Biological Sciences Chairperson: Michelle Mynlieff, Ph.D.
Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Chairperson: Anne Clough, Ph.D.
Program Director: Lisa Petrella, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics website
Degree Offered
Master of Science, students are admitted under Plan B (non-thesis option) but Plan A (thesis option) is also offered
Program Description
This interdisciplinary program is jointly offered by Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin. The program prepares students for a multidisciplinary career in the biomedical sciences using mathematics, statistics and computer science. It is designed to provide students quantitative tools for analyzing data and problems associated with molecular, cellular, physiological and particularly, genetic systems. Students may select courses from a list of approved courses offered by the following departments at Marquette: Computer Science; Mathematical and Statistical Sciences; Biology; Biomedical Engineering; and Electrical and Computer Engineering. In addition, courses are offered by the Department of Physiology and the Division of Biostatistics at Medical College of Wisconsin. The program meets the needs of recent undergraduates seeking an advanced degree as well as employed professionals interested in opportunities for career advancement.
Students may pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time basis. Many courses are offered evenings.
General Information
Students interested in applying to the program should consult the program website for a list of currently approved courses and scheduled course offerings for the next term.
Special registration for this program is required, as courses are taken at both institutions. Students must register for BIIN 6947 Medical College of Wisconsin/BIIN-Joint Degree
through Marquette University and for the matching MCW course through Medical College of Wisconsin.
Bioinformatics Master of Science
Students are admitted to the program under Plan B (non-thesis option), although with the co-directors' approval, students may elect to transfer to Plan A (thesis option). In both options below, courses taken for credit in this program must be from the list of courses approved by the Steering Committee. Exceptions must be approved by the Steering Committee.
PLAN B OPTION (33 CREDITS)
Students must complete 33 credit hours of course work, of which at least 18 hours must be earned in 6000-level courses and above. Plan B Option students must take at least 18 credits at Marquette University.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BIOL 5201 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BIIN 6000 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 |
| COSC 6050 | Elements of Software Development | 3 |
| BIIN 6980 | Practicum in Bioinformatics | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
PLAN A OPTION (30 CREDITS)
Students must complete 24 credit hours of course work, of which at least 18 credit hours must be earned in 6000-level courses and above. Plan A Option students must take at least 15 credits at Marquette University. Students must also complete a master's thesis for 6 credit hours and pass an oral examination concentrated on the thesis.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BIOL 5201 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BIIN 6000 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 |
| COSC 6050 | Elements of Software Development | 3 |
| BIIN 6980 | Practicum in Bioinformatics | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| BIIN 6999 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
ACCELERATED BACHELOR’S-MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM
The accelerated degree program in bioinformatics allows Marquette University students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree in bioinformatics in five years. This option is especially well-suited for students interested in pursuing careers in data science with applications in biology or biomedical science. Interested students with at least junior standing must meet the following criteria in order to apply for the ADP:
- Students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.000.
- Students must be enrolled in the undergraduate bioinformatics minor/major or have completed BIOL 1001 General Biology 1, BIOL 3201 Genetics or BISC 4340 Human and Applied Medical Genetics, COSC 1020 Object-Oriented Software Design and COSC 2100 Data Structures by the end of the junior year.
Students participating in this program are granted early admission to the Graduate School and should complete 12 hours of approved graduate courses toward the bioinformatics master's during the senior undergraduate year that also count as part of the undergraduate credit hour requirement. The Graduate School administratively transfers credits for ADP students during the summer term each year.
For additional information, interested students should contact the program co-directors for the master's program in bioinformatics.
