In order to keep pace with one of the fastest growing
fields in the country, the B.S. in Bioinformatics and Computational
Biology consists of a roughly equal amount of coursework
in life sciences, computer science, and mathematics. By
developing skills across several disciplines, students
acquire the knowledge that allows them to access and manipulate
the wealth of data now emerging from new technologies relating
to genes, genomes and the molecules they produce.
Bioinformatics graduates have excellent background for
employment in industry, government, and academics. Students
are especially encouraged to seek some form of graduate
study beyond the B.S., in order to focus their broad skills
base into a specific area of expertise that prepares them
for research careers in one of these domains.
 Download
the Bioinformatics Requirements Worksheet (PDF)
NOTE: This is not a complete list of requirements. See
the UMBC
Undergraduate Catalog (PDF) for the full listing of
requirements for this program, a list of participating
faculty, information about research opportunities, the
Biological Sciences Tutorial Center, and Student Organizations.
| Biology (21 credits) |
| BIOL 100 |
Concepts of Biology |
| BIOL 100L |
Concepts of Biology Laboratory |
| BIOL 302 |
Molecular and General Genetics |
| BIOL 303 |
Cell Biology |
| BIOL 302L |
Molecular and General Genetics Laboratory |
| or |
|
| BIOL 303L |
Cell Biology Laboratory |
| BIOL 430 |
Biological Chemistry |
| BIOL 495 |
Seminar in Bioinformatics |
| |
|
| Chemistry (15 credits) |
| CHEM 101 |
Principles of Chemistry I |
| CHEM 102 |
Principles of Chemistry II |
| CHEM 102L |
Introductory Chemistry Lab |
| CHEM 351 |
Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 352 |
Organic Chemistry II |
| |
| Computer Sciences (18 credits) |
| CMSC 201 |
Computer Science I for majors |
| CMSC 202 |
Computer Science II for majors |
| CMSC 203 |
Discrete Structures |
| CMSC 341 |
Data Structures |
| CMSC 461 |
Database Management Systems |
| |
|
| Mathematics and Statistics (15
credits) |
| MATH 151 |
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I |
| MATH 152 |
Calculus and Analytic Geometry II |
| MATH 221 |
Linear Algebra |
| STAT 355 |
Introduction to Probability & Statistics for Scientists
and Engineers |
| |
|
| Physics (8 credits) |
| Physics 121 |
Introductory Physics I |
| Physics 122 |
Introductory Physics II |
| |
|
| Electives (9-12 credits) |
| A total of three additional courses are
required, to be selected from the two lists below; two
courses are to be selected from List A, and one course
from List B. |
| List A: |
- Three-credit Biology Core Course ( BIOL 301, B304,
B305, or B442 - only one of these may be applied to
satisfying the major requirements for Bioinformatics & Computational
Biology)
- Any BIOL 4XX elective approved for the Biology major
- Any CHEM 4XX elective approved for the Biochemistry
major (except those on List B - see below)
- CHEM 301 or CHEM 303
- CHEM 438. (NOTE: Students must successfully complete
both CHEM 437 & CHEM 438. CHEM 437 can be used
as a substitute for BIOL 430 and CHEM 438 will count
as a LIST A elective. CHEM 437 by itself will not be
accepted as fulfilling any of the major requirements
for the BINF major.)
|
| List B: |
| Contact the program
coordinator for a current approved list of BIOL,
CHEM, CMSC, IFSM, and MATH courses. Evaluation of
student performance is separate for lecture and laboratory
courses. |
| |
A student planning to complete the
B.S. in bioinformatics & computational biology
should begin a first course in chemistry during the
first semester of the freshman year. The mathematics
sequence should also be started as soon as possible. |
Students who wish to obtain a B.S. degree in Bioinformatics & Computational
Biology must meet the following gateway requirements:
- A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the following courses
with no grade lower than a "C."
- BIOL 100
- BIOL 302
- CHEM 101
- CHEM 102
- CMSC 201
- MATH 151
If any of the gateway courses are repeated, both the original
grade and the first repeat grade will be used in calculating
the gateway GPA. Any subsequent repeats after the first two
attempts will not be considered in the gateway GPA.
A minimum of three of the above courses must be taken at
UMBC.
Students who do not meet the above requirements may petition
the BINF Steering Committee and request a waiver or substitution
of the gateway requirements.
A majority of the required biology courses must be completed
in residence at UMBC. In fulfilling major requirements in
bioinformatics, a student must obtain a grade of "C" or
higher in all required courses.
Pre-requisites and co-requisites for all BIOL courses will
be enforced. Pre-requisites in all biology courses must be
satisfied with a grade of "C" or higher.
The department will adhere to university policies that limit
to three the number of times a student may register for the
same course.
|
