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George Mason University
2002-03 University Catalog

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School of Computational Sciences

Bioinformatics, Ph.D.

The main objective of the doctoral program in bioinformatics (BINF) is to train students to work as research scientists in academia, industry, and government. The program provides students with an interdisciplinary academic environment to comprehensively develop their abilities/intellects to successfully pursue a scientific career. Pre-doctoral students take a set of fundamental biosciences courses and a set of core courses in bioinformatics. All course requirements may be completed within the first two years of the program.

The BINF doctoral program has the following educational components: fundamental bioscience courses, bioinformatics core courses, electives, and dissertation research. All students are required to take a total of 48 credit hours of course work and 24 credit hours of dissertation research. For students entering the doctoral program with an M.S. or other graduate work, the number of total credits required may be reduced by a maximum of 30 credits.

Degree Requirements

The curriculum is divided into four logical areas: 12 credit hours of fundamental biosciences courses; 16 credit hours of core bioinformatics courses; a minimum of 20 credit hours of electives or independent research; and a minimum of 24credit hours of dissertation research. The course work is organized as follows:

  • The fundamental bioscience courses: BINF 701, 702, plus 3 credit hours each of BINF 703 and 704
  • The core bioinformatics courses: CSI 700, BINF 705, 730, 731, and 732
  • One of the computational emphasis courses: CSI 701, 703, or 710
  • General electives

If the undergraduate record does not include basic biochemistry, the student will be required to take a basic biochemistry course prior to the BINF 701 Biochemical Systematics (Biochemistry). If the undergraduate record is otherwise insufficient, the student will be required to take prerequisite courses, some of which may not be applicable to the 48-hour course total for the bioinformatics Ph.D. Upon nearing completion of biosciences and bioinformatics core requirements, the student must form a dissertation committee, which will prepare the student's candidacy examination. The examination consists of written and oral components. Each student also prepares a written dissertation proposal, which is presented to the committee. After successfully completing the examination and proposal requirements, the student is formally advanced to doctoral candidacy.