While an ideal preparation for the bioinformatics master’s programs would include substantial work in molecular biology, computer science, mathematics and statistics, the program has been designed to provide “bridge curricula” to accommodate academically strong students with majors in any one of these disciplines. These students would develop with the assistance of their adviser a “bridge curriculum” of largely undergraduate courses to meet the prerequisites for the program and prepare them for graduate-level work that emphasizes their chosen track but includes course work in the other two tracks.

Program prerequisites are listed below. In general, students will not need to address the set corresponding to their undergraduate major, but will usually need to address the other two sets. It is expected that all bridge course work will be completed during the first year.

Biology/genomic prerequisites: An introductory knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology, one semester of Organic Chemistry (e.g. CHEM 301), Cell Biology (e.g. BIOL 218), and Essentials of Molecular Biology in Bioinformatics (2 credit module: BNFO 507).
Computational science prerequisites: An introductory knowledge of discrete mathematics (e.g. MATH 211); an introductory knowledge of computer science including at least one general computer programming language, met by taking Structured Programming (e.g. CMSC 255) and Data Structures and Advanced Programming (e.g. CMSC 256).
Quantitative/statistical prerequisites: An introductory knowledge of math/statistics, met by taking Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (e.g. MATH 201) and Introduction to Statistical Computing (STAT 321) or Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists (STAT 521).