UMass Lowell provides an academic and research program where students focus on biology and chemistry, as well as computer science. The net result is the better use of modern computational tools and the development of new tools in all areas of bioinformatics and cheminformatics that are simultaneously more biologically relevant and computationally sophisticated. <br><br>The Bioinformatics Program at UMass Lowell differs from many other programs in its interdisciplinary approach to the study of bioinformatics and in its emphasis on software tool development rather than solely on tool usage.<br><br>Each department provides its own set of requirements for the Bioinformatics Option and each specifies the minimum courses which the student must master in order to work in this interdisciplinary and evolving environment. These provide a strong multidisciplinary background for each student. Although the core curriculum is specific it still allows flexibility for electives supporting the students' selection of a focus for their personalized bioinformatics program.