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2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts & Sciences: Science, Biology Track (Germanna Community College)
Germanna Community College
Germanna Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Arts & Sciences: Science, Biology Track

Program description

The bioinformatics curriculum blends foundational courses in biology, math, chemistry and computer science with a core of hands-on, problem-solving bioinformatics courses.  It allows undergraduates an unusual opportunity to learn molecular biology by actually doing it--reading scientific papers, doing "wet-lab" experiments, creating bioinformatics programs, and designing individual and team research investigations.  The program includes the Life Sciences general education, specific training in the collateral coursework and bioinformatics core, and focused training in the chosen concentration.

Career opportunities

Our students learn how to use bioinformatics tools to solve scientific problems through project-based courses.  These experiences mimic what doing molecular/computational science is actually like and provide excellent training for technician-level  jobs (universities, institutes, biotech or IT industry), for training in graduate school or in the health professions.  Students interested in a health profession usually specialize in the Biological/Genomic Concentration.  Some students are interested in working close to the health system, while others are more interested in the programming/data analyst route.  The technical, analytical and communications skills practiced in the program can transfer to other occupations as well.  Students with the MS degree typically have greater opportunities than those with the Bachelor's degree, as the Masters allows the student to gain more relevant skills, content knowledge and project experience.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Agricultural & Food Technician
  • Bioinformatics Technician
  • Biological Data Analyst
  • Biological Technician
  • Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
  • Computational Biologist
  • Computer Programmer
  • Genomic Data Scientist
  • Mathematical Technician
  • Operations Research Analyst
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Biostatistician
  • College Professor
  • Microbiologist
  • Software Developer
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 151 or STAT 210
  • MATH 200
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Bioinformatics with concentration in Biological/Genomic Sciences; Computational Sciences; Quantitative/Statistical Sciences

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics

Germanna Community College (Associate of Arts & Sciences: Science, Biology Track)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester.
  • Explore the three different Bioinformatics concentrations of the B.S. degree: biological/genomic, computational sciences, and quantitative/statistical sciences.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Browse careers related to bioinformatics through the career coach.
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Work with career services to build resume.
Experience Year 2
  • Review VCU's Bioinformatics Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers
  • Prepare for organic chemistry at VCU by reviewing CHM 111-112 notes and textbook.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Bioinformatics Department.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Get involved with service-learning opportunities.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester.
  • Explore the three different Bioinformatics concentrations of the B.S. degree: biological/genomic, computational sciences, and quantitative/statistical sciences.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Browse careers related to bioinformatics through the career coach.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Work with career services to build resume.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Review VCU's Bioinformatics Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers
  • Prepare for organic chemistry at VCU by reviewing CHM 111-112 notes and textbook.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Bioinformatics Department.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Get involved with service-learning opportunities.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics

Germanna Community College (Associate of Arts & Sciences: Science, Biology Track)

Germanna Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
LAB Science (I) CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major
Lab Science (II) BIO 101 General Biology I BIOL/Z 151 4 Major
HIS History elective (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 167 Precalculus with Trigonometry (or MTH 161-162) MATH 151 5 General education
Lab Science (III) CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major
Lab Science (IV) BIO 102 General Biology II BIOL/Z 152 4 Major
Humanities (PHI) Select any PHI (Philosophy) course VCU equivalent 3 General education
Social Science Social Science (select 1): PSY 200, SOC 200, 211, PLS 211, PLS 241 VCU equivalent 3 General education
MTH 263 Calculus I MATH 200 4 Major
Science elective BIO 206 Cell Biology BIOL 300 + BIOZ 391 4 Major
Science Capstone Science Capstone Presentation VCU equivalent 1 Elective
Social Science Social Science (select 1): ECO 201, ECO 202, PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211, PLS 211, PLS 241 VCU equivalent 3 General education
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 210 3 Major
Humanities Humanities/Fine Arts (select 1): ART 101, 102, 106, HUM 100, or REL VCU equivalent 3 General education
Transfer elective PHY 201 General College Physics I or PHY 241 University Physics I (preferred) PHYS 201 or PHYS 207 4 Major
Transfer elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 1 to 3 Elective
Germanna credits transferred to VCU 60 to 62
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics with a concentration in biological/genomic sciences
Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education
BNFO 201 Computing Skills and Concepts for Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 300 Molecular Biology Through Discovery 3 Major
BNFO 301/BIOL 351 Introduction to Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 420 Applications in Bioinformatics (University Core capstone) 3 Major
CHEM 301 Organic Chemistry 3 Major
CHEM 302 Organic Chemistry II 3 Major
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming 4 Major
STAT 314 or STAT 321 Applications of Statistics or Introduction to Statistical Computing 4 Major
BNFO/BIOL 540 Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics 3 Major
BNFO/BIOL 541 or BIOZ 476 Laboratory in Molecular Genetics or Molecular Capstone Laboratory 2 Major
CHEM 403 Biochemistry I 3 Major
Select 10 credits of upper-level concentration electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 10 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 4 Elective
Open electives 10 to 12 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58 to 60
Bachelor's degree total 120
Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics with a concentration in computational sciences
Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education
BNFO 201 Computing Skills and Concepts for Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 300 Molecular Biology Through Discovery 3 Major
BNFO 301/BIOL 351 Introduction to Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 420 Applications in Bioinformatics (University Core capstone) 3 Major
CHEM 301 Organic Chemistry 3 Major
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming 4 Major
STAT 314 or STAT 321 Applications of Statistics or Introduction to Statistical Computing 4 Major
CMSC 256 Data Structures and Object Oriented Programming 4 Major
CMSC 302 Introduction to Discrete Structures 3 Major
CMSC 355 Fundamentals of Software Engineering 3 Major
CMSC 401 Algorithm Analysis with Advanced Data Structures 3 Major
Select 9 credits of upper-level concentration electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 9 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 7 Elective
Open electives 6 to 8 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58 to 60
Bachelor's degree total 120
Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics with a concentration in quantitative/statistical sciences
Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education
BNFO 201 Computing Skills and Concepts for Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 300 Molecular Biology Through Discovery 3 Major
BNFO 301/BIOL 351 Introduction to Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 420 Applications in Bioinformatics (University Core capstone) 3 Major
CHEM 301 Organic Chemistry 3 Major
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming 4 Major
STAT 314 Applications of Statistics 4 Major
MATH 201 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II 4 Major
MATH 307 Multivariate Calculus 4 Major
MATH 310 Linear Algebra 3 Major
STAT 321 Introduction to Statistical Computing 3 Major
Select 8 credits of upper-level concentration electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 8 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 7 Elective
Open electives 6 to 8 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58 to 60
Bachelor's degree total 120