The Bioinformatics curriculum focuses on cultivating students with knowledge and expertise in biology, statistics, computer science, and, most importantly, the seamless integration of these diverse domains.
The recent explosion of high-throughput experimental techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, imaging, etc.), coupled with rapid advances in computational and statistical technologies, has laid the foundation for the emergence of a highly interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics. The Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics is strategically designed with core courses in statistics/mathematics, biology/genetics, and computer science, as well as comprehensive and advanced training in bioinformatics. Bioinformatics, at the intersection of Biology, Statistics, and Computer Science, bears resemblances to Computational Biology. However, Bioinformatics emphasizes quantitative skills to better harness large-scale biological data, whereas Computational Biology is mainly focused on addressing biological questions using computational approaches.
The overall purpose of this program is to empower graduates with a profound grasp of biological, genetic, and genomic principles, complemented by robust skills in statistics, computation, and data science. This program aims to nurture the next generation of bioinformaticians, computational biologists, data scientists, and researchers in various life science, biotechnology, and healthcare settings. This program will structurally and administratively reside in the Department of Statistics, in close partnership with the Department of Biology and with full support from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| BIOL 111 | Introductory Biology I | 4 |
CSCE 110
| Programming I 1
or Introduction to Computer Science Concepts and Programming | 4 |
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| 1 | 4 |
| Calculus I for Biological Sciences | |
| Engineering Mathematics I | |
| Calculus I | |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| BIOL 112 | Introductory Biology II | 4 |
| CSCE 120 | Program Design and Concepts | 3 |
| 1 | 4 |
| Calculus II for Biological Sciences | |
| Engineering Mathematics II | |
| Calculus II | |
| 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| PHYS 201 | College Physics | 4 |
| STAT 211 | Principles of Statistics I | 3 |
| 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
| Spring |
|---|
| STAT 205 | Bioinformatics Cornerstone () | 1 |
| STAT 212 | Principles of Statistics II | 3 |
| 4 |
| General Chemistry for Engineering Students
and General Chemistry for Engineering Students Laboratory | |
| Fundamentals of Chemistry I | |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| MATH 304 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| STAT 315 | Computational Data Science | 3 |
| POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
GENE 301
| Comprehensive Genetics
or Biomedical Genetics | 3 |
| POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| STAT 404 | Statistical Computing | 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| BIOL 450/BICH 450 | Genomics | 4 |
| STAT 446 | Statistical Bioinformatics | 3 |
| STAT 447 | Machine Learning for Computational Biology () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
| Spring |
|---|
| STAT 486 | Bioinformatics Capstone () | 3 |
| 3 |
| Public Speaking | |
| Communication for Technical Professions | |
| Argumentation and Debate | |
| 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| | Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
Prescribed electives
The Department of Statistics will allow at most two D’s in upper-level (300-499) courses. If a third D is earned, one of the three courses in which a D was earned must be retaken and a grade of C or better earned.
This is a suggested schedule that includes the required courses for the BS in Bioinformatics. It is recognized that many students will change the sequence and number of courses taken in any semester. Deviations from the prescribed course sequence, however, should be made with care to ensure that prerequisites for all courses are met.
