Bioinformatics, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in computational sciences

This bioinformatics program consists of a core curriculum that provides immersion in the field of bioinformatics as well as foundational courses in biology, chemistry, computer science and statistics. The bachelor’s program in bioinformatics requires breadth of training via the VCU ConnectED general education requirements, a bioinformatics core with ancillary scientific course work and focused training in the areas of biological/genomic sciences, computational sciences or quantitative/statistical sciences through the concentration-specific courses.

Students wishing to pursue the bioinformatics major must apply for admission into the program. High school seniors as well as students transferring to VCU should follow the regular VCU admissions process and deadlines, being sure to indicate clearly in their application that they wish to apply to the bioinformatics program. Continuing VCU students wishing to apply to the program may contact the bioinformatics academic adviser at (804) 828-0825.

Transfer students and continuing VCU students with at least 15 college credits should present a suggested college GPA of 3.0 including relevant course work in science, math or computer science.

Accelerated B.S. and M.S.

The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.S. in Bioinformatics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 142 credits rather than the 154 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.

Students holding these degrees will have a head start for pursuing careers in industry or continuing in an academic setting. The M.S. degree provides two tracks: (1) a thesis track with formal research experience and (2) a nonthesis (professional science master’s) track combining business skills with an externship experience. This degree can lead to expanded job opportunities, greater potential for job advancement and higher starting salaries.

Entrance to the accelerated program

Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.

Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.0 in bioinformatics degree course work. Applicants should have completed a substantial amount of course work toward the B.S. degree and maintained a strong academic record. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the program director to the M.S. in Bioinformatics program during their junior year after they have completed 75 credits and before they have completed 90 credits toward the B.S. degree. Applicants to this accelerated program must have junior or senior status in VCU’s B.S. in Bioinformatics program. Successful applicants would enter the accelerated program in the first semester of their senior year.

Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate bioinformatics adviser and the program director of the bioinformatics graduate program.

Admission to the graduate program

Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the first semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. Two reference letters (at least one from a bioinformatics faculty member) must accompany the application.

Degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits may substitute for bioinformatics requirements for the undergraduate degree, and are planned in consultation with the undergraduate academic adviser and the graduate program director. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. For best alignment of these credits, students must plan ahead.

Examples of bioinformatics degree courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, are:

Course	Title	Hours
BIOS 543	Graduate Research Methods I	3
BNFO 540	Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics	3
BNFO 541	Laboratory in Molecular Genetics	2
BNFO 592	Independent Study	1-9
BNFO 620	Bioinformatics Practicum	3
BNFO 621	Business and Entrepreneurship Essentials for Life Scientists	3
BNFO 653	Advanced Molecular Genetics: Bioinformatics	3
BNFO 692	Independent Study	1-9
CMSC 508	Database Theory	3

Recommended course sequence/plan of study

What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.

Course	Title	Hours
Junior year
Fall semester
BIOL 300	Cellular and Molecular Biology	3
BNFO 411	Ethical Issues in Life Sciences	2
Required B.S. course work		10
Term Hours:		15
Spring semester
BNFO 541	Laboratory in Molecular Genetics	2
PHYS 207	University Physics I	5
STAT 321	Introduction to Statistical Computing	3
Required B.S. course work		5
Term Hours:		15
Senior year
Fall semester
BNFO 540	Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics	3
CMSC 256	Data Structures and Object Oriented Programming	4
Required B.S. course work		8
Term Hours:		15
Spring semester
Required B.S. course work		5
BNFO 601	Integrated Bioinformatics	4
BNFO 620	Bioinformatics Practicum	3
BNFO 621	Business and Entrepreneurship Essentials for Life Scientists	3
Term Hours:		15
Fifth year
Fall semester
BNFO 531	Quantitative Methods in Bioinformatics	3
BNFO 690	Seminars in Bioinformatics	1
OVPR 601	Scientific Integrity	1
Graduate electives (500 and 600 level) 1		5
Term Hours:		11
Spring semester
BNFO 653	Advanced Molecular Genetics: Bioinformatics	3
BNFO 700	Externship in Bioinformatics	2
Graduate electives (500 and 600 level) 1		6
Term Hours:		11

Students interested in the accelerated B.S. and M.S. program can contact the individuals listed below who will explain the program and coordinate the curriculum.

Undergraduate adviser
Lian Currie
lcurrie@vcu.edu
Grace E. Harris Hall, Room 3116a

Graduate program director
Allison Johnson
aajohnson@vcu.edu
Grace E. Harris Hall, Room 3115