Academic Catalog 2024–2025

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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 Educational Objectives

The BS in 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.

Student 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 BS in Bioinformatics may be completed in three years with a required total of 100 credits.

  • Bioinformatics Requirements (33 credits)
  • Biology Requirements (12 credits)
  • Chemistry Requirements (9 credits)
  • Physics Requirements (3 credits)
  • Biochemistry Requirements (4 credits)
  • Mathematics Requirements (6 credits)
  • Major Electives (9 credits)
  • LAS Requirements (24 credits)

Bioinformatics Requirements (33 credits)

  • BIF205 Biostatistics (3 cr.)
  • BIF243 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr.)
  • BIF243B Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming Lab (1 cr.)
  • BIF244 Introduction to Script Programming (3 cr.)
  • BIF245 Objects and Data Abstraction (3 cr.)
  • BIF245B Objects and Data Abstraction Lab (1 cr.)
  • BIF310 Algorithms and Data Structures (3 cr.)
  • BIF310B Algorithms and Data Structures Lab (1 cr.)
  • BIF375 Database Management Systems (3 cr.)
  • BIF415 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
  • BIF345 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIF524 Data Mining (3 cr.)
  • BIF599 Capstone Project (3 cr.)

Biology Requirements (12 credits)

Chemistry Requirements (9 credits)

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

Physics Requirements (3 credits)

  • PHY301 Classical 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.)

Major Electives (9 credits)

BIF Electives (a minimum of 2 courses) (6-9 credits)

  • BIF425 Functional Genomics (3 cr.)
  • BIF435 Structural Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
  • BIF455   Computational Drug Design (3 cr.)
  • BIF498 Topics in Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
  • BIF513 Computational Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIF515 Machine Learning (3 cr.)

Non-Major Science Electives (min. 0-max. 3 credits)1

  • MTH301 Linear Algebra (3 cr.)
  • MTH304 Differential Equations (3 cr.)
  • MTH307 Discrete Structures II (3 cr.)
  • BIO410   Biotechnology (3 cr.)
  • BIO632   Advances in Epigenetics and Therapeutics (3 cr.)
  • CSC443   Web Programming (3 cr.)

Pre-med Requirement (3 credits)

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

LAS Requirements (24 credits)

1 Advised only for students who would like to pursue graduate studies in Computer Science 

Recommended Study Plan

Year One

Fall (17 credits)

  • BIO201 General Biology I (3 cr.)
  • BIO201B General Biology I Lab (1 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
  • CHM005 Preparatory Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • MTH201 Calculus III, MTH207 Discrete Structures I, or LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • BIF243 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr.)
  • BIF243B Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming Lab (1 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • BIO202 General Biology II (3 cr.)
  • BIO202B General Biology II Lab (1 cr.)
  • COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)
  • MTH201 Calculus III, MTH207 Discrete Structures I, or LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • BIF245 Objects & Data Abstraction (3 cr.)
  • BIF245B Objects and Data Abstraction Lab (1 cr.)
  • BIF415 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)

Summer (6 credits)

  • MTH201 Calculus III, MTH207 Discrete Structures I, or LAS Course (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (17 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.)
  • BIF310B Algorithms and Data Structures Lab (1 cr.)
  • LAS (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • BCH301 Introduction to Biochemistry (4 cr.)
  • CHM312 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • BIF205 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
  • BIF244 Introduction to Script Programming (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (15 credits)

  • BIF345 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIF375 Database Management Systems (3 cr.)
  • BIF524 Data Mining (3 cr.)
  • Bioinformatics Elective (3 cr.)
  • Bioinformatics Elective (3 cr.)

Spring (12 credits)

  • Bioinformatics Elective (3 cr.)
  • BIF599 Capstone Project (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)