Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, B.S.

This program offers comprehensive training in the fields of bioinformatics and computational biology by combining courses in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics. Graduates acquire the necessary skills for automated querying and data analysis using complex databases, extraction of essential information from genomic and proteomic data, modeling of biological systems, as well as the design and development of software and algorithms to support these activities. Students also have the opportunity to engage in independent research in the lab, the field, or off-campus, working one-on-one with a faculty mentor. This program is appropriate for any student desiring a rich and multidisciplinary grounding in all the essential elements of bioinformatics and computational biology.

University Requirements

Completion of Minimum University Requirements for an Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree .

Minimum 120 credits and minimum GPA of 2.0
Completion of 45 upper-level credits, residence requirement, Writing Intensive requirement, and General Education requirement

Major Requirements

Minimum 85 credits
A minimum grade of ‘C’ in courses applied to the major and prerequisites. Under certain circumstances and after petitioning, students may be able to graduate with a grade of ‘D’ in a single (not retaken) course, provided that they have an overall ‘C’ average in all required courses, upon approval by the Undergraduate Committee of the Department of Biological Sciences
A simple majority of BIOL courses required for the major completed in residence at UMBC
Students are allowed only two attempts to earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in all required BIOL courses. A student who has not earned a grade of ‘C’ or better (including a grade of ‘W’) after two attempts is no longer be eligible for the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, B.S. and must change their major. The department adheres to university policies that limit to two the number of times a student may register for the same course.

Course Requirements

Gateway Requirements (24 credits)

Complete the following courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0, no grade lower than ‘C’ in any course, and a minimum of three courses completed in residence at UMBC. A course may be repeated once to meet gateway requirements, but both grades are used to compute the gateway GPA. Students who do not meet these criteria (e.g. transfer students who transfer in more than three of the above courses) may petition the BINF steering committee for admission to the program.

Biology (21 credits)

Complete the following. Students who earn a passing grade in BIOL 302 or BIOL 303 may not re-register for BIOL 141 or BIOL 142 .

Chemistry (3 credits)

Complete the following:

CHEM 351 - Organic Chemistry I (3)

Physics and Math (15 credits)

Complete the following:

Computer Science (13 credits)

Complete the following:

Electives (9-12 credits)

Complete a course in each of the following:

One course from List A (Natural Science electives)
One course from List B (Statistics and Computer Science electives)
One course from List A or B

List A: Natural Sciences Electives

Complete a minimum of one from the following or other 400-level BIOL or CHEM course as approved by advisor:

List B: Statistics and Computer Science Electives

Complete a minimum of one from the following or other 400-level CMSC, IS, MATH, or STAT course as approved by advisor and the corresponding department or instructor:

Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs

Qualified students may apply to an accelerated program, which allows them to share courses between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Students take graduate courses as undergraduate students and later apply those courses to master’s degrees. An undergraduate may apply to participate in an accelerated program even if the desired graduate program is in a department other than the one in which the student is majoring. More information is available from the Graduate School website: https://gradschool.umbc.edu/admissions/nontraditional/accelerated/