Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Bioinformatics with a concentration in biological/genomic sciences, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Life Science (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
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 computational biology and data science by actually doing it--reading scientific papers, doing experiments, creating bioinformatics programs, and designing individual and team research investigations. The program includes general training in biology, computer science, and statistics to create a solid bioinformatics core, as well as focused training in a chosen concentration.


In the biological/genomic sciences concentration, students are primarily motivated by biology and have chosen this concentration to focus on upper-level biology topics such as advanced molecular biology and biochemistry.


In the computational sciences concentration, students are primarily motivated by computer science and have chosen this concentration to focus on upper-level computer science courses designed to improve students’ programming skills and understanding of algorithms.


In the quantitative/Statistical Sciences Concentration, students are primarily motivated by problem-solving using math and statistics and have chosen this concentration to focus on mathematical and statistical theory and methods for quantitative modeling and analysis.

Career opportunities

Our students learn how to use bioinformatics tools to solve scientific problems through project-based, experiential 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 Master of Science degree typically have greater opportunities than those with the Bachelor's degree as the Master's allows the student to gain more relevant skills, content knowledge, and project experience. In this case, greater opportunities refers to both roles with higher pay and although Master of Science graduates typically begin their careers in entry-level positions, they are working at a higher technical level and they will have the qualifications for leadership positions in the future.

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

Highest level of math required
  • MATH 200
  • STAT 314/321
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Bioinformatics with a concentration in biological/genomic sciences, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life 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 RBC Orientation.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • 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.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Bioinformatics department-related events
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of 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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend RBC Orientation.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • 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.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Bioinformatics department-related events
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of college.
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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Bioinformatics with a concentration in biological/genomic sciences, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life Science)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
ENGL 101 Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Research II UNIV 200 3 General education
Core course in The Art and Language of Ideas (select 1): ENGL - 203, ENGL - 204, ENGL - 205, ENGL - 206, ENGL - 210, ENGL - 211, ENGL - 214, ENGL - 215, ENGL - 216, PHIL - 101, PHIL - 121, PHIL - 201, PHIL - 202, PHIL - 203, PHIL - 270, REL - 201, COMM - 101, COMM - 102, COMM - 201 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Fine Arts Core course in The Language and History of the Fine Arts (select 1): ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, THEA 201. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Human Experience Select one from the following: PHIL - 101, PHIL - 203, PSY - 201, PSY - 202, PSY - 218, PSY - 250, PSY - 292, PSY - 295, REL - 201, REL - 209, REL - 210, SOC - 201, SOC - 204, SOC - 208, SOC - 250, SOC - 253 VCU equivalent 3 General education
U.S. & World Cultures Select 1: ECO 201, ECO 202, GEO 101, GEO 103, GOVT 201, GOVT 202, GOVT 203, HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 192, HIST 201, HIST 202, HIST 240, REL 209, REL 210, REL 219, REL 220, REL 254 VCU equivalent 3 General education
MATH 251 Calculus I MATH 200 4 Major (Ancillary)
MATH 217 Statistics STAT 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
BIO 151 + Lab Biological Science I + Lab Note: students who complete the BIO 151 lab will not be required to take BNFO 251 Phage Discovery I at VCU. BIOL/Z 151 4 Major (Ancillary)
BIO 152 + Lab Biological Science II + Lab Note: students who complete BIO 152 lab will not be required to take BNFO 252 Phage Discovery II at VCU. BIOL/Z 152 4 Major
CHEM 101 + Lab General Chemistry I + Lab CHEM/Z 101 4 Major (Ancillary)
CHEM 102 + Lab General Chemistry II + Lab CHEM/Z 102 4 Major
CHEM 230 Organic Chemistry I CHEM/Z 301 4 Major
CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry II CHEM/Z 302 4 Major
CSCI 121 or 202 Computer proficiency test or CSCI 121 or 202 VCU equivalent 0 to 3 Elective
CSCI 221 Programming for Computer Science & Engineering Majors CMSC 255 4 Major
Electives No more than 2 credits of PE may be chosen 4 to 7 Elective
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Bachelor of Science: Bioinformatics with a concentration in biological/genomic sciences
BIOL 300 Cellular and Molecular Biology 3 Major
BIOL 310 Genetics 3 Major
BNFO 101 Introduction to Scientific Computing 1 Major
BNFO 201 Computing Skills and Concepts for Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 301 Introduction to Bioinformatics 3 Major
BNFO 411 Ethical Issues in Life Sciences 2 Major
BNFO 420 Applications in Bioinformatics 3 Major
STAT 321 Introduction to Statistical Computing 3 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
PHYS 207 University Physics I (or PHYS 201) 5 Major (Ancillary)
Open electives 16 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120