Minor in Bioinformatics

24.0 quarter credits

The bioinformatics minor examines the application of computer technology and programming to biological fields such as genomics or proteomics. This multidisciplinary program is designed for students majoring in biomedical engineering, bioscience, computer science, information systems, or mathematics. Combination with other majors is possible through consultation with the program director. The minor is divided among courses in biology, programming and computation, human-computer interface design, databases, and statistics.

Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits of coursework as follows:

Core courses  
Bioinformatics I 3.0
Bioinformatics II 3.0
  Two senior research project courses* 6.0
* Until research project courses are developed specifically for this minor, the department will accept whatever research project(s) the student has taken as part of their major under the number for that major.
Area-specific courses  
In each of the following five areas, the requirements of a student’s major cover some of the competencies for Bioinformatics, while the remaining requirements will be fulfilled within the minor itself.
 
A plan of study is determined by an Advisor in the Department of Biology based on the student's major field of study. Thus, the requirements for completing the minor are determined on a case-by-case basis. Possible options for area-specific courses include the following:
Bioscience  
Cells, Genetics and Physiology 3.0
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Cells, Genetics and Physiology Lab 1.0
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Biological Diversity, Ecology and Evolution 3.0
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Biological Diversity, Ecology and Evolution Lab 1.0
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Recombinant DNA Laboratory 5.0
Nutritional Chemistry 3.0
Nutritional Chemistry Laboratory 1.0
Programming and Computation  
Computer Programming I 3.0
Computer Programming II 3.0
Data Structures 3.0
Introduction to Information Systems 3.0
Human/Computer Interface Design  
Human-Computer Interaction 3.0
Human-Computer Interaction I 3.0
Databases  
Database Systems 3.0
Systems Analysis I 3.0
Database Management Systems 3.0
Statistics  
Introduction to Probability and Statistics 4.0
Probability and Statistics I 4.0
Probability and Statistics II 4.0
Scientific Data Analysis I 3.0
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Scientific Data Analysis II 3.0
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