Bioinformatics Minor for Majors in Other Disciplines

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The bioinformatics minor is an interdisciplinary program merging insights and techniques from the fields of biology, computer science, mathematics, and information technology. Computational methods lead to the discovery of new biological insights and the creation of global perspectives from which to discover unifying principles in biology, pharmacology, and medicine.

Three versions of the bioinformatics minor are available. Students majoring in biology or biochemistry should follow the table as seen in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences . Students majoring in computer science should follow the table as seen in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science section. Students in any other discipline should follow the table below.

Bioinformatics Minor for Majors in Other Disciplines: 24-32 Credits

Biology Core: 4-12 Credits

BIOL 203 - Foundations of Biology I (4)
BIOL 333 - Genetics (4)
BIOL 405 - Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
OR**
BIOL elective(s), if core satisfied by another major/minor (4-8)

Computer Science Core: 4-12 Credits

COSC 110 - Introduction to Programming (4)
COSC 200 - Discrete Structures for Computer Science (4)
COSC 210 - Data Structures and Algorithms (4)
OR**
COSC elective(s), if core satisfied by another major/minor (4-8)

Bioinformatics: 8 Credits

Mathematics (see note)

Students must meet math requirements for any course listed above.

Total Required Credits: 24-32

*For students majoring in a discipline other than biology, biochemistry, or computer science.
**The bioinformatics minor requires completion of a minimum of 24 credits in biology and computer science beyond what may already be required for the student’s major or for another minor. Courses required in this minor may also be counted towards the student’s major or another minor but at least 4 biology credits and 4 computer science credits must be completed exclusively for this minor. Students satisfying core requirements in both biology and computer science would take two additional courses in each area. Additional BIOL courses (if needed) are selected at the 300 or 400-level; additional COSC courses (if needed) are selected from the following: COSC 315 , COSC 325 , COSC 420 , COSC 460 , and COSC 470 .