Bioinformatics PSM

About the Program

Bioinformatics is the science that happens when computers are joined with the latest discoveries in genomics, biochemistry and biophysics. It is a rapidly growing field that brings together elements of biology, chemistry, computer science, physics and statistics. The Bioinformatics degree at Temple University, a leader in the field, is a two-year Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree that features:

an interdisciplinary approach involving scientists from across Temple University;
classes taught by esteemed tenure and tenure-track faculty as well as by our industry and government partners;
hands-on training in professional and management skills;
partnerships with industry and government leaders, including a diverse and active External Advisory Board;
access to real-world independent research projects; and
an applied focus on responsibility and ethics in research and policy.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 2 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Most of the classes are offered in the evenings or on weekends to enable full-time working professionals to be enrolled in the program. International students are required to register as full-time students.

Interdisciplinary Study: Students in the Temple University Bioinformatics master’s degree program benefit from an advanced curriculum developed by leading Temple faculty in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Computer and Information Sciences. The program has been designed to provide students with extensive skills in computer programming as well as deep knowledge in genomics and structural biology. All three areas are required in this challenging and exciting field. Because the degree is a Professional Science Master's, the program also offers:

professional skills through courses in professional development;
a research internship in a biotech company or other research center; and
connections to key employers in the Philadelphia area.

Accreditation: Temple University is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Areas of Specialization: The degree program designed by some of the top scientists in the areas of genomics, evolutionary medicine and structural bioinformatics allows students to specialize in Computational Bioinformatics, Genetics/Genomics, or Structural Bioinformatics as part of the capstone research and choice of electives. Students are trained to analyze genomic and proteomic data generated from large-scale sequencing and related efforts that form the foundation of personalized medicine.

Job Prospects: Official job placement is not offered, but Bioinformatics is an area of rapid job growth and has become an essential part of healthcare research and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Graduates of PSM programs are in high demand, underscoring the PSM as an attractive career path for those who do not wish to become academic researchers or pursue a doctorate.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students may enroll in a total of three courses (9 credits) with permission of the instructor and the Biology Department.

Financing Opportunities: Financial assistance in the form of Research or Teaching Assistantships is not offered at this time.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

This program is no longer accepting applications. If interested in this PSM program, please see our new Bioinformatics and Biological Data Science PSM.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters should be obtained from college/university faculty or faculty who are familiar with the applicant's competency. If the applicant has an established career in a related field, the applicant’s immediate supervisor should provide one of the letters.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants should have a strong background in one or more STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: The Bioinformatics PSM program has been designed for recent graduates and professionals who have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a STEM field.

Statement of Goals: In approximately 500 to 1,000 words, specify your interest in the Bioinformatics PSM program, career goals, and academic and professional achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Required. A combined minimum score of 305 on the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections is expected.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 90
IELTS Academic: 6.5
PTE Academic: 61
Duolingo: 110

Interview: An in-person or SKYPE interview is required.

Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the Bioinformatics PSM program. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered by the Biology Department at Temple University. A grade of "B" or better must have been earned for the credits to transfer. The PSM in Bioinformatics Steering Committee makes recommendations to the Department Chair for transferring credit on an individual basis. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
BIOL 5312	Biostatistics	3
BIOL 5403	Genomics	3
BIOL 5411	Structural Bioinformatics I	3
BIOL 5506	Professional Development Seminar for PSM in Biotechnology	1
BIOL 5509	Computational Genomics	3
BIOL 5511	Ethics in Bioinformatics	2
BIOL 5514	Biological Models in Python	3
CHEM 5412	Structural Bioinformatics II	3
Electives
Select two courses from within one of the foundational areas below:		6
Computational Bioinformatics
CIS 5015	Scripting for Sciences and Business
CIS 5105	IT Process Management
CIS 5106	System Development Processes
CIS 5107	Computer Systems Security and Privacy
CIS 5108	Emerging Technologies
CIS 9669	Distributed and Parallel Computer Systems
Genetics/Genomics
BIOL 3101	Evolution
BIOL 3211	Human Evolution
BIOL 5225	Evolutionary Genetics Genomics
BIOL 5479	Biotechnology
BIOL 5505	Ethics Regulation and Policy in Biotechnology
Structural Bioinformatics
CHEM 3405	Physical Chemistry of Biomolecules
CHEM 5301	Quantum Chemistry
CHEM 5302	Statistical Thermodynamics
CHEM 8302	Computational Chemistry
PS 8128	Principles in Drug Discovery
Capstone Course
BIOL 9995	Capstone Project ¹	3
Total Credit Hours		30

BIOL 9995 is taken for a total of three credits over two terms, as shown in the Plan of Study Grid below.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Credit Hours
BIOL 5403	Genomics	3
BIOL 5411	Structural Bioinformatics I	3
BIOL 5514	Biological Models in Python	3
	Term Credit Hours	9
Spring
BIOL 5509	Computational Genomics	3
CHEM 5412	Structural Bioinformatics II	3
Elective		3
	Term Credit Hours	9
Year 2
Fall
BIOL 5312	Biostatistics	3
BIOL 5506	Professional Development Seminar for PSM in Biotechnology	1
BIOL 5511	Ethics in Bioinformatics	2
BIOL 9995	Capstone Project	1
	Term Credit Hours	7
Spring
BIOL 9995	Capstone Project	2
Elective		3
	Term Credit Hours	5
	Total Credit Hours:	30

Culminating Events:
Capstone Project:
BIOL 9995 Capstone Project constitutes a culminating event of the Bioinformatics PSM and requires the submission of a written project and oral presentation of the results. Capstone research may be completed in any laboratory at Temple University at the invitation of the Principal Investigator (PI) or through an internship/co-op/full-time job in the field of Bioinformatics in industry, the healthcare system, or a government agency. Since all PSM in Bioinformatics classes are offered in the evening, students can avail themselves of these opportunities during the day. The process of locating internships is facilitated by the PSM in Bioinformatics program based on the specific research and career interests of the individual student.