, and protein sequences, then perform phylogenetic analyses on them
  • Write computer scripts in Perl to automate complex tasks and analyze biological data  
  • Work on a team for a sponsoring organization to tackle a real project

Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate Requirements

Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away.

Required Courses

  • UCSP 615
    (to be taken within the first 6 credits of study)
  • BIOT 630
  • BIFS 613
  • BIFS 617
  • DBST 651
  • BIFS 614

Overall Certificate Requirements

  • To pursue a certificate program, you must be admitted as a UMUC student.
  • You are responsible for notifying UMUC of your intention to complete certificate work before completion of your last course.
  • If you apply credits from your graduate certificate to a related master's degree, then you must apply for your certificate once you have completed its requirements before finishing the master's requirements.
  • All required coursework for the certificate must be completed with a minimum grade of B (3.0). Certificate courses cannot be taken pass/fail.
  • All graduate certificate requirements must be fulfilled within five consecutive years. Any transfer credits, if applicable, must have been earned within the five-year time frame to be applied toward a graduate certificate.

Career Preparation

This program is designed to help prepare you for high-demand work in bioinformatics science in a corporate, government, and/or academic environment.

Experience Recommended for Success in the Program

We recommend you have a background in biology, molecular biology, mathematics, and/or computer science as well as statistics and computer programming.



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