Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate Programs

Updated: Nov 14, 2024

Bioinformatics is the application of biology and information technology. Professionals who work in this field design software, databases, and other technological tools to understand biological information.

An online Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate is the ideal addition to your biological and information technology education. It can help you enter career areas otherwise closed to you such as genome mapping and pandemic monitoring.

What Are the Online Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate Requirements?

Schools in the U.S. that offer online Bioinformatics Graduate Certificates expect applicants to adhere to a list of entry requirements. While these will vary slightly from school to school, the following is generally required:

A bachelor's and master’s degree in a relevant STEM subject, biology preferred, but engineering, chemistry and physics are also acceptable
Information Technology minors and electives in any of those degrees
Minimum GPA varies. Some programs ask for a minimum 2.5 while require up to 3.5
Submission of all official transcripts
Students from a country where English is not a major language must prove their English language proficiency through relevant certifications such as TOEFL, IELTS, and PTEA. Some colleges may accept ELS 112
Letters of recommendation: typically, 2 or 3. For applicants entering from the workplace with no recent academic experience, employer references are acceptable
Application fee
A personal essay explaining your interest and career desires

What Type of Classes Are Included in the Online Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate Curriculum?

Online Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate programs are comprised of both mandatory and optional classes. Common courses include:

Introduction to Molecular Biology
Introduction to Informatics
Computer Programming for Biology
Algorithm Design & Analysis
Introduction to Genomics & Bioinformatics
Biostatistical Methods
Biostatistics in Bioinformatics
Fundamentals of Genetics
Bioinformatics Techniques
Computational Genomics
Computational Biochemistry
Programming with C++
Programming with Java
Database Systems
Artificial Intelligence
Optimization Techniques
Probability and Statistics
Geographic Visualization
Mathematical Modeling
Principles of Genetics

What Type of Careers Can I Pursue with an Online Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate?

An online Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics permits you to work in many roles. Your unique skills in IT and STEM puts you in a great place for careers such as:

Data Scientist: Your skills will set you up well for a career in any type of data science, not just those related to biology and bioinformatics. Collect, examine, make sense of data, and present it.
Database Administrator: This involves entering data into a database to control and maintain the information within it. You may also have governance and indexing responsibilities, helping research scientists maintain their data.
Data Modeling: Modeling is a specific skill that uses collected data to make predictions about future trends. It's useful for planning pandemics, climate data, and any other science that uses statistics.
Software Developer: As most bioinformatics require coding skills and software management, this is a great alternative career. Develop software for research, industry, and other specialist systems.
Biostatistician: This differs from regular mathematics and statistics in that you will use your biology background to look at biological data – genome research, illness monitoring, pollution, and others.