ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The master’s program in Bioinformatics aims to prepare a technological professional cadre capable of harnessing modern informatics tools, artificial intelligence and deep learning tools, and exploiting available and closely related software in the exploration, analysis and extrapolation of useful small or large vital data in order to benefit from them in medical diagnostic tests and therapeutic decision support. For patients, designing and creating new medicines, and developing medical, engineering and agricultural scientific research methods based on the use of advanced molecular technology.

Bioinformatics is a hybrid science between biology and biotechnology on the one hand, and computer science and software on the other. The Bioinformatics Program provides an important opportunity for university students and graduates wishing to learn the methods of this modern science, which is rapidly developing in quantity and quality, and an opportunity to train in the use of these means to extrapolate the vital data available on the network or generated in research laboratories via the Internet. It also enhances the research skills of the learners, especially in the field of Molecular studies based on analysis of genetic material, detection of mutations, design of vital drugs, classification of all types of organisms and study of their evolution.

In the past two decades, the means of bioinformatics have evolved dramatically to keep pace with the massive explosion in the volume of vital data stored in the virtual knowledge space, resulting from the rapid development of technologies that generate that data. A good example of this is the publication of the human genome sequence, which is very rich in information about genes, mutations, polymorphisms, etc., and the consequent urgent need to extrapolate molecular data and use them in developing diagnostic tools for diseases, better understanding their molecular mechanisms, designing modern drugs and analyzing vital images, which raised methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The use of bioinformatics methods went beyond the development of new animal and plant hybrids and the study of their interactions with the surrounding environment.

On the other hand, the accumulation of Big Bio-data on the Internet made it possible for all those who possess bioinformatics skills to extrapolate this data even for countries where the generation of such data is at its minimum. Therefore, there is an urgent need to create a critical mass of Bioinformaticians. And the creation of very many job opportunities in this field globally and regionally, noting that this need is on an unprecedented escalation due to the development of technology that shortens the time of analysis and data generation in a very large way. For example, it took 13 years and $3 billion to sequence a single sample of the human genome, and today a similar sample can be sequenced in three days and for only about $1,000. All of this will inevitably lead to the fact that the most important obstacle in the development of medical and biological sciences is not technology, but rather the determining factor lies in the number of qualified and trained people in the field of biotechnology who will extrapolate this data and link it with the diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Especially since the means and applications go beyond studying the composition of the DNA genetic material itself to analyzing the gene expression of genes and studying RNA molecules, proteins and other data that can be digitally converted and processed.

From all of the above, the importance of the master’s program in biotechnology locally emerges in graduating qualified trainees in this field, especially since this program is not found in any of the virtual universities, public or private, and thus the current program is considered foundational for this science and its applications via the Internet. The program also provides the qualification of the necessary teaching staff to spread the culture of this science in virtual universities, in a manner that meets the needs of the health sector in hospital laboratories, private laboratories, and research laboratories in international academic and research institutions alike, and fulfills the needs of societies.

Finally, virtual education represents a suitable incubating environment and a unique opportunity for training in the use of relevant software, whether those available free of charge on the Internet, or software that can be allocated later to students of the program through the interactive environment at the university.

The First Stage

  • The student studies eight courses, distributed as follows:
    √ Six compulsory courses.
    √Two elective courses from among the courses offered by the faculty for master’s students.
  • The study is conducted through research seminars in each course, and the research seminar relies on multiple references and is in accordance with the scientific research methodology and standards.
  • The study of each of the eight courses takes four credit hours for a minimum of four weeks, and it may be more than that according to the capabilities of each student, after which the student’s competency and knowledge test is held in the course he finished, then he starts in another course in the same way, and so on.
  • Courses studied in the first year, the student has the right to extend the study for a period not exceeding a second year.
  • If a specialization track is chosen within the general program, elective courses will have to be studied from the courses designated for the chosen specialization.

The Second Stage

● The student is assigned a virtual course that the faculty chooses from among the courses that the student studied at the bachelor’s level. This is a practical training for the student, with ten credit hours. The student must divide this course into twelve to fourteen abbreviated lectures. The student presents each lecture in the form of a written summary of its topic in Word format, accompanied by a video recording of it in the student’s voice using the Power Point program. Its duration is not less than ten minutes and not more than twenty. Accurate.

The Thrid Stage

Requirements for registering a thesis topic for a master’s degree in Applied Sciences.

  • The student must pass the prescribed academic courses with at least 70%.
  • The student obtains a TOEFL certificate with a score of at least 450, or its equivalent, or obtains a corresponding certificate in the French language, with the exception of those who obtained a first university degree in one of the two languages, or in one of the two languages.
  • The student submits a request to the university administration to register a master’s thesis with a suggested topic in one of the sub-specialized tracks.
  • If the initial approval of the subject title is achieved, the Faculty Council shall specify a supervisor to guide the student and follow him up in preparing the plan.
  • The research plan includes the importance of the subject and a critical presentation of the previous studies in it, and a specification of the research problem, then defining the methodology of the study and its main hypotheses or the questions that you want to answer, and the division of the study and its sources.
  • The student presents his proposed plan in a scientific seminar. The plan discusses a topic and methodology.
  • The student amends his plan based on the notes of the professors in the seminar if he is asked to amend it.
  • The plan is presented after the seminar to the Faculty Council to take its decision regarding the registration of the subject.
  • In the event of approval, the decision of the Faculty Council is presented to the University Council to approve the registration, and the date of registration is calculated from the date of approval by the University Council.

Jury discussion and degree awarding

  • The minimum period for preparing a master’s thesis is nine months, starting from the date of approval of the University Council to register the subject, and the maximum is two years, which can be extended for a third exceptional year upon the recommendation of the supervisor and the approval of the Faculty Council, provided that the total period of the student’s enrollment in the degree does not exceed four years.
  • The supervisor submits a semi-annual report that includes what has been accomplished, and what is required in the remaining period.
  • After the student completes the thesis and the supervisor reviews it, the supervisor submits to the university administration a report stating that it is valid for discussion, including an evaluation of the student’s performance during the thesis preparation period of 140 degrees, along with submitting a full copy of the thesis signed by him, and a letter with the names of the jury proposed by the professors of the specialty, for presentation to the Council the faculty.
  • It is required that before the student’s discussion, at least fifteen days have passed from the date of approval of the jury committee from the faculty.
  • The jury committee formed to discuss the thesis is six months, which may be renewed for a similar period based on a report from the supervisor and the approval of the Faculty Council.
  • The period of validity of the committee formed to discuss the thesis is six months. It may be renewed for a similar period based on a report from the supervisor and the approval of the Faculty Council.
  • Each member of the jury writes a detailed scientific report on the validity of the thesis for discussion, and evaluates the thesis out of 100 degrees, and the average of the three degrees is taken.
  • The student may not be discussed unless he obtains at least 70% of the supervisor’s evaluation of his performance and the jury members’ evaluation of the thesis in the individual reports.
  • Submit a post-dissertation group report signed by all members of the jury evaluating the thesis discussion out of 100.
  • The thesis is approved after common discussion by the jury with one of the grades shown in the following table:
DefinitionPointGrade
Excellent4.00A+
Excellent3.75A
Very Good3.50B+
Very Good3.00B
Good2.50C+
Average2.00C
Pass on probation1.50D+
Pass on probation1.00D
Fail0.00F
  • The following grades are not taken into account for the semester or cumulative GPA.
Thesis or project in progress:DP
Incomplete:I
In progress:IP
Registration has been suspended:L
The grade has not been decided:NGR
Did not take the final exam.:NP
Transferred course.:T
Withdraw from the course.:W
The course covers two semesters, the degree is given at the end of the spring or summer semester.:YR
There are no credit hours.:NC
One credit hour taken as a private student. The credit hours and the degree do not count towards the degree:ND
Re-submitted course, only the last grade is used in calculating the GPA.:R
Credit taken as a special student. Credit hours and grade counted towards a degree.:S

Credits
Before the 2016-2017 fall semester 1 credit point is equivalent to 1 semester lecture hour. In the 2016 – 2017 fall semester the University introduced the ECTS – European Credit Transfer System.

Academic Calendar
International Suleiman University calendar is based on the semester system. Each semester has a duration of 15 weeks including the week of the final exam. The summer semester is 10 weeks long, including the final exam.

Program Structure
8 courses = 32 credit hours,
 practical training = 10 credit hours
 Master's thesis = 18 credit hours
Courses
Practical Training
Master's Thesis

Core Courses for General Track

Scientific Research Methodology

Course code: MAS101
Course name: Scientific Research Methodology
Credit hours: 4.00


Scientific research methodology
The course includes an introduction to scientific research (definition of scientific research, its purposes, objectives, importance, and characteristics), characteristics of the researcher, methods of obtaining knowledge. Classifications of scientific research methods, the reasons for differences in the classifications of scientific research methods, the descriptive (historical) approach, the experimental approach, the case study approach – the chapters of scientific research, the steps of scientific research and how to formulate them (title, introduction, problem, hypotheses, questions, objectives, importance, Study limits, terminology, study procedures, data collection tools, questionnaire, observation, interview, samples (types, selection), statistical methods used in research, documentation of sources and references (various methods), recommendations and proposals in scientific research.

Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Course code: MASB01
Course name: Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Credit hours: 4.00


Fundamentals of Biotechnology and Data Analysis

Course code: MASB102
Course Name: Fundamentals of Biotechnology and Data Analysis
Credit hours: 4.00


Biotechnology Methods and Algorithms

Course code: MASB103
Course name: Biotechnology Methods and Algorithms
Credit hours: 4.00


Biostatistics

Course code: MASB104
Course name: Biostatistics
Credit hours: 4.00


Technology Sources and Data Mining Techniques

Course code: MASB106
Course name: Technology Sources and Data Mining Techniques
Credit hours: 4.00


Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Biological Applications

Course code: MASB107
Course name: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Biological Applications
Credit hours: 4.00


Biomolecule Interactions: Theories and Methods

Course code: MASB106
Course name: Biomolecule Interactions: Theories and Methods
Credit hours: 4.00


Advanced Biotechnology

Course code: MASB108
Course name: advanced Biotechnology
Credit hours: 4.00


Biotechnology of Proteins and Structures

Course code: MASB109
Course name: Biotechnology of Proteins and Structures
Credit hours: 4.00


Elective Courses for General Track

Molecular Hybridization and Plant Genetics

Course code: MASB151
Course name: Molecular Hybridization and Plant Genetics
Credit hours: 4.00


Software Engineering

Course code: MASB152
Course name: Software Engineering
Credit hours: 4.00


Genomic Influence of Drugs

Course code: MAQC153
Course: Genomic Influence of Drugs
Credit hours: 4.00


Systems Biology

Course code: MASB154
Course name: Systems Biology
Credit hours: 4.00


Protein Engineering and Molecular Enzymology

Course code: MASB155
Course Name: Protein Engineering and Molecular Enzymology
Credit hours: 4.00


Advanced Biotechnology of the Plant Cell

Course code: MASB156
Course Name: Advanced Biotechnology of the Plant Cell
Credit hours: 4.00


Rational Design and Structural Identification of Bioactive Molecules

Course code: MASB157
Course Name: Rational Design and Structural Identification of Bioactive Molecules
Credit hours: 4.00


Advanced Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology

Course code: MASB158
Course Name: Advanced Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology
Credit hours: 4.00


Faculty of Applied Sciences

Business, Technology, Internet and network concept. Core values responsibility ethics goals company concept.

Degree: Master's Degree

Program code: MA106AS

Study method: Distance Learning

Credit hour: 144

How long it takes: 
Full time: 3 years
Part time: 6 years
Limit time: 13 years

Welcome to Faculty of Applied Sciences