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2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Science (Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway))
Reynolds Community College
Reynolds Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Science: Science

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 200
  • STAT 314/321
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

Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science)

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
  • Attend Reynolds Orientation (SOAR).
  • Register for SDV 101.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator to discuss options and create a plan for a successful transition to VCU.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to Bioinformatics through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
Experience Year 2
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • 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.
  • Review VCU's Bioinformatics Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
  • Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator.
  • 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.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Bioinformatics Department-related events.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • 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.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Reynolds Orientation (SOAR).
  • Register for SDV 101.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator to discuss options and create a plan for a successful transition to VCU.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to Bioinformatics through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • 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.
  • Review VCU's Bioinformatics Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
  • Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator.
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.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Bioinformatics Department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • 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.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics

Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science)

Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 101 Orientation to STEM Disciplines 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
Laboratory Science I CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major
MTH 167 Precalculus with Trigonometry (or MTH 161-162 Precalculus I-II) MATH 151 5 General education
CSC 155 Computer Concepts and Applications INFO 160, 161, 162 3 Elective
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 210 3 Major
Laboratory Science II CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major
Social/Behavioral Science Select 1: PSY 200, 230, SOC 200, 210, PLS 211 VCU equivalent 3 General education
HLT/PED Personal Wellness Elective VCU equivalent 1 Elective
HIS History elective (select 1): HIS 101 or HIS 121 HIST 3 General education
Laboratory Science III BIO 101 General Biology I BIOL/Z 151 4 Major
Laboratory Science Elective CHM 241 Organic Chemistry CHEM 301 3 Major
HIS History elective (select 1): HIS 102 or HIS 122 HIST 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts Select 1: PHI 111, 220; ART 101, 106; MUS 121; CST 151; any REL VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities/Literature 200-level ENG literature course (select 1): ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252, 253, 254 ENGL 3 General education
Laboratory Science IV BIO 102 General Biology II BIOL/Z 152 4 Major
Laboratory Science Elective CHM 242 Organic Chemistry CHEM 302 3 Major
Elective MTH 263 Calculus I MATH 200 4 Major
Elective Approved transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Reynolds credits transferred to VCU 63
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
PHYS 207 University Physics I 5 Major
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming 4 Major
BIOL 300 Cellular and Molecular Biology 3 Major
BNFO 201 Computing Skills and Concepts for Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 300 Molecular Biology Through Discovery 3 Major
BNFO 301 Introduction to Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 420 Applications in Bioinformatics 3 Major
STAT 314 or STAT 321 Applications of Statistics or Introduction to Statistical Computing 4 Major
BIOL/BNFO 540 Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics 3 Major
BIOL/BNFO 541 or BIOZ 476 Laboratory in Molecular Genetics or Molecular Capstone Laboratory 2 Major
CHEM 403 Biochemistry I 3 Major
Select 10 credits of concentration electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 10 Major
Open electives 3 to 12 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 57
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
PHYS 207 University Physics I 5 Major
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming 4 Major
BIOL 300 Cellular and Molecular Biology 3 Major
BNFO 201 Computing Skills and Concepts for Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 300 Molecular Biology Through Discovery 3 Major
BNFO 301 Introduction to Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 420 Applications in Bioinformatics 3 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 concentration electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 9 Major
Open electives 0 to 9 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 57
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
PHYS 207 University Physics I 5 Major
CMSC 255 Introduction to Programming 4 Major
BIOL 300 Cellular and Molecular Biology 3 Major
BNFO 201 Computing Skills and Concepts for Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 300 Molecular Biology Through Discovery 3 Major
BNFO 301 Introduction to Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 420 Applications in Bioinformatics 3 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 concentration electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 8 Major
Open electives 0 to 9 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 57
Bachelor's degree total 120