Overview

The Bioinformatics program is part of the Computer Science and Mathematics Department, which has the first ABET accredited Computer Science program in Lebanon, and will be offered jointly with the Natural Sciences Department. In addition to the core program, students can study a wide range of topics covering various research areas in bioinformatics such as functional genomics, structural bioinformatics, population genetics, association analysis, machine learning and systems biology.

Mission

The mission of the Bioinformatics program is to provide students with the ability to integrate theory and practice across biological and computing disciplines while upholding the tradition of a liberal arts education.

Program Objectives

1. Prepare graduates who can integrate knowledge across biological and computer science disciplines for bioinformatics related careers;
2. Develop graduates who are committed for life-long learning, capable of working effectively in teams, and who possess good communication skills; and
3. Prepare graduates for careers in the medical and life sciences fields.

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the BS in Bioinformatics shall be able to:

1. Integrate and manage data from different genomic and proteomic research;
2. Develop computational techniques and diversified bioinformatics tools for processing data, including statistical, machine learning and data mining techniques;
3. Design and implement efficient and reliable bioinformatics solutions by optimizing the usage of existing tools and developing new ones;
4. Demonstrate an understanding of biological and computer science concepts;
5. Develop insight into scientific methodology, advances in bioinformatics research and related ethical issues;
6. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively and interactively in teams in order to accomplish a common goal;
7. Effectively present, transmit, and communicate their work, both in written and oral formats; and
8. Have an understanding of current technology trends as well as future directions and recognize the need and develop the necessary skills for continued professional development.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements, documentation, test scores, and submission deadlines are the same for all undergraduate programs, with two main exceptions:

1. Lebanese students applying for entry into the freshman class must submit permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education.
2. Lebanese students who graduated from non-Lebanese programs must submit the equivalence to the Lebanese baccalaureate from the Ministry of Education.

The application and all required documents, including TOEFL and SAT test scores (the code for LAU is 2595), must be submitted by the posted deadlines.

Only completed applications will be reviewed.

Graduation Requirements

The program consists of 104 credits, 80 of which are for core courses and 24 for elective courses, and it may be completed in three years. The core areas of study are: bioinformatics tools and databases, programming languages, data structures and algorithms, data mining, biostatistics, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, chemical principles and biochemistry.

Additionally, the program requires a capstone project, which provides students with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge to acquire research and practical 

Program Requirements

Biology Requirements (16 credits):

• BIO201 / General Biology I (4 cr.)
• BIO202 / General Biology II (4 cr.)
• BIO321 / Genetics (3 cr.)
• BIO322 / Genetics Lab (1 cr.)
• BIO345 / Cell & Molecular Biology (4 cr.)

Chemistry Requirements (9 credits):

• CHM201 / Chemistry Principles (3 cr.)
• CHM311 / Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
• CHM312 / Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)

Physics Requirements (6 credits):

• PHY301 / Classical Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)
• PHY305 / Modern Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)

Biochemistry Requirements (4 credits):

• BCH301 /Introduction to Biochemistry (4 cr.)

Mathematics Requirements (6 credits):

• MTH201 / Calculus III (3 cr.)
• MTH207 / Discrete Structures I (3 cr.)

Computer Science Requirements (24 credits):

• BIF205 / Biostatistics (3 cr.)
• BIF243 / Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr.)
• BIF244 / Introduction to Script Programming (3 cr.)
• BIF245 / Objects and Data Abstraction (3 cr.)
• BIF310 / Algorithms and Data Structures (3 cr.)
• BIF375 / Database Management Systems (3 cr.)
• BIF415 / Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
• BIF524 / Data Mining (3 cr.)

Electives: Choose any four courses (12 credits):

• BIF345 / Mathematical Modeling (3 cr.)
• BIF425 / Functional Genomics (3 cr.)
• BIF435 / Structural Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
• BIF445 / Population Genetics (3 cr.)
• BIF498 / Topics in Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
• BIF513 / Computational Biology (3 cr.)
• BIF514 / Heuristic Optimization (3 cr.)
• BIF515 / Machine Learning (3 cr.)

Liberal Arts Core (LAC) and Electives (24 credits)

• Capstone Project (3 credits)

Sample Study Plan

Year One

Fall: 16 credits

• BIO201 / General Biology I
• ENG202 / Sophomore Rhetoric*
• CHM201 / Chemical Principles
• MTH201 / Calculus III
• BIF243 / Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming

Spring: 16 credits

• BIO202 / General Biology II
• ENG203 / Fundamentals of Oral Communication*
• MTH207 / Discrete Structures I
• BIF245 / Objects and Data Abstraction
• BIF244 / Introduction to Script Programming

Summer I: 7 credits

• PED 2— / Physical Education*
• ARA 2—/ 3— Arabic Language/Literature*
• LAC Elective*

Year Two

Fall: 16 credits

• BIO321 / Genetics
• BIO322 / Genetics Lab
• PHY301 / Classical Physics for Life Sciences
• CHM311 / Organic Chemistry I
• BIF310 / Algorithms and Data Structures
• BIF205 / Biostatistics 

Spring: 16 credits

• BCH301 / Introduction to Biochemistry
• CHM312 / Organic Chemistry II
• PHY305 / Modern Physics for Life Sciences
• BIF415 / Introduction to Bioinformatics
• LAC Elective 

Year Three

Fall: 17 credits

• BIO345 / Cell & Molecular Biology
• BIF524 / Data Mining
• BIF—  / Bioinformatics Elective
• BIF599 / Capstone Project
• HLT201 / Basic Health*
• BIF375 / Database Management Systems

Spring: 16 credits

• BIF— / Bioinformatics Elective
• BIF—  / Bioinformatics Elective
• LAC Elective
• LAC Elective
• ETH201 / Moral Reasoning

*Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Course