Overview

The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology programme at George Mason University is designed to meet the increasing global demand for experts capable of managing and interpreting complex biological data. This curriculum integrates biotechnology foundations with essential computational techniques to prepare students for high-level scientific roles.

Why Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at George Mason University?

The programme offers exceptional flexibility, allowing students to tailor their curriculum to specific career goals under expert faculty guidance. To support working professionals, George Mason University provides all coursework online or during late afternoon and evening sessions on campus.

Students currently employed in the biotechnology industry can integrate their professional experience into their degree. Up to six credits may be awarded for work-related bioinformatics projects, which can be applied towards a formal research project or a comprehensive master's thesis.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 41124 per year
National fee: USD 18060 per year
Local fee: USD 18060 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum focuses on the collection, storage, and analysis of biological data to support drug design, disease detection, and forensic science. Students develop the skills to use and create sophisticated bioinformatics software for diverse scientific applications.

Modules may include:

Bioinformatics
Computational Biology
Biotechnology
Biological Analysis
High-Performance Computing
Research Project
Master's Thesis
Systems Biology
Biosystems Modelling

Careers with Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Graduates are prepared for specialised roles in agriculture, environmental sciences, and forensics. The programme equips students with the technical proficiency required for positions in drug design and disease detection within the private and public biotechnology sectors.

Common career paths include becoming a bioinformatics scientist, computational biologist, or software developer specialising in biological applications. Many alumni find success in regional and national biotechnology organisations, contributing to critical advancements in basic biology and medical research.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Bioinformatics Methods

Molecular Cell Biology for Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics Programming

Systems Biology

Colloquium in Bioinformatics

Research Project

Master's Thesis

Key information

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-21 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-11-01 00:00:00
Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-04-15 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

31 SCH

Delivered

Online

Campus Location

Fairfax, United States

Disciplines

Biology Health Informatics Bioinformatics & Biostatistics View 73 other Masters in Biology in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

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Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in biology, computer science, or a related field, with a GPA of at least 3.00 in their last 60 credits of study. Applicants should have taken courses in biology, computer science, calculus, physical chemistry, and statistics. Students with deficiencies in one or more of these areas may be required to take additional courses from the undergraduate curriculum.
To apply, prospective students should complete a George Mason University Admissions Application, supply two copies of official transcripts from each college and graduate institution attended, a current résumé, and an expanded goals statement. Applicants should also include three letters of recommendation and official scores obtained on the GRE general exam. The GRE requirement will be waived if the student holds a master's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

41124 USD / year

≈ 41124 USD / year
Out-of-State

18060 USD / year

≈ 18060 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

18060 USD / year

≈ 18060 USD / year

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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