Bioinformatics
Where biology meets Big Data
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certificate Description
Build your computational and scientific foundation
Big data is everywhere and its presence across multiple industries will continue to stimulate job growth in pharma, biotech, and software industries. This certificate program is designed in consultation with industry leaders to meet the need for biologists and computer scientists to analyze and interpret today’s deluge of biological information. Tailor your studies to your particular needs and interests while learning the tools and methods of bioinformatics. Life scientists delve into data tech and computer scientists gain a background in molecular biology.
Bioinformatics certificate program objectives
- Use public domain bioinformatics tools, including Genbank and the Protein Data Bank (PDB).
- Employ statistical design of experiment (SDOE) to analyze experimental data and factors affecting outputs.
- Distinguish key molecular biology techniques—gene cloning, manipulation and sequencing; PCR; RNA interference; and gene expression analysis.
- Complete a computational biology project using Java.
- Recognize sequence analysis techniques such as Hidden Markov Models and RNA analysis.
- Query and read DNA sequences from Fasta files.
Program Overview
Estimated Cost: Starting at $5,480. (You pay only for courses you enroll in.) | International Tuition Cost
Program Requirements: 6–7 courses (minimum 18 quarter units). Take 4 required courses (12 quarter units) and 2–3 elective courses (minimum 6 quarter units). End with certificate of completion review.
Minimum Hours of Instruction: 180 hours of instruction.
Estimated Duration: A full-time student can complete the certificate in 12 months.
Modality: This is a fully online program with live-online & self-paced course formats.
Special Programs: This program is not approved for workforce or international students.
Courses
1. Required Courses(s): Four Total & Equal to 12 Units
2. Electives: Total of Six Units
3. Completion Review:
4. Related Course(s) (Not Part of Certificate Program)
Meet Our Instructors
Certificate Inquiry Form
Recommended Course Sequence
After completing the prerequisites, it is recommended that you start with Next-Gen Sequence Analysis Tools—a Hands-On Approach and Experimental Methods in Molecular Biology. Courses may then be taken in any sequence, unless otherwise specified in the individual course description.
Substitutions
To receive your certificate
Upon completion of the course sequence you may request your Bioinformatics Certificate Completion Review.
Requisite Knowledge
Please review the course descriptions to ensure that you have taken the necessary prerequisites or meet the requirements through job experience or previous education. You can learn more about each course in the Syllabus Library.
Molecular biology knowledge
Familiarity with the principles of modern molecular biology is required to begin the Bioinformatics certificate. You can satisfy this requirement with an introductory course in molecular biology (taken within the last five years) or by demonstrating equivalent work experience.
Statistics knowledge
UCSC Extension offers Statistics.
Programming knowledge
Basic familiarity with the Python programming language is required to begin the Bioinformatics certificate. You can satisfy this requirement with an introductory course in Python (taken within the last five years) or by demonstrating equivalent work experience. UCSC Extension offers Python Programming for Beginners.
Genomics and next Generation DNA sequencing knowledge
Basic familiarity with genomics and next generation DNA sequencing is required for Next-Gen Sequence Analysis Tools—a Hands-On Approach. You can satisfy this requirement with a similar course or by demonstrating equivalent work experience. UCSC Extension offers Genomics and Next Generation DNA Sequencing: Methods and Applications.
Advisory Board
Certificate Program Chair
DARRYL LEÓN, Ph.D.
Director of Software Strategy, Agilent Technologies
Instructor | Chair of the Bioinformatics Certificate Program, UCSC Extension
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Certificate Program Advisory Committee
SHAKILA POTHINI, M.A.
Vice President of Engineering, Software : IoT- Cloud, AI, NLP, Data science, Bio-Rad Laboratories
KISHWAR SHAFIN, Ph.D.
Sr. Research Scientist, Google
SWATI GOYAL, M.S.
Director Bioinformatics, Natera
ASIM SIDDIQUI, Ph.D., M.A.
SVP Research, Seer
LINA FALLER, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Bioinformatics and Data Engineering, Korro Bio
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Grade Requirements
Please note that only letter grades of C or higher may be applied to a certificate, and in some programs, students may have more stringent requirements. Students in most employer- and government-sponsored payment programs, such as workforce development, as well as international students on F-1 visas, need to maintain a B average to meet their requirements.
See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.