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 87 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 program’s undergraduate committee

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 program’s undergraduate committee for admission to the program.

Biology (17 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 .

Bioinformatics Capstone Course (4 credits)

Complete one of the following. The capstone course may not fulfill the elective requirement.

Chemistry (9 credits)

Complete the following:

Mathematics (7 credits)

Complete the following:

Physics (4 credits)

Complete one of the following:

Statistics (4 credits)

Complete one of the following:

Computer Science (9 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), and one course from List A or B.

List A: Natural Sciences Electives

Any 400-level BIOL course or 400-level CHEM course, excluding BIOL 430 , lab courses, and independent study/research courses. The capstone course may not also fulfill an upper-level elective requirement.

List B: Statistics and Computer Science Electives

Any 400-level CMSC course, 400-level IS course, 400-level MATH course, or 400-level STAT course excluding CMSC 461 , CMSC 493 , CMSC 495 , CMSC 498 , CMSC 499 ; IS 400 , IS 410 , IS 469 , IS 498 ; MATH 496 , MATH 497 , MATH 499 ; STAT 496 , STAT 497 , STAT 499 , and research/independent study courses.

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 Accelerated Program page of the Graduate School website.