Bioinformatics

Course location/delivery

This Certificate is offered at the Tampa campus.

Brief Description

The rapid expansion of genomic information and the databases that contain various types of sequence and structural data has resulted in the field of bioinformatics, contributing an increasingly important role in the study of a diverse array of biological and biomedical problems. To solve these problems, more biological scientists and health and information professionals require familiarity with modern bioinformatics resources and protocols to perform their professional duties more efficiently and to gain additional insight into the applications of genomic information. The diverse array and magnitude of available genomic information challenges scientists to translate this data into new discoveries. Whether the need is academic or professional, familiarity with modern bioinformatics-based analyses has become an essential component of most genomic and proteomic studies. This certificate provides both biological scientists and information technologists with the necessary coursework for a broad understanding of the principles of bioinformatics and their application to different biological and biomedical problems.

Credit toward graduate degree

Up to 12 hours of certificate course credits may be applied to a graduate degree with departmental approval.

Standardized tests

Standardized tests are not required for admission to the graduate certificate program. However, the GRE is required for admission to the graduate degree program. International students must submit a TOEFL score when English is not the native language. A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 79 on the web-based test is required.

Admission requirements

Applicants must hold an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college in any of the biological sciences or information systems or computer science with a minimum 3.0 GPA. In addition, the applicant must have:

  1. Or, an overall GRE score of 1050 or higher, taken within five years preceding the application.
  2. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  3. Quantitative and qualitative skills as demonstrated by completion of courses in biology, chemistry and computer science.
  4. GRE scores can be used to demonstrate qualitative and quantitative skills

Application process

Please visit www.gradcerts.usf.edu/admissions.asp to access the application. In addition, to the application forms please please submit:

Registration process

First, consult with the certificate program advisor and obtain an electronic course permit if necessary. Then, go to http://usfonline.admin.usf.edu/, the link to OASIS, USF's online registration system. Follow directions given online.

To access online course materials, students must have the USF NetID (e-mail account). Please visit: https://netid.usf.edu/una/ to obtain the NetID.

New students, including those studying online, may obtain the USFCard. Please visit: http://it.usf.edu/services/usfcardto obtain the USFCard.

Tuition and fees

Tuition and Fees

Financial aid

Please try this link to search for available loans based on the non-degree seeking status: http://www.simpletuition.com/landing/certifiedprivateloans.html

Time limit

Courses must be completed within two years