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Bioinformatics

You can begin this program at an
off-campus site through a satellite campus or regional partner.

Study new technologies! Bioinformatics combines computer science and molecular biology, and requires understanding of the areas of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and probability and statistics.


Program Options

Bachelor of Science - Bioinformatics

  • B.Sc. Four-year
  • B.Sc. Honours

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

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What is Bioinformatics?

There has been tremendous growth in the field of molecular biology in recent years. This is largely due to new technologies involving genes and gene sequences, protein sequences and structures, computers and the internet.  This wealth of data requires specialized computer techniques for its collection, storage, manipulation, and analysis.  Such techniques all fall into the realm of Bioinformatics. Apply your interest in computers to molecular biology.  Contribute to one of the fastest growing disciplines around the world.

Bioinformatics: Is it for you?

  • The University of Saskatchewan was one of the first universities in Canada to offer an undergraduate degree in Bioinformatics.
  • The program is a true inter-disciplinary one, with direct involvement of the departments of Computer Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics and Statistics.
  • Students in the program have the opportunity to enrol in an internship during their studies, or to continue into graduate studies -  all at the University of Saskatchewan!

Sample Classes

  • CMPT 260: Mathematical Logic and Computing
    An introduction to elementary applied propositional and predicate logic. Fundamental proof techniques with an emphasis on induction. The theory of sets, relations and functions. Course concepts are related to Computer Science areas, with an emphasis on relational databases.
  • BINF 200: Introduction to Bioinformatics
    An introduction to resources and basic techniques for the analysis of protein and DNA data. Students will become familiar with online DNA and protein structure databases, and with the computational methods avaliable for analyzing data in them and with the application of databases and search tools to biological problems.
  • MCIM 417: Molecular Virology
    Representative members of known animal virus families are used as models of biological events at a macromolecular level. Topics covered are virus purification and analysis methods, virus structure and self-assembly, virus genomes and genome expressions, virus proteins and their function, and virus-cell interactions during lytic, transforming, persistent and slow virus infections.

Career Opportunities

  • Structural analyst
  • Molecular modeler
  • Bio-statistician
  • Biomechanics 
  • Database programmer
  • Scientific Curator
  • Gene analyst
  • Protein analyst
  • Phylogeneticist
  • Research scientist
  • Software developer
  • Computational biologist

Skill Sets Gained

  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data
  • Computer skills
  • Communication skills: written and/or oral
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Interpreting research findings
  • Laboratory skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Research skills and methods
  • Technical skills