Handling and analyzing large amounts of data continues to be an urgent need in genomic science. Bioinformatics emerged in response to this need. The new field includes methods to analyze extremely large data sets of genomic information such as DNA sequences and expression from DNA microassays. Students selecting bioinformatics will be concerned both with the management of genomic data and with the means for drawing inferences from these. They will learn to search for pattern and meaning in genomic data and will develop new statistical methods of analysis.

Academic preparation will focus on all quantitative aspects of genomic science---mathematical, statistical and computational analysis.

Theoretical research will focus on applications of genomic data in areas such as human identification for forensic and parentage issues, varietal protection of plants, detection of genes affecting disease and those affecting economic traits in plants and animals, prediction and determination of the structure of proteins, gene discovery, sequence alignment, characterization of functional and structural domains in DNA sequences, reconstruction of the evolutionary history of modern species, characterization of the structure of human and other populations, quantification of the extent of genetic diversity in natural and domesticated species.

Degrees Offered

• Master of Bioinformatics (non-thesis degree)
• Ph.D., Bioinformatics
• Co-major in Bioinformatics
• Minor in Bioinformatics (for students pursuing a Ph.D. in Functional Genomics or another discipline; there is no minor offered for MR degrees)

Admission

Students should have an undergraduate major in the biological or physical sciences, mathematics, statistics or computer science.

Students in Bioinformatics should have completed undergraduate courses in calculus and linear algebra and courses comparable to each of the following: CSC 114 (Introduction to Computing - C++), ST 511 (Experimental Statistics for Biological Sciences I) and GN 411 (Principles of Genetics).

Alternatively, accepted students must take these courses as prerequisites outside the credit requirements for the degree.

Degree Requirements

Students take a 15-credit Genomic Sciences core curriculum of courses that is common to both the Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics degree programs to ensure that all Genomic Science graduates receive a solid grounding in the basic elements of both areas.

All Bioinformatics students then proceed to a Bioinformatics core. This provides the additional courses for the Master's degree (30 credit hours). The Master's is designed as a terminal degree, or as preparation for a Ph.D. in the same area.

Genomic Sciences Core Requirements

• ST 590A Bioinformatics I - 3 cr.
• GN 735 Functional Genomics - 3 cr.
• PP 610 or 810G: Journal Club (one-credit course to be taken twice) - 2 cr.
• GN 701: Molecular Genetics or BCH 703: Macromolecular Synthesis and Regulation - 3 cr.
• GN 703: Population and Quantitative Genetics - 3 cr or BCH 701: Macromolecular Structure - 3 cr.
• GN 850: Professionalism and Ethics - 1 cr.
  

TOTAL common core: 15 credits

Bioinformatics Core

• ST 590C: Bioinformatics II - 3 cr.
• CSC 530: Computational Methods for Molecular Biology - 3 cr.
• ST 512 or ST 590D: Statistics for Molecular Biology - 3 cr. (you must take at least one; may take both if desired)

Total for Bioinformatics Core: 9 credits

Master of Bioinformatics Degree

• Genomic Sciences core (see description above) - 15 cr.
• Bioinformatics core (see description above) - 9 cr.
• Three Elective Courses - 3 cr. ea.

TOTAL Master of Bioinformatics: 33-36 credits.

It is expected that full-time students will generally take 36 credits over four semesters. No thesis is required, but the Master's program requires a final oral examination.

Ph.D, Bioinformatics Core

• Genomic Sciences core (see description above) - 15 cr.
• Bioinformatics core (see description above) - 9 cr.
• PP 810G: Journal Club (one-credit course to be taken twice) - 2 cr.
• ST 521: Statistical Theory I - 3 cr.
• ST 522: Statistical Theory II - 3 cr.
• Graduate Electives - 9 cr.
• BI 893/895: Electives and Dissertation Research- 31credits.

TOTAL Doctor of Philosophy, Bioinformatics: 72 credits.

Co-Major, Bioinformatics

Students co-majoring in Bioinformatics must meet all of the requirements for this degree (see above).

Ph.D. Minor, Bioinformatics

• Genomic Sciences Core, taking Journal Club only once (14 credits, see above)
• ST 590C: Bioinformatics II - 3 cr.
• requires computer programming skills, e.g. CSC 114 or CSC 116

The advisor for a student minoring in Bioinformatics is not required to be a member of the Genomic Sciences Faculty. The Director of Graduate programs for Genomic Sciences must approve the minor on the Plan of Work.
Note: No minor is offered for Masters degrees.

Additional Information for Graduate Students

• All graduate students must maintain at least a B average.
• Graduate students seeking a Ph.D. are expected to meet with each core Bioinformatics faculty member during their first semester in order to select their major advisor. They will be guided in this process by the Coordinator of Bioinformatics.
• Graduate students must form an advisory committee and file a Plan of Work within the first year of graduate study.
• The advisory committee for students seeking an M.S. must be comprised of a minimum of three NCSU faculty: one Bioinformatics faculty member, one Functional Genomics member and one additional faculty member (not necessarily a Genomic Sciences faculty member).
• The advisory committee for students seeking a Ph.D. must be comprised of a minimum of four NCSU faculty: one Bioinformatics faculty member, one Functional Genomics member and two additional faculty members (not necessarily Genomic Sciences faculty members).
• A student's advisory committee and the Director of Graduate programs for Genomic Sciences must approve courses and changes in core requirements.
• The Ph.D. degree is research-oriented, and the research dissertation is expected to be of much greater depth than that for the M.S. The Ph.D. degree requires written, and oral preliminary exams, a research dissertation and a dissertation defense oral exam.
• Throughout the program, graduate students will have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Genome Research Laboratory, Bioinformatics Research Center and the DNA Sequencing Facility.
• While there are no formal teaching requirements, graduate students seeking a Ph.D. are strongly encouraged to seek appropriate teaching opportunities.
• Graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in Genomic Sciences seminars and symposia. See Event Calendar.
• Further information can be found in the Genomic Sciences Graduate Student Handbook.

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