The MS Bioinformatics, offered by the Department of Computer Science , features an interdisciplinary curriculum in bioinformatics, biology, computer science, and mathematics. Questions in many areas of biology, including genomics, molecular biology, neuroscience, physiology, microbiology, ecology, and evolution, must now be answered using mathematical and computational methods. New techniques allow the acquisition of many thousands or millions of biological measurements, and the field of bioinformatics has developed to address this need. The MS Bioinformatics program will provide students with an understanding of biological questions, a background in mathematics, and the computational skills necessary to address complex problems in the biological sciences. Students will also gain experience utilizing these skills to answer biological questions, including those with biomedical applications. The goal of the MS in Bioinformatics program is to prepare students for careers in the growing field of bioinformatics both in academia and in the biotechnology industry.

For more information, please visit the MS Bioinformatics website.

University Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all the university admission requirements . Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English or from countries with multiple native languages including English, must submit TOEFL scores. Minimum TOEFL scores acceptable for admission are 250 (Computer Based), 100 (Internet Based). Additional information about the TOEFL is on the Graduate Program Test Requirement webpage.

Students can be admitted to either classified or conditionally classified standing. 

Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified 

To enter this program with classified standing, a student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units of required degree coursework and have completed each of the following courses with a grade of “C” or better:

• BIOL 30 - Principles of Biology I  (4 units)
• BIOL 31 - Principles of Biology II  (4 units)
• BIOL 115 - General Genetics  (4 units)
• CS 22A - Python for Everyone  (3 units)
• CS 22B - Python Programming for Data Analysis  (3 units)
• MATH 30 - Calculus I  (3 units)
• MATH 31 - Calculus II  (4 units)
• MATH 161A - Applied Probability and Statistics I  (3 units)

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified 

Students who meet the minimum university admission requirements can be conditionally classified if there is sufficient space in the program to accommodate them. Conditionally classified students will be required to complete undergraduate coursework and prerequisite coursework (listed in “Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified”), as directed by the graduate coordinators.

Advancement to Candidacy

The university requirements for advancement to candidacy  for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures  section. Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR); achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program. 

Program of Study Requirements

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.

Culminating Experience

Under the direction of a Project Advisor, students will complete a culminating written project or thesis describing original bioinformatics research and formatted for publication in a professional journal, and will give an oral defense of their research to a committee. Students can choose one of three tracks for this project: Biological Sciences, Computer Science, and Mathematics. The Project Advisor must be a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member in the department of the chosen track. The committee, which will evaluate the written project or thesis and the defense, will consist of the Project Advisor and two other members, one of whom must be a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member at SJSU. The research topic and the committee must be approved by the Bioinformatics Graduate Coordinator. Students will conduct their research while enrolled in at least 2 consecutive Culminating Experience courses in the department of their chosen track, with their Project Advisor as the instructor. Students in the Biological Sciences track will enroll in BIOL 297  while working on the research project and enroll in BIOL 298  the semester they complete the project. Students in the Computer Science track will take CS 297  followed by either CS 298  or CS 299 . Students in the Mathematics track will take MATH 297A  followed by MATH 298  or MATH 299 .