Earn an Accelerated Baccalaureate in Bioinformatics Online
Study biology through a computational lens by combining molecular biology, genetics, programming, data analytics, and biological databases to explore real-world biological questions.
Complete a rigorous, 90-credit-hour bachelor's degree that maintains the full 41-credit-hour general education core and includes 49 credit hours of focused major coursework.
Build practical technical skills using industry-relevant tools and platforms, including Python, R, BLAST, Galaxy, NCBI, Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser, and IGV.
Apply computational methods and responsible AI tools to biological data analysis, sequence analysis, annotation, literature synthesis, and scientific workflows through hands-on projects.
Prepare for careers and further study in biotechnology, biomedical data analysis, genomic research, and data-intensive life sciences.
Admissions
Whether you’re a first-time freshman or a transfer student, our admissions team is here to support you from day one.
Apply by
Feb 15, 2027
Classes begin
Mar 8, 2027
I have no college credits
Students without previous college credit can apply to the 90-credit accelerated Bioinformatics program.
Mathematics Readiness: Students must be calculus ready at entry to finish in 90 credit hours.
Admissions Requirements:
- Complete high school Core curriculum for college readiness in place at time of high school graduation
- Not be required to take more than one developmental course
- Have a high school grade point average of at least 2.0
- Meet one of the following:
- Have an ACT composite of 20 or higher
- Have a high school Core grade point average of at least 2.0
I have some college credits
Transfer students may apply eligible previous college credit toward the degree, potentially reducing the number of credits and time needed to complete the program. Students should be prepared to meet the program's mathematics expectations, including being calculus-ready.
Mathematics Readiness: Students must be calculus ready at entry to finish in 90 credit hours.
Transfer students to LSUA must meet one of the following sets of criteria:
- Have earned a transferable associate degree or higher
- Have earned at least 18 hours of college-level credit, including a college-level English and college-level mathematics course, with a grade of “C” or higher in each, and an overall GPA of at least 2.0
- Have earned at least 12 hours of college-level credit from LSUE or CLTCC Bridge Program, including a college-level English and college-level mathematics course, with a grade of “C” or higher in each, and an overall GPA of at least 2.0.
- If the above are not met, meet freshman admission requirements and be in good standing with their previous institution
Transfer Credits: LSUA processes transfer credits in accordance with campus policies at the time the courses were taken. Prior to 2020, LSUA did not have a course repeat policy that excluded grades from GPA calculations. As a result, your stated GPA at LSUA may be affected, which could impact your admission decision.
Re-enrollment for LSUA
Although LSUA has six sessions (terms) a year, there are only three semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Summer enrollment is optional and will not affect student records.
One Semester
Students who are not enrolled for one entire semester (both Fall terms or both Spring terms) will need to complete the "I am Coming Back Form" at least two weeks before the term starts to let us know they are returning so we can reactivate their record.
More Than One Semester
Students who are not enrolled for more than one full semester (Fall ELearn1 and ELearn2 AND ELearn1 of Spring – or all of Spring ELearn1 and ELearn2 and ELearn1 of Fall) will have to reapply. Students do not have to resubmit documents that we already have but would need to submit new transcripts from any school attended while absent from LSUA. Re-entry students are eligible to be re-admitted.
Tuition
- 90 credit hours
- Total credit hours per program
- $353
- Cost per credit hour
- $8,472
- Total cost with fees and maximum transfer credits
- $31,770
- Total cost with fees
LSUA offers competitive, flat-rate tuition with no out-of-state fees. Plus, you may be able to save even more by transferring up to 75% of previous credits.
Tuition & Fees
The final cost of this program will be determined once all transfer credits are evaluated. Transfer credits may apply for up to 75% of degree requirements. Your academic advisor will work with you to determine if and how any prior college credits or industry credentials earned will apply toward your LSUA degree. For further information about the approval for transfer credits and other requirements, please visit this site.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
The total cost above does not include transfer credit or financial aid. Cost per credit hour and fees are subject to change. Fee schedules may vary by program depending on course-specific fees for proctoring and/or books. Please contact a Student Success Coach for more information.
Financial Aid Available
LSUA offers multiple ways to help you fund your education, including financial aid, veteran education benefits, and credit for prior learning. Learn More ›
What Is an Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree?
LSUA’s Accelerated Baccalaureate programs offer a focused, 90-credit-hour pathway designed to help students build knowledge and practical skills in their chosen field. With a streamlined curriculum, students can work toward their educational goals through a more focused approach to earning their degree.
Academics
Explore the intersection of biology, computing, and data science while developing the skills to analyze, interpret, and communicate biological data.
What Will I Learn?
Topics covered in the program include:
- Apply computational and statistical methods to analyze and interpret biological datasets.
- Develop reproducible workflows using programming languages, databases, and bioinformatics tools.
- Apply mathematical and statistical reasoning to evaluate biological questions and interpret data.
- Design computational approaches to investigate biological questions and interpret results.
- Communicate bioinformatics findings through written reports, presentations, and data visualizations.
- Apply ethical practices in biological data management, analysis, and responsible AI use.
- Collaborate across scientific and technical teams to develop bioinformatics solutions.
Courses
| Core Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
BIOL 2201 Introductory Statistics for Biological Sciences |
3 |
BIOL 2153 Genetics |
4 |
BIOL 3090 Cellular and Molecular Biology |
3 |
BIOL 3110 Introduction to Omics Biology |
3 |
BIOL 3210 Introduction to Bioinformatics and Genomics |
3 |
BIOL 3310 Biological Databases and Annotation |
3 |
BIOL 3901 Internship in Biological Sciences |
3 |
BIOL 4210 Genomics and Sequence Analysis |
3 |
BIOL 4510 Phylogenomics & Synteny |
3 |
BIOL 4910 Bioinformatics Capstone |
3 |
CSCI 1250 Introduction to Computer Programming |
3 |
CSCI 2340 Object-Oriented Design |
3 |
CSCI 2350 Programming and Data Structures |
3 |
CSCI 3102 Data Structures and Algorithms |
3 |
CSCI 4740 Data Mining |
3 |
MATH 3085 Linear Algebra |
3 |
Core Requirements Total Credits |
49 |
| General Education Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
ENGL 1001 – English Composition I |
3 |
ENGL 1002 – English Composition II |
3 |
General Education Social Sciences 1 |
3 |
General Education Social Sciences 2 |
3 |
MATH 1550 – Calculus I OR MATH 1540 – Calculus I-A and MATH 1541 – Calculus I-B |
4 |
MATH 1552 – Calculus II OR MATH 1542 – Calculus II-A and MATH 1543 – Calculus II-B |
4 |
BIOL 1101 – Biology for Science Majors |
3 |
BIOL 1102 – Biology for Science Majors II |
3 |
CHEM 1201 – General Chemistry I |
3 |
PHIL 2020 – Ethics |
3 |
General Education Communication Studies |
3 |
General Education Humanities |
3 |
General Education Fine Arts |
3 |
General Education Requirements Total Credits |
41 |
This degree is designed for students who plan to start working after graduation. Most graduate programs expect 120 undergraduate credit hours, so you may need about 30 more hours before starting graduate courses.
Careers
A background in bioinformatics can open doors to careers in biotechnology, healthcare, research, and data science, with opportunities to apply computational and analytical skills to real-world biological challenges.
Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 35 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. (BLS)
The median annual wage for data scientists was $120,230 in May 2025. (BLS)
Explore career paths in bioinformatics, biotechnology, healthcare, research, and biological data analysis:
Entry-Level Roles (0-2 years of experience)
Mid-Level Roles (2-5 years of experience)
Advanced Roles (5+ years of experience)
| Role | Salary |
|---|---|
Bioinformatics Scientist |
$116,274 (salary.com) |
Data Scientist |
$120,230 (BLS) |
