Computational Biology Track: 2011-2012 Requirements

• Computational Biology Flow Chart
• Computational Biology Overview Video (transcript)

Computer Science is rapidly becoming critical to many areas of biology and medicine. Computer scientists familiar with these fields and with relevant computer applications will play essential roles in future advances. The Computational Biology track's flexible requirements reflect the diverse fields of computer science that are applied to problems in biology or medicine. Possible areas of emphasis include

• database design and data mining,

• algorithms,

• machine learning (from artificial intelligence), and

• numerical computation.

Students graduating from the Computational Biology track will be ready to work in teams to develop the software and systems for a variety of biomedical applications. Examples of employment opportunities include

• identifying drug targets or developing new drugs for a pharmaceutical company;

• contributing to basic research in biology and medicine.

In addition to the degree requirements for all Computer Science majors, the Computational Biology track has the following requirements specific to the track:

• Track Foundation

  All of the following courses are required:

  • CSCI 4314-3, Algorithms for Molecular Biology.
  • CSCI 4317-3, Genome Databases: Mining and Management.
  • CSCI 4810-1, Seminar in Computational Biology and Health Informatics.

• Track Core

  Four additional courses selected from the following are required:

  • CSCI 3202-3, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
  • CSCI 3287-3, Database and Information Systems.
  • CSCI 3308-3, Software Engineering Methods and Tools.
  • CSCI 3434-3, Theory of Computation.
  • CSCI 3656-3, Numerical Computation.
  • CSCI 4576-4, High-Performance Scientific Computing 1.
  • CSCI 4446-3, Chaotic Dynamics.
  • CSCI 4448-3, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design.
  • CSCI 4839-3, User-Centered Design.
  • APPM 4390-3, Modeling in Mathematical Biology.
  • MCDB 4520-3, Bioinformatics and Genomics.

• Track Capstone

  One of the following options is required:

  • CSCI 4308-4 and CSCI 4318-4, Software Engineering Project 1 and Software Engineering Project 2.

    A project relevant to biology or health applications should be undertaken when possible. This sequence must be taken contiguously and may not be taken before the senior year. Prerequisites for Senior Project include the successful completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours of Computer Science Foundation, Track Foundation, Track Core and Computer Science Electives. See Senior Project for more information.

  • CSCI 4950-8, Senior Thesis.

    A topic relevant to biology or health applications should be undertaken when possible. Senior Thesis may not be taken before the senior year. Prerequisites for Senior Thesis include the successful completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours of Computer Science Foundation, Track Foundation, Track Core and Computer Science Electives. See Senior Thesis for more information.

• Natural Science

  Due to its close relationship with certain areas of science, this track requires that the Natural Science sequence be selected from the following:

  • Biochemistry (CHEM)
    • CHEN 1211-3, General Chemistry for Engineers.
    • CHEM 1221-2, Engineering General Chemistry Lab.
    • CHEM 3311-4, Organic Chemistry 1.
    • CHEM 3321-1, Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1.
    • CHEM 3331-4, Organic Chemistry 2.
    • CHEM 4711-3, General Biochemistry 1.
    • The following is not required, but is highly recommended for students in the Computational Biology track.
      • CHEM 4731-3, General Biochemistry 2.

    Satisfies the Natural Science sequence requirement for all tracks.

  • Biological Psychology (PSYC)
    • EBIO 1210-3, General Biology 1.
    • EBIO 1230-1, General Biology Laboratory 1.
    • EBIO 1220-3, General Biology 2.
    • EBIO 1240-1, General Biology Laboratory 2.
    • PSYC 2012-3, Biological Psychology 1.
    • an acceptable 3 credit-hour upper-division (3000 level or above) science course.

    Satisfies the Natural Science sequence requirement for all tracks.

  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO)
    • EBIO 1210-3, General Biology 1.
    • EBIO 1230-1, General Biology Laboratory 1.
    • EBIO 1220-3, General Biology 2.
    • EBIO 1240-1, General Biology Laboratory 2.
    • EBIO 2070-4, Genetics: Molecules to Populations.
    • One of the following:
      • EBIO 3080-4, Evolutionary Biology.
      • EBIO 3400-4, Microbiology.
      • EBIO 3770-4, Animal Diversity: Vertebrates.
      • EBIO 3850-4, Animal Diversity: Invertebrates.
      • EBIO 4290-3, Molecular Systematics and Evolution.
      • EBIO 4410-4, Biometry.

    Satisfies the Natural Science sequence requirement for all tracks.

  • Integrative Physiology (IPHY)
    • EBIO 1210-3, General Biology 1.
    • EBIO 1230-1, General Biology Laboratory 1.
    • EBIO 1220-3, General Biology 2.
    • EBIO 1240-1, General Biology Laboratory 2.
    • Two of the following:
      • IPHY 3060-4, Cell Physiology.
      • IPHY 3410-3, Introduction to Human Anatomy.
      • IPHY 3420-3, Nutrition, Health and Performance.
      • IPHY 3450-3, Comparative Animal Physiology.
      • IPHY 3460-5, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy.
      • IPHY 4200-3, Physiological Genetics and Genomics.

    Satisfies the Natural Science sequence requirement for all tracks.

  • Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB)
    • MCDB 1150-3, Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology.
    • MCDB 1151-1, Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Lab.
    • CHEN 1211-3, General Chemistry for Engineers.
    • CHEM 1221-2, Engineering General Chemistry Lab.
    • MCDB 2150-3, Principles of Genetics.
    • CHEM 3311-4, Organic Chemistry 1.
    • CHEM 3321-1, Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1.
    • The following is not required, but is highly recommended for students in the Computational Biology track.
      • MCDB 3500-3, Molecular Biology.

    Satisfies the Natural Science sequence requirement for all tracks.

  • Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS)
    • EBIO 1210-3, General Biology 1.
    • EBIO 1230-1, General Biology Laboratory 1.
    • EBIO 1220-3, General Biology 2.
    • EBIO 1240-1, General Biology Laboratory 2.
    • IPHY 3410-3, Introduction to Human Anatomy.
    • SLHS 3136-5, Speech and Hearing Science.

    Satisfies the Natural Science sequence requirement for all tracks.

See the Computational Biology Flow Chart for a quick overview of all degree requirements for the track.