This degree addresses the regional and national need for technically trained managers who will be able to lead teams of bioinformaticians in both the public and private sectors. The degree combines a solid foundation in bioinformatics research, tools, and techniques, with the management skills needed to address the associated legal, ethical, managerial, and business issues. The degree is intended for:

  • Students seeking advancement in their current bioinformatics careers that requires an advanced degree in bioinformatics combined with management expertise.
  • Students with a general background in biological science or computational methods who are planning to enter the field of bioinformatics as managers and would like to strengthen their bioinformatics and managerial expertise.

Admissions

University-wide admissions policies can be found in the Graduate Admissions Policies section of this catalog. International students and students having earned international degrees should also refer to Admission of International Students for additional requirements.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in biology, computer science, or a related field from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency or international equivalent with a GPA of at least 3.00 in their last 60 credits of study. Applicants should have taken courses in molecular biology, computer science, calculus, physical chemistry, and statistics. Students with deficiencies in one or more of these areas may be required to take additional courses from the undergraduate curriculum.

Application Requirements

To apply for this program, prospective students should submit the George Mason University Admissions Application and its required supplemental documentation, a goals statement, and two letters of recommendation. 

The GRE is not required for admission into this program.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate programs, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Transferring Previous Graduate Credit into this Program

Previously earned and relevant graduate credits may be eligible for transfer into this program; details can be found in the Credit by Exam or Transfer section of this catalog.

Banner Code: SC-MS-BNFM

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30

Students should refer to the Admissions & Policies tab for specific policies related to this program.

Bioinformatics Core Courses

Foundational courses in modern biotechnology, tools and methods for bioinformatics analysis, and methods for creating customized bioinformatics tools.

BINF 530Introduction to Bioinformatics Methods3
or BINF 630 Bioinformatics Methods
BINF 531Molecular Cell Biology for Bioinformatics3
or BINF 631 Molecular Cell Biology for Bioinformatics
BINF 634Bioinformatics Programming3
BINF 730Biological Sequence and Genome Analysis3
Select one from the following:3
Molecular Biotechnology
Introduction to Bioinformatics Database Design
Biological Data Analysis
Total Credits15

Management Core Courses

Foundational courses in management theory related directly to the management of scientific programs and personnel.

Select 12 credits from the following courses:12
Professional Preparation for STEM Disciplines
Multidisciplinary Problem Solving and Leadership
Corporate Environmental Management and Policy
Financial Reporting and Decision Making
Marketing Management
Managerial Finance
Organizational Behavior
Project Management in Public Health
Project Management in Health Information Technology
Project Management
Software Project Management
Total Credits12

Capstone Research Project

Focusing on bioinformatics management issues and techniques.

BINF 798Research Project3
Total Credits3