Online Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is a fascinating field that combines data analysis, computer science, statistics and life sciences. It is a constantly changing area of study that deals mainly with the management of vast amounts of biological data such as in DNA sequencing. Bioinformatics professionals help cure diseases, develop medicines and uncover the secrets of the human genome. Earning an accredited online Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics opens countless doors for students who dream of working in this diverse and unusual scientific field.

Online Master’s Degrees in Bioinformatics Requirements

The most successful online masters bioinformatics students are great with numbers, logical, self-starting and highly motivated. The top online masters degree programs in bioinformatics will encourage students to sharpen these skills while developing new ones.

Prior to enrolling in a program to earn an online masters in bioinformatics, students must earn a related bachelor’s degree. An online bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics is acceptable, as are many other bachelor’s degrees such as:

• Biology
• Engineering
• Biochemistry
• Statistics

Additionally, students who hope to go on to earn an online PhD in bioinformatics must first earn an online master’s in bioinformatics.

Not all students enrolled in master degree online programs in bioinformatics will be coming straight from earning an undergraduate degree. Many will have previous work experience as biologists, chemists, doctors, professors, medical researchers or medical statisticians.

Online Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s degree programs in bioinformatics typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of bioinformatics degrees offered by the best bioinformatics master’s programs online include:

• Master of Science in Bioinformatics (MS in Bioinformatics)
• Master of Arts in Bioinformatics (MA in Bioinformatics)

Information on Bioinformatics Courses

The best online masters programs in bioinformatics cover both theoretical and practical applications of molecular biology and computer science. The bioinformatics field is evolving very rapidly, so online master’s degree bioinformatics graduates should have the skills needed to research new technologies and be up to date on new advances.

Although courses vary by online school, some of the most common courses found in good online master’s programs in bioinformatics are:

• Introduction to Bioinformatics
  Given the complexity and ever-changing nature of the field, this introductory course gives fundamental information on research techniques related to bioinformatics. The knowledge gained in this course will serve a student well for the entire time he or she is pursuing a bioinformatics master’s degree online.
• Molecular Biology
  This bioinformatics masters degree online course provides the student with an in-depth understanding of biology on the molecular level. The focus is on cellular systems and how they work together.
• Foundations of Algorithms
  This online masters degree bioinformatics course teaches the fundamentals of designing and analyzing algorithms in computer science. Because bioinformatics is one of the few scientific fields in which computer science and natural science share equal importance, this class provides an important understanding of how natural science data translates into computer science data structures.
• Practical Computer Concepts for Bioinformatics
  Not everyone who enrolls in top online master programs in bioinformatics has a background in computer science. This course is designed to help students with expertise in natural sciences get used to working in a high-tech computer-based environment.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because bioinformatics is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s bioinformatics students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Computational Biology
• Genomics and Sequencing
• Systems Biology
• Protein Bioinformatics

Careers in Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is undoubtedly one of the most exciting fields in science today. Nearly every job in the field requires a minimum of a master’s degree. These are some of the careers chosen by graduates of bioinformatics masters programs online:

• Bioinformatics Scientist
  A bioinformatics scientist works with private companies or government entities to analyze DNA sequencing data. A graduate who has earned an accredited online master degree in bioinformatics can expect a starting wage of over $65,000 yearly in this position. The projected growth of this job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is expected to be faster than average over the next decade.
• Biosciences Engineer
  Biosciences engineers work with private laboratories involved in bioinformatics to develop and test genetic sequencing technologies. The average starting salary for a scientist with an online master in bioinformatics can vary greatly based on the company, but can be around $85,000 per year. Like other scientific career fields, this one has higher-than-average projected growth and jobs should be plentiful for qualified applicants.
• Biostatistician
  After graduating with an online bioinformatics masters degree, a student may choose to become a biostatistician, that is, a scientist who develops testable hypotheses, writes applicable computer code and performs statistical analyses on the data. The average annual salary for this particular job is $78,402. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that this job will experience faster than average growth over the next ten years.
• Bioinformatics Professor
  Due to the immense and rapid growth of this career field, qualified bioinformatics teachers are always in demand. Working at the college level, a bioinformatics professor could expect an average yearly salary of $91,440. The prospects for this career are slightly lower than average because of the fierce competition for tenured teaching positions at postsecondary institutions.

Graduates who earn online masters degrees in bioinformatics have bright professional futures ahead. As we begin to dig deeper into the human genome, the demand for qualified and highly-educated bioinformatics professionals will only continue to rise.