Systems Biology and Bioinformatics/Medicine

Two students working on a computer in a lab
Master of Science, Doctor of Medicine

About the Program

Are you a student in Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine’s University Program or Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine interested in how math, statistics, computer science and biology can impact health and healthcare? Take your medical expertise to the next level by adding a Master of Science in Systems Biology and Bioinformatics to your medical program.

At the university's School of Medicine—the #1 medical school in Ohio—you'll enter an emerging interdisciplinary biomedical field that bridges research with personalized clinical care. When you graduate, you'll be positioned for a data science career in academic, clinical and government research settings, as well as for biotechnology and pharmaceutical research companies. 

What to Expect

Our program draws training faculty—currently more than 40—from more than 12 departments and six schools across the CWRU campus, ensuring you’ll acquire the expertise needed to succeed in the bioinformatic analysis of biological big data.

Throughout your four- to five-year medical program, you'll simultaneously complete MD requirements and master's level coursework, including two semesters of departmental seminars with required core courses: 

  • Biomedical Informatics and Systems Biology Journal Club
  • Survey of Bioinformatics: Programming for Bioinformatics
  • Bioinformatics for Systems Biology
  • Current Proteomics

In addition to classes related to your specialized track—either in molecular and computational biology or translational bioinformatics—you’ll have the option to defend a thesis through an oral exam or complete a final written exam of your coursework. And, you’ll spend a full year conducting research in an area related to systems biology and bioinformatics.

Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to personalize your experience with a summer research rotation and independent study opportunities with opportunities to undertake self-directed studies and gain hands-on experience in a subfield of systems biology or biomedical informatics critical to your research area.

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Beyond the Classroom

Cleveland is one of the top 10 medical communities in the U.S., so in addition to 150 international companies and 700 biotechnology and biomedical companies, you’ll also have access to four renowned medical institutions, three of which are within walking distance of campus: Cleveland Clinic, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, MetroHealth Medical Center and University Hospitals. 

Cleveland is not only known for its wide array of job opportunities but also for its culture, food and low cost of living. Taste test local cuisines. Explore world-class museums such as Cleveland Museum of Art, which is just a quick walk away. Or check out the Dittrick Medical History Center right on campus.

Plus, you have access to a network of graduates who have gone on to work for some of the nation’s most prestigious employers such as IBM, University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic.


By the Numbers

30

total credit hours required for MS

#1

medical school in Ohio, U.S. News & World Report

#53

university in the country, U.S. News & World Report

4-5

years to earn both degrees

Admission Details

To apply to the program, you must be an enrolled MD student in Case Western Reserve’s University Program or Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Your application will include the following: 

  • Online application, including a personal statement 
  • A unofficial bachelor’s degree transcript (an official transcript is required prior to enrollment)
  • Resume or CV, including supplement of prior research experience 
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Application fee
  • GRE scores (optional)
  • An English proficiency exam is required for international applicants

Contact Us

Portrait of Cheryl Cameron
Cheryl Cameron
Graduate Program Director, Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Program
School of Medicine
Telephone

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