Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics
Overview
Bioinformatics is part of the Computer Science and Mathematics department and is 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 Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics 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
The Bioinformatics programs seeks to
- prepare graduates who can integrate knowledge across biological and computer science disciplines for bioinformatics related careers,
- develop graduates who are committed for life-long learning, capable of working effectively in teams, and who possess good communication skills, and
- prepare graduates for careers in the medical and life sciences fields.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the B.S. in Bioinformatics should be able to
- integrate and manage data from different genomic and proteomic research,
- develop computational techniques and diversified bioinformatics tools for processing data, including statistical, machine learning and data mining techniques,
- design and implement efficient and reliable bioinformatics solutions by optimizing the usage of existing tools and developing new ones,
- demonstrate an understanding of biological and computer science concepts,
- develop insight into scientific methodology, advances in bioinformatics research and related ethical issues,
- demonstrate the ability to work effectively and interactively in teams in order to accomplish a common goal,
- effectively present, transmit, and communicate their work, both in written and oral formats, and
- 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 can be found here.
Curriculum
The Bachelor in Bioinformatics may be completed in three years with a required total of 104 credits, 80 core courses and 24 elective courses. 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.
A senior project is required of all students in addition to successful completion of the course of study
- Biology Requirements (16 cr)
- Chemistry Requirements (9 cr)
- Physics Requirements (6 cr)
- Biochemistry Requirements (4 cr)
- Mathematics Requirements (6 cr)
- Computer Science Requirements (24 cr)
- Electives (12 cr)
- Capstone Project (3 cr)
- LAC Requirements (24 cr)
Biology Requirements (16 cr)
- BIO201 General Biology I (4 cr)
- BIO202 General Biology II (4 cr)
- BIO321 Genetics (3 cr)
- BIO322 Genetics Lab (1 cr)
- BIO345 Cell and Molecular Biology (4 cr)
Chemistry Requirements (9 cr)
- CHM201 Chemistry Principles (3 cr)
- CHM311 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr)
- CHM312 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr)
Physics Requirements (6 cr)
Biochemistry Requirements (4 cr)
- BCH301 Introduction to Biochemistry (4 cr)
Mathematics Requirements (6 cr)
Computer Science Requirements (24 cr)
- 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 (12 cr)
- 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)
LAC Requirements (24 cr)
BIF599 Capstone Project (3 cr)
Recommended Study Plan
Year One
Fall (16 cr)
- BIO201 General Biology I
- ENG202 Advanced Academic English1
- CHM201 Chemical Principles
- MTH201 Calculus III
- BIF243 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
Spring (16 cr)
- BIO202 General Biology II
- ENG203 Fundamentals of Oral Communication1
- MTH207 Discrete Structures I
- BIF245 Objects and Data Abstraction
- BIF244 Introduction to Script Programming
Summer I (7 cr)
- PED2xx Physical Education1
- ARA2xx or 3xx Arabic Language/Literature1
- LAC Elective1
Year Two
Fall (16 cr)
- BIO321 Genetics
- BIO322 Genetics Lab
- PHY301 Classical Physics for Life Sciences
- CHM311 Organic Chemistry I
- BIF310 Algorithms and Data Structures
- BIF205 Biostatistics
Spring (16 cr)
- BCH301 Introduction to Biochemistry
- CHM312 Organic Chemistry II
- PHY305 Modern Physics for Life Sciences
- BIF415 Introduction to Bioinformatics
- LAC Elective
Year Three
Fall (17 cr)
- BIO345 Cell and Molecular Biology
- BIF524 Data Mining
- BIFxxx Bioinformatics Elective
- BIF599 Capstone Project
- HLT201 Basic Health1
- BIF375 Database Management Systems
Spring (16 cr)
- BIFxxx Bioinformatics Elective
- BIFxxx Bioinformatics Elective
- LAC Elective
- LAC Elective
- ETH201 Moral Reasoning
1 Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Course