Minor in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BINF)

The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BINF) minor is available to students in all majors, but it is intended especially for those who major in biology, biochemistry, computer science, computer information systems, electrical engineering, mathematics, microbiology and physics. The BINF minor establishes a strong foundation in software programs and databases commonly used by bioinformaticists and computational biologists. The BINF minor will train students to design and develop algorithms and computer programs that analyze biological data.

A total of 36 units is required. However, 24 units out of those 36 consist of courses that are part of already existing and well-established programs such as Computer Science (CS courses), Biology (BIOL courses), Mathematics (MATH courses) and Economics (ECON courses). Consequently, students majoring in these, and other programs, will only need to take the courses that are in their own respect complementary. For example, a student majoring in CS will need to take only 10 units of BIOL courses plus the 12 units of BINF courses totaling 22 units (see the table below). Similarly, a student majoring in BIOL will need to take only 10 units of CS courses plus the 12 units of BINF courses also totaling 22 units. As for the BINF courses, 4 units are concentrated in a required course, whereas 8 units are distributed in elective courses so as to add flexibility to the minor and accommodate students with very specific interests and backgrounds.

Successful completion requires a 2.0 overall grade point average in the BINF minor, good academic standing, and completion of all minor courses by the time students earn their baccalaureate.