Academic Catalog 2017–2018

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Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics

Overview

 Bioinformatics is part of the Department of Computer Science & Mathematics and is offered jointly with the Department of Natural Sciences. In addition to the core program, students may 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:

  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.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the B.S. in Bioinformatics should 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.

 

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 credits)
  • Chemistry Requirements (9 credits)
  • Physics Requirements (6 credits)
  • Biochemistry Requirements (4 credits)
  • Mathematics Requirements (6 credits)
  • Computer Science Requirements (24 credits)
  • Electives (12 credits)
  • Capstone Project (3 credits)
  • LAC Requirements (24 credits)

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 & Data Abstraction (3 cr.)
  • BIF310 Algorithms & Data Structures (3 cr.)
  • BIF375 Database Management Systems (3 cr.)
  • BIF415 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
  • BIF524 Data Mining (3 cr.)

Electives (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.)

LAC Requirements (24 credits)

BIF599 Capstone Project (3 credits)

Recommended Study Plan

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

  • BIO201 General Biology I (4 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English1 (3 cr.)
  • CHM201 Chemical Principles (3 cr.)
  • MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
  • BIF243 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • BIO202 General Biology II (4 cr.)
  • COM203 Fundamentals of Oral Communication1 (3 cr.)
  • MTH207 Discrete Structures I (3 cr.)
  • BIF245 Objects & Data Abstraction (3 cr.)
  • BIF244 Introduction to Script Programming (3 cr.)

Summer I (7 credits)

  • PED2xx Physical Education1 (1 cr.)
  • ARA2xx or 3xx Arabic Language/Literature1 (3 cr.)
  • LAC Elective1 (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

  • BIO321 Genetics (3 cr.)
  • BIO322 Genetics Lab (1 cr.)
  • PHY301 Classical Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)
  • CHM311 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • BIF310 Algorithms & Data Structures (3 cr.)
  • BIF205 Biostatistics (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • BCH301 Introduction to Biochemistry (4 cr.)
  • CHM312 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • PHY305 Modern Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)
  • BIF415 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
  • LAC Elective (3 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (17 credits)

  • BIO345 Cell & Molecular Biology (4 cr.)
  • BIF524 Data Mining (3 cr.)
  • BIFxxx Bioinformatics Elective (3 cr.)
  • BIF599 Capstone Project (3 cr.)
  • HLT201 Basic Health1 (1 cr.)
  • BIF375 Database Management Systems (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • BIFxxx Bioinformatics Elective (3 cr.)
  • BIFxxx Bioinformatics Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAC Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAC Elective (3 cr.)
  • ETH201 Moral Reasoning (1 cr.)

1 Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Course