The Bioengineering - Computational Biology & Bioinformatics Major
The simultaneous revolutions of molecular biology and scientific computing has given rise to the new multi-disciplinary area of Computational Biology. The Bioengineering undergraduate program aims to provide students with the background necessary either for graduate work in this area or for jobs in pharmaceutical or biotech companies.
The program covers the component disciplines of computational science, mathematics, and physical science broadly defined, in addition to traditional biology and engineering. This type of training provides preparation for a broad range of careers in science and engineering that reflect our future working world, which is increasingly becoming more interdisciplinary through greater complexity in bioengineering research activities.
Those who take up the challenges presented by computational biology will be able to choose from one of two options:
(1) a Core Major in Bioengineering with an emphasis in computational biology;
(2) a separate and distinct Major in Bioengineering - Computational Biology & Bioinformatics.
The former (1) is ABET compliant and is a track of the Bioengineering core major; the latter (2) deviates slightly from this core in order to offer students more depth in molecular biology and computational topics, as well as possible specializations in areas such as Bioinformatics/Genomics, Computational Biophysics, or Systems Biology and Computational Synthetic Biology.
Since Computational Biology is one of Berkeley's Strategic Initiatives, undergraduate students can also take advantage of the greater scientific community working in this area in numerous departments across campus, attending monthly seminars and participating in research projects.
Bioengineering - Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Requirements |
| | | | Freshman Year [Common First Year] | Fall | Spring | | Math 1A , 1B , Calculus | 4 | 4 | | Chemistry 1A or 4A General Chemistry | 4 | | | Chemistry 3A , 3AL , or Chem 112A , Organic Chemistry2 | | 5 | | Physics 7A , Physics for Scientists and Engineers | | 4 | | E 10, Engineering Design and Analysis or BioE 10 | 3 | | | E 7, Introduction to Applied Computing or CS 61A or BioE 142 | | 4 | | Reading and Composition3 | 4 | | | Freshman Seminar: BioE 24 and/or BioE 25 4 | 1 | 1 | | Minimum Total Units | 16 | 18 | | | | | | Sophomore Year | Fall | Spring | | Math 53 -54 , Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Diff. Eqns. | 4 | 4 | | Physics 7B , Physics for Scientists and Engineers | | 4 | | Biology 1A & 1AL , General Biology | 5 | | | Chemistry 3B or Chem 112B , Organic Chemistry5 | 3 | | | Engineering/Biology Preparation (select two): CS 61B , MCB C100A /Chem C130 , BioE 101 | 4 | 4 | | Electives: Humanities / Social Studies 3 | | 3 | | Minimum Total Units | 16 | 15 | | | | | | Junior Year | Fall | Spring | | Computational Biology Topics (BioE 131 recommended for most Options)6 | 4 | 4 | | Technical Electives (see sample programs for recommendations)7 | 3 | 3 | | Upper Division Biology Electives (see sample programs for recommendations)8 | 3 | 4 | | BioE 100 or Humanities / Social Studies course with ethics content 3 | | 3 | | Electives: Humanities / Social Studies 3 | 4 | | | Minimum Total Units | 14 | 14 | | | | | | Senior Year | Fall | Spring | | Computational Biology Topics (see sample programs for recommendations)6 | 4 | 4 | | Technical Electives (see sample programs for recommendations)7 | 3 | 4 | | Engineering Topic (see sample programs for recommendations)9 | 4 | | | Bioengineering design project, lab course, or bioengineering research4 | | 4 | | Electives: Humanities / Social Studies 3 | 3 | 3 | | Minimum Total Units | 14 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | MINIMUM GRAND TOTAL UNITS | | 122 | 1 Students must complete 42 units of upper-division course work in technical subjects such as engineering, chemistry, physics, integrative biology, molecular & cell biology, mathetmatics or statistics. Of these 42 units, at least 20 must be in bioengineering. Students are advised to consult the approved sample programs, or Options, to identify an appropriate course sequence for bioengineering specialty areas. Students may also design their own program that meets with above requirements with permission from their faculty adviser. Regular consultation with an adviser is strongly recommended. 2 Chem 112A/B is intended for students majoring in chemistry or a closely related field and is more intensive than Chem 3A/3B. Please note that pre-requisites to Chem 112A/B include Chem 1A and Chem 1B (or Chem 4A and Chem 4B). 3 Electives: COE Humanities/Social Studies requirement is comprised of six courses of at least 3 units each in humanities or social studies selected from an approved list of courses. Two of these courses must fulfill the College of Engineering Reading and Composition requirement and two must be in the upper division (refer to http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/current_students/hssreq.pdf ). 4 This requirement may be completed at any time in the program. 5 Pre-med students should take Chem 3B & 3BL or Chem 112B, and Bio 1B, General Biology. 6 Choose courses from approved Computational Biology list. 7 Choose courses from approved Technical Elective list. Cannot include BioE 100, E 124 or E 195. 8 Choose courses from approved Upper Division Biology list. 9 Choose courses from approved Engineering Topics list.
|
