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2023-2024

Bioinformatics, Bachelor of Science

VCU

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

Associate of Science: Life 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 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

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
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
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
2023-2024

Bioinformatics, Bachelor of Science

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
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Attend RBC Orientation.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the three different concentrations of the B.S. degree: biological/genomic, computational sciences, and quantitative/statistical sciences.
  • Find out more about Bioinformatics by reviewing the Bioinformatics Organization FAQ.
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • 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).
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
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.
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • 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
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • 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.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • 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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Attend RBC Orientation.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the three different concentrations of the B.S. degree: biological/genomic, computational sciences, and quantitative/statistical sciences.
  • Find out more about Bioinformatics by reviewing the Bioinformatics Organization FAQ.
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.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • 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).
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

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.
  • Apply to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • 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
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • 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.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • 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.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Bioinformatics, Bachelor of Science

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
Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education 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
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 Cell Biology or Organic Chemistry I CHEM/Z 301 4 Major
CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry II CHEM/Z 302 4 Major
CSCI 221 Programming for Computer Science & Engineering Majors CMSC 255 4 Major
Complete general education and elective requirements for the associate degree VCU equivalents 19 General education
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
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
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.S. in Bioinformatics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to the accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.0 in bioinformatics degree course work. Applicants should have completed a substantial amount of course work toward the B.S. degree and maintained a strong academic record. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the program director to the M.S. in Bioinformatics program during their junior year after they have completed 75 credits and before they have completed 90 credits toward the B.S. degree. Applicants to this accelerated program must have junior or senior status in VCU’s B.S. in Bioinformatics program. Successful applicants would enter the accelerated program in the first semester of their senior year.