COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science, while also equipping them with specialized knowledge and skills in computational analysis of biological data. The lower-division requirements, totaling 50 units, cover essential courses in the life sciences, including Principles of Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II with laboratories, and Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences. Students also complete core courses in computer science, such as Computer Science I and II, alongside mathematical preparation through Calculus I and II, Applied Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, and Statistics with Applications.Upper-division coursework, totaling 22 units, builds on this foundation by providing in-depth exposure to molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational methods essential for bioinformatics. Courses such as Algorithm Analysis, Machine Learning, Database Systems, and Advanced Bioinformatics I: Sequence Analysis train students in the development and application of software tools for managing and interpreting biological data. The Ethics Senior Seminar ensures students understand the professional and ethical responsibilities in the interdisciplinary field.Overall, the program integrates rigorous training in biological sciences with computational and analytical expertise, preparing graduates to analyze complex datasets, develop algorithms, and apply quantitative methods to real-world biological problems. Completion of all lower- and upper-division requirements results in a total of 72 units, positioning students for careers in genomics, proteomics, biomedical research, biotechnology, and related fields, or for further graduate study in bioinformatics and computational biology.