Arizona State University (Tempe campus)
Arizona State University (Tempe campus)

Arizona State University (Tempe campus)

1151 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ, United States Arizona, Tempe, USA Visit web page

Computational Life Sciences, MS

Study detals

: Master's degree : Computational Life Sciences, MS LACLSMS : Full time : 24 Month

Requirements

Admission requirements
  • Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  • Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in biology, statistics or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants are required to submit:

  1. graduate admissions application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. personal statement
  4. professional resume
  5. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information

An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency (TOEFL 80 (no band below 20) (IELTS 6.5 at least 6.0 in all skills)) regardless of their current residency.

Speciality

STEM-OPT for international students on F-1 visas

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.

The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.

Also available online

Additional information

Program description

Degree awarded: MS  Computational Life Sciences 

The MS program in computational life sciences introduces students to a burgeoning new field. Huge leaps in processing technologies have thrown open the doors for new research techniques and exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations, focusing heavily on genomics data generation, analysis and interpretation.

Students are introduced to a suite of statistical tools and computational approaches that enable them to uncover correlations, glean new understanding and help solve scientific problems.

Students examine many different types of data generated from a wide range of fields, including ecology, botany, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, and animal behavior. Students have the opportunity to investigate topics such as DNA, RNA, protein, imaging, conservation and even historical data from long-term ecological research sites.

Finally, students explore the ethical implications of collecting, analyzing and sharing the results of computational life sciences data.

Accelerated program options

This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

  • Biochemistry, BS
  • Biochemistry (Medicinal Chemistry), BS
  • Biological Sciences, BS
  • Biological Sciences (Biology and Society), BS
  • Biological Sciences (Biomedical Sciences), BS
  • Biological Sciences (Conservation Biology and Ecology), BS
  • Biological Sciences (Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology), BS
  • Biological Sciences (Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior), BS
  • Data Science, BS
  • Microbiology, BS
  • Microbiology (Medical Microbiology), BS
  • Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology, BS

Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities for graduates include working at biotechnology companies, working as a lab research technician in academia, and working for government or nonprofit labs doing computational life sciences analyses. The median annual pay for those who hold a master's degree in a computational research science is approximately three times the median annual wage for all workers.

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