An Integrated Curriculum that Supports Genomic Data Education

The goal of this project is to build a Genomic Data Science educational program in the Biology department at Spelman College. This will be achieved through the development of Genomic Data Science modules in several courses. These include a sophomore level introductory biology course taken by all majors, two intermediate level courses and an upper-level research-based course. These curricular enhancements will expose students to concepts and skills in Genomic Data Science, while leveraging publicly available computational resources and databases. The enhanced curriculum will expose students to the use of Genomic Data Science concepts, tools and resources in the context of several biomedical questions ranging from cancer to microbiomes. In addition, the research-based course will provide hands-on experiences and serve as a space for engaging with the hub institution and the wider genomic data science community. Ultimately, the goal of the curricular enhancement is to create a path for Spelman students to enter graduate studies and careers in Genomic Data Science. While Spelman College has a strong track record in training undergraduate students in STEM fields, the interdisciplinary nature of Genomic Data Science and our non-research intensive setting present challenges that require a deliberate and concerted effort. To this end, the project brings together five faculty members and a technician/teaching assistant who will form a working group or community of practice, leveraging each other's strength and expertise in specific areas.