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Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Certificate

Bioinformatics and genomics have become crucial components of life science research and industry, including biotechnology, medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Career options are already numerous and will become more plentiful in the future as part of the big data analytics field. Students trained in these novel techniques will be more competitive in their applications for jobs and graduate programs.

Visit the program website for more information.

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Admission Requirements

Candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education and undergraduate life science experience (e.g. biology, genetics, or biochemistry).

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Location & Format

Classes for this program meet downtown on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus and the GVSU Health Campus, near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.

Format:
  • Face To Face

Coursework

The certificate in bioinformatics and genomics requires a minimum of 12 credits - nine credits in the core and at least three credits of electives.

Core courses (three credits each):

  • CMB 551 - Bioinformatics: Tools and Techniques for Life Scientists
  • CMB 552 - Computer Modeling and Drug Design
  • CMB 560 - Genomics and Molecular Diagnostics

Elective courses (three credits each, choose at least one):

  • BIO 585/CMB 585 - Molecular Ecology
  • CIS 611 - Introduction to Software Engineering
  • CIS 635 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
  • CIS 673 - Principles of Database Design
  • CIS 677 - High-performance Computing
  • STA 622 - Statistical Methods for Biologists

Admission Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required, in addition to the following:

  • Undergraduate life science experience (e.g., biology, genetics, or biochemistry).
  • Submission of all required admission materials, including:
    • Completed graduate application for admission
    • An official transcript from your baccalaureate degree granting institution (other than GVSU) Transcripts must be sent from those institutions directly to the GVSU Admissions Office
    • Resume
    • Personal statement of career goals and background experiences, including an explanation of how this program will help achieve educational and professional objectives.
    • For applicants whose native language is not English: Test scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) or PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic). The following minimum scores are expected: TOEFL is 80, IELTS is 6.5, MELAB is 77, and PTE Academic is 53. Alternatively, we will accept the successful completion of ELS 112 as demonstration of English language proficiency.

For additional information about this graduate certificate, visit the Cell and Molecular Biology website. 

For More Information

Cell and Molecular Biology Department

gvsu.edu/cmb
3300A Kindschi Hall of Science
(616) 331-2315

Graduate Admissions and Recruitment Office

gvsu.edu/gradapply

Program Director

Mark Staves, Ph.D. 
(616) 331-2473

 

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