The Wesleyan Certificate Program in Informatics and Modeling has two pathways:
The Integrative Genomic Sciences (IGS) pathway has at its core clusters of courses that encompass many of the new developments in the areas of bioinformatics and genomics, and their impact in medicine and society.
The Certificate Program is similar to a minor in a standard academic field and certifies competence in the general area of genomics. Majors in the life sciences will benefit from this certificate; Majors in the information sciences (mathematics, computer science, and physics) will also want to complement their major program with the certificate.
Students in the Integrative Genomic Sciences Certificate Program should satisfy the following course requirements:
An introductory biology course
(BIOL/MBB 181 - Principles of Biology I, or an approved alternative)
An introductory computer science course
(e.g. COMP 112 - Introduction to Programming, COMP 211 - Computer Science I, COMP 212 - Data Structures, or approved alternatives)
An upper-level computer science course
(e.g. COMP 231 – Computer Structure and Operation, COMP 231 - Algorithms and Complexity, COMP 354 - Principles of Databases, or an approved alternative)
An upper-level bioinformatics course
(see approved courses)
One course in each of two of the following categories
(see approved courses)
Summer and term-time research support:
Our Hughes Program
provides funds for term-time and summer
inter-disciplinary research -- the funds are for students with two
faculty mentors in complementing fields, e.g. life science and
computer science, or life science and philosophy. Please see
research projects link.
BA/MA:
Undergraduates majoring in the life sciences (Biology, MBB,
NSB, Chemistry) or information sciences (Math/Computer Sci,
Physics), and performing undergraduate research, may apply to the
BA/MA program to explore Integrative Genomic Sciences through a
combination of coursework and research during their fourth and
fifth years at Wesleyan. The fifth year provides an excellent opportunity
for students to strengthen their foundation in informatics, the life sciences, and bioethics.
More information on the BA/MA degree
PhD/MS:
Ph.D. graduate students in the life sciences (Biology, MBB, or
Chemistry) who are performing research in an area of Integrative
Genomic Sciences may enroll simultaneously for an MS in Computer
Science. Course work will include IGS courses in the life sciences
and computer science. Information on course and thesis requirements
for the dual degree will soon be available.
More information on Ph.D. programs in
Biology,
MB&B and
Chemistry