COURSE CURRICULUM

Biochemistry includes a series of three interconnected courses designed to build foundational and advanced skills in the analysis and interpretation of biological data. The first course, Biochemistry 5400/Neuroscience 5400: Essential Bioinformatics, introduces students to omics data analysis, biological databases, and basic programming languages required for working with genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic data. It emphasizes fundamental computational approaches used in modern biological research and requires admission to the certificate program, with a corequisite of the practical course. The second course, Biochemistry 5410/Neuroscience 5410: Practical Bioinformatics, focuses on hands-on training in digital literacy, including extensive use of Unix systems and programming tools such as R and Perl. Students engage in practical exercises that strengthen their understanding of genetic data generation and analysis processes. The third course, Biochemistry 5420/Neuroscience 5420: Advanced Bioinformatics, builds on earlier learning by covering next-generation sequencing analysis, biomarker and drug discovery, personalized medicine, and ethical considerations in bioinformatics. Students also develop skills in designing and implementing research projects, along with communication and project management abilities. Prerequisites ensure progressive learning, with the advanced course requiring completion of the essential bioinformatics course, creating a structured pathway from foundational knowledge to applied research expertise.