Bioinformatics

Learn to harness the power of big data and make discoveries that advance human health.

An evolving interdisciplinary field, bioinformatics is opening up new frontiers in science by allowing researchers to make sense of huge amounts of raw molecular data. Sitting at the nexus of computer science and the natural sciences, bioinformatics has allowed for in-depth study of the human genome and the genomes of plants and animals. It helped us analyze and understand the coronavirus. It is a discipline that decodes life and shows—precisely, at the genetic level—how disease begins.

As a bioinformatics minor, you’ll learn about data mining, genomics, cell biology, and the laws of chemistry. You’ll learn to use statistical software, analyze large data sets, and conduct hands-on experiments in genetics. All the while, you’ll be interacting with faculty and students from across academic fields—computer and information science, mathematics, the natural sciences—as you form your own research interests and career ambitions.

Students will also step back from science and technical skills to examine legal, societal, and ethical issues in bioinformatics. In fact, everything you learn at Fordham is examined within the bigger picture of a strong liberal arts education. Through Fordham’s core curriculum, you’ll study philosophy, theology, history, the arts, and more. We want you to excel in your field—and as a human being.