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Proposal:
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The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences proposes to establish a Master of Science in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. This program exists currently as an iteration of the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program. The 30-credit MPS program was approved in 2022 and the first group of incoming students began in Fall 2023. Master of Professional Studies programs were first approved in 2005, when the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and Maryland Higher Education Commission approved an expedited review process for master’s and graduate certificate programs that respond quickly to the changing market needs of working professionals. Once a new iteration of the MPS is approved through campus PCC review, it only needs approval by the USM Chancellor to become official.
A limitation of offering this program as an MPS iteration is that all Professional Studies programs must use the same generic Federal Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code, rather than a CIP code that accurately describes the program content. Those who search for academic programs by using the CIP codes related to Bioinformatics or Computational Biology will not find this program. Moreover, some CIP codes are designated as “STEM” eligible by the US Department of Homeland Security, and international students with F1 visas who graduate from STEM designated programs may continue to work in the United States for two years longer than students in non-STEM designated programs. The generic CIP code for Professional Studies programs does not qualify as STEM-designated, even if the academic content of the Professional Studies program is STEM related, as is the case with this program.
Consequently, the college proposes to transition the current program from a Master of Professional Studies program to a stand-alone Master of Science program in order to be classified more accurately. The 30-credit curriculum will remain the same.
The Master of Science in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology will provide students with an education in the theory and practice of the major current areas in the field including biological problem contexts, mathematical and statistical foundations, computational approaches, communication, and ethical, privacy and legal considerations. In addition to the fundamentals of bioinformatics and computational biology, the program covers relevant probability and statistics, data structures and algorithms, and machine learning. The program consists of nine required 3-credit courses and one 3-credit elective requirement. The program is a non-thesis program and will have both an in-person and distance education version. Graduates of the program will be able to explain multiple problem-solving methods in bioinformatics and computational biology and apply these methods to problems in biology and biomedical research. Students will be able to interpret and infer results of bioinformatics and computational biology analyses to different audiences and communicate results with considerations of ethical, privacy, and legal issues.
The proposal was approved by the Graduate School PCC committee on September 27, 2023, and the Senate Programs, Curricula, and Courses committee on October 6, 2023. |
