Additional Major in Computational Biology

Overview

The Additional Major in Computational Biology is designed for undergraduate students wishing to study computational biology as a second field of study at Carnegie Mellon University in addition to their primary major.

The additional major is open to all students who complete the prerequisite coursework listed below, with the requirement that a student from outside SCS must have a 3.0 overall QPA when applying.

To prevent double-counting, students must complete at least seven courses of at least 9 units each as part of the additional major in computational biology (not including pre-requisites) that are unique to the additional major.

Students interested in the Additional Major in Computational Biology should contact the Computational Biology Undergraduate Program Director.

Curriculum

Prerequisite Courses

		Units
02-180 & 02-181	Great Ideas in Computational Biology I and Great Ideas in Computational Biology II	10-12
or 02-250	Introduction to Computational Biology
*02-251 is allowed if 02-180 and 02-181 are not offered
03-151	Honors Modern Biology	10
or 03-121	Modern Biology
15-122	Principles of Imperative Computation	12
15-151	Mathematical Foundations for Computer Science	12
or 21-127	Concepts of Mathematics
or 21-128	Mathematical Concepts and Proofs
21-120	Differential and Integral Calculus	10
21-122	Integration and Approximation	10
02-120	Programming for Scientists	12
or 15-112	Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science
Total Units		76-78

Mathematics/Statistics Core

36-218	Probability Theory for Computer Scientists	9
or 36-226	Introduction to Statistical Inference
or 36-326	Mathematical Statistics (Honors)
or 36-235	Probability and Statistical Inference I
or 15-259	Probability and Computing
21-241	Matrices and Linear Transformations	11
or 21-242	Matrix Theory
Total Units		20

General Science Core

09-105	Introduction to Modern Chemistry I	10
or 09-107	Honors Chemistry: Fundamentals, Concepts and Applications
33-121	Physics I for Science Students	12
or 33-141	Physics I for Engineering Students
Total Units		22

Biological Core

03-221	Genomes, Evolution, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis	9
or 03-220	Genetics
03-232	Biochemistry I (Students taking 03-231, including pre-med students, will take organic chemistry as a prerequisite, which will satisfy a biology elective requirement.)	9
or 03-231	Honors Biochemistry
03-320	Cell Biology	9
Total Units		27

Computer Science Core 

15-251	Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science	12
15-451	Algorithm Design and Analysis	12
or 15-351	Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures
07-280	Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning I	12
or 10-301	Introduction to Machine Learning
Total Units		36

Computational Biology Core 

02-135	Computational Biology and Society	3
02-261	Quantitative Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory	12
or 02-262	Computation and Biology Integrated Research Lab
or 03-343	Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology
02-402	Computational Biology Seminar	3
02-510	Computational Genomics	12
02-512	Computational Methods for Biological Modeling and Simulation	9
Total Units		39

Major Electives 

02-3xx	Computational Biology Electives at 300 level or above	18-24
03-3xx	Biology Electives at 300 level or above (09-217 or 42-202 also count as biology electives)	9-12
xx-2xx	School of Computer Science Electives at 200 level or above, at least 9 units each. 15-150 is an acceptable 100-level course counting in this category, but the following exceptions are not allowed in this category: 02-201, 02-223, 02-250, 02-261, 02-262, 11-423, 15-351, 16-223, 17-200, 17-333, 17-562.	18-24
Total Units		45-60

General Education (Humanities & Arts)

For specific courses that may be used to satisfy each elective, please consult the General Education Requirements for your primary major.