Graduate Certificate in Applied Bioinformatics
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Make the connection between the life sciences and data science.
Earn your Graduate Certificate in Applied Bioinformatics from the University of Wisconsin—100% online.
Learn how to process biological data from scientific research, such as large-scale genomics and other molecular and biological datasets, using computation and analysis tools. In the Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate you’ll gain proficiency in applied statistics, machine learning, data visualization, programming (Python and R), and other techniques that aid in scientific discovery.
Bioinformatics represents the marriage of science and computing. Our capacity to generate large amounts of data is greater than ever, and the ability to organize and access that information blazes a trail to discovery. —Mark E. Levenstein, Academic Director, MS in Applied Biotechnology, UW-Platteville
Online learning offers working adults like you flexibility to advance your education in a way that fits your life. Courses are entirely online and asynchronous—no campus visits or live sessions required. Watch lectures, join class discussions, and—although assignments have deadlines—do homework whenever it’s convenient for you.
Learn more about online learning with UW.
Who Should Apply?
Students enroll in our certificate programs for a variety of reasons, including to learn new skills that help them advance in their current field, gain a competitive edge in the job market, or change careers.
Bioinformatics can be widely applied across diverse areas of biotechnology. The Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate offers value to professionals working in a variety of fields, such as: academic research, medicine and healthcare, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, drug development, bioenergy, veterinary science, gene therapy, agriculture, food science, and more.
Learn more about admission requirements and applying to the program.
Universities of Wisconsin Collaboration
The Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate is offered through the Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology. This certificate program is a partnership of UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Whitewater.
Accreditation
Accreditation is your assurance that you will graduate with skills that are relevant to your field and valued by employers. The Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate is approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Membership
The Applied Biotechnology program is a member of BioForward Wisconsin.
To be eligible for the Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate, you must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree, in any discipline, from an accredited university (min. 3.0 GPA), and
- Prerequisite coursework: one semester college-level biology with lab.
You may also need to submit the following application materials:
- Official college transcripts,
- Your resume,
- Personal statement (up to 1,000 words) describing your motivation to pursue this certificate.
What if I do not meet the admission requirements?
You may be considered for provisional admission. If this applies to you, we encourage you to contact an enrollment adviser.
If you do not meet the minimum admission requirements—such as having a GPA below 3.0 or missing prerequisites—you will need to submit two letters of recommendation. These can be:
- Professional (a workplace colleague or supervisor)
- Academic (former professor or academic adviser)
Your recommenders should explain why they believe you will succeed in the program, especially highlighting your work experience or academic strengths that may not be reflected in your GPA or coursework.
Do I need to take any exams?
No. Exams, such as the GMAT or GRE, are not required for admission.
International Guidelines
This program welcomes online students from around the world. Online students do not qualify for an F-1 Student Visa to travel to the US, but instead can participate in our online courses remotely. If your native language is not English and/or you attended school outside of the US, you will likely need to provide proof of English language proficiency and an official translation or evaluation of academic transcripts. Requirements will vary based on a student’s academic history and home campus policies. For guidance about these requirements and how they apply to your specific situation, contact your home campus admissions office.
If you would like to apply as an international student to a Universities of Wisconsin on-campus program, please refer to these resources through Go Wisconsin.
Application Deadline
Your online application and all required materials must be submitted to your preferred home campus generally 2-4 weeks prior to the date classes start (this varies by campus) to be considered for admission.
How to Apply
After choosing your home campus, you’ll apply following the steps below. You may apply on your own, but many students find it helpful to speak with an enrollment adviser first.
Applying to UW-Green Bay?
Applying to UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, or UW-Stevens Point?
- Use the Universities of Wisconsin Online Admission Application.
- All campuses except UW-Oshkosh:
- Apply as a “Graduate Non-Degree Applicant”.
- Select “No” when asked “Are you applying as a degree-seeking student?” and that you plan to take “Graduate” classes.
- If you’re applying to UW-Oshkosh:
- Apply as a “Graduate Applicant”.
- Select “Yes” when asked “Are you applying as a degree-seeking student?” and that you would like to earn a “Graduate Degree”.
- Select your home campus.
- Select the applicable program name (varies by home campus in the application):
- UW-Oshkosh: Certificate in Applied Bioinformatics
- UW-Parkside: Applied Bioinformatics Certificate
- UW-Platteville: Online Graduate Special (specify Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics in the essay section)
- UW-Stevens Point: Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate
Applying to UW-Whitewater?
- Use the UW-Whitewater Graduate Admission Application.
- Select “Certificate” from the dropdown menu, then select “Fully Online”, and Applied Bioinformatics (OL).
Is there an application fee?
- UW-Green Bay, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Whitewater:
- There is no application fee. Skip the application fee section.
- UW-Oshkosh:
- You can waive the nonrefundable $56 application fee for Fall 2026 (use code APPLY26) or Spring, Summer, or Fall 2027 (use code APPLY27).
You’ll also need to:
- Request official transcripts.
- Have each institution you attended send an official college transcript to your home campus admissions office. If you’re applying to a UW institution you previously attended, transcripts may not be required.
- If available, request electronic transcripts be sent directly to the admissions email at your home campus—they’re typically faster than mailed copies.
- Send supporting application materials.
- Send your resume, personal statement, and letters of recommendation (if required) to your home campus admissions office.
4 Courses. 12 Credits. 100% Online.
Courses in the Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate focus on developing the specialized data science skills required to process and analyze large-scale biological data sets.
Having never taken a statistics course before, I was a bit nervous/hesitant when beginning ABT 720 Experimental Design and Analysis in Biotechnology. However, with the topic-specific readings, videos, and professor-led videos, the subject was well explained and enjoyable. I am definitely ending this semester having a greater understanding/appreciation of statistical analysis and R programming. —Jennifer, Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology student
How long will it take to earn my certificate?
It is possible to earn your certificate within three semesters; however, based on work and personal obligations, you may decide to take longer.
Curriculum - View Printable Version
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Principles of descriptive and inferential statistics with applications in biotechnology including experimental design, quantitative data analysis, and bioinformatic evaluation of complex molecular and biological data sets. | 3 Credits |
Learn diverse strategies for computational analysis of macromolecular data using Python, including sequence alignment, genome annotation, data retrieval, phylogenetic analysis, and molecular evolution. Experiential learning is emphasized; confidence in practical skills is developed through persistent application of course content to projects focused on current problems in bioinformatic research. | 3 Credits |
Develop competencies that promote efficient analysis of biological data. Learn how to match a research problem with the most effective tools for its completion, balancing the use of existing software and de novo software development. Advanced aspects of Python and R, algorithmics, machine learning, simulations, and effective communication of results are emphasized. Prerequisites: ABT 720, ABT 730 | 3 Credits |
Explore and apply existing bioinformatic tools, including implementation of pre-coded solutions to data acquisition, wrangling, analysis, visualization, and structural modeling problems. Students will complete a final project that generates a multi-system workflow to solve bioinformatic problems. Prerequisites: ABT 720, ABT 730 | 3 Credits |
Course availability for the Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate varies each semester. If you are a current student, please consult with your campus adviser prior to registration.
Summer 2026
Request Permission NumberCourse Preview Week: May 19 - May 25, 2026
Semester Dates: May 26 - August 07, 2026
Summer 2026 - View Printable Version
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Principles of descriptive and inferential statistics with applications in biotechnology including experimental design, quantitative data analysis, and bioinformatic evaluation of complex molecular and biological data sets. | 3 Credits |
Fall 2026
Request Permission NumberCourse Preview Week: September 01 - September 07, 2026
Semester Dates: September 08 - December 18, 2026
Fall 2026 - View Printable Version
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Principles of descriptive and inferential statistics with applications in biotechnology including experimental design, quantitative data analysis, and bioinformatic evaluation of complex molecular and biological data sets. | 3 Credits |
Learn diverse strategies for computational analysis of macromolecular data using Python, including sequence alignment, genome annotation, data retrieval, phylogenetic analysis, and molecular evolution. Experiential learning is emphasized; confidence in practical skills is developed through persistent application of course content to projects focused on current problems in bioinformatic research. | 3 Credits |
Explore and apply existing bioinformatic tools, including implementation of pre-coded solutions to data acquisition, wrangling, analysis, visualization, and structural modeling problems. Students will complete a final project that generates a multi-system workflow to solve bioinformatic problems. Prerequisites: ABT 720, ABT 730 | 3 Credits |
Spring 2027
Registration Opens: November 09, 2026
Course Preview Week: January 19 - January 25, 2027
Semester Dates: January 26 - May 07, 2027
Spring 2027 - View Printable Version
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Principles of descriptive and inferential statistics with applications in biotechnology including experimental design, quantitative data analysis, and bioinformatic evaluation of complex molecular and biological data sets. | 3 Credits |
Develop competencies that promote efficient analysis of biological data. Learn how to match a research problem with the most effective tools for its completion, balancing the use of existing software and de novo software development. Advanced aspects of Python and R, algorithmics, machine learning, simulations, and effective communication of results are emphasized. Prerequisites: ABT 720, ABT 730 | 3 Credits |
Students completing the Applied Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate will be able to:
- Identify problems in biotechnology research that can be solved using existing software tools and algorithms.
- Wrangle, visualize, and annotate sequence data gathered from public databases and high-throughput sequencing projects.
- Fit applicable models to cleaned data and critically evaluate their performance.
- Implement a range of statistical and computational methods in Python, R, and UNIX-shell scripting while managing version control with GitHub.
- Generate multi-system workflows and data-processing pipelines to manage large-scale projects.
- Effectively present methodologies and analytical results to project stakeholders.
Tuition is $875 per credit. There are no additional course or program fees, with the exception of textbooks which are purchased separately and are not included in tuition.
- You’ll pay the same tuition whether you live in Wisconsin or out of state.
- You will not pay technology fees. If software or special technology is required in a course, it will be provided to you and is included in tuition.
- You will not pay segregated fees (fees for student services, activities, programs, and facilities).
- $10,500 total tuition for 12-credit graduate certificate.
Financial Aid
Financial aid options may be limited for students enrolling in certificate programs. Financial aid is awarded by your home campus. To learn more, contact an enrollment adviser or your home campus financial aid office:
- UW-Green Bay Financial Aid
- UW-Parkside Financial Aid
- UW-Platteville Financial Aid
- UW-Stevens Point Financial Aid
- UW-Whitewater Financial Aid
You can also visit our financial aid page to learn more about FAFSA and other sources of financial aid.
Experience UW Applied Bioinformatics
Learn about applied bioinformatics, meet the faculty, read student stories, and more. Read the blog.