Bioinformatics Minor
Bioinformatics is a new field of science that results from the application of information sciences to biology. Its goals are to facilitate data storage and retrieval, and the extraction of useful information from biological data.
Requirements
Students wishing a minor in Bioinformatics must take at least 15 credits of the following courses, including at least one course from each of the following four groups. A single course cannot fulfill more than one group requirement. Courses used to satisfy requirements for the student’s major may be used to satisfy group requirements.
- For a major requiring credits in a concentration (in addition to core courses) or requiring 12 related credits, only related or concentration credits can be counted towards the 15 credits required in the bioinformatics minor.
- For a major that only stipulates an overall credit requirement, up to 12 credits could be used for the minor.
Group A: Bio-Computing/Computer Science
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MCB 3421 | Introduction to Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| MCB 3602W | 1 | |
| MCB 3637 | Practical Methods in Microbial Genomics | 3 |
| MCB 5429 | 2 | |
| MCB 5430 | Analysis of Eukaryotic Functional Genomic Data | 3 |
| MCB 5472 | 3 | |
| EEB 4100 | Big Data Science for Biologists | 4 |
| EEB 4230W | Methods of Ecology | 4 |
| EEB 5348 | Population Genetics | 4 |
| EEB 5350 | Molecular Systematics | 2 |
| CSE 2102 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 |
| CSE 3500 | Algorithms and Complexity | 3 |
| CSE 3502 | Theory of Computation | 3 |
| CSE 3800/BME 4800 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| CSE/BME 3810 | Computational Genomics | 3 |
| CSE 4102 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| CSE 4701 | Principles of Databases | 3 |
Group B: Data Banks/Statistics
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 2215Q | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 |
| STAT 3025Q | Statistical Methods | 3 |
| STAT 3375Q & STAT 3445 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I and Introduction to Mathematical Statistics II (both courses must be taken to satisfy this group requirement) | 6 |
| CSE 4701 | Principles of Databases | 3 |
Group C: Protein Structure/Biochemistry
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MCB 2000 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 4 |
| MCB 3010 | Biochemistry | 5 |
| MCB 3421 | Introduction to Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| MCB 4009 | Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules | 3 |
| PNB 6420 | 3 |
Group D: Genetics
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MCB 2400 | Human Genetics | 3 |
| or MCB 2410 | Genetics | |
| MCB 3201 | Gene Expression | 3 |
| MCB 3412 | Genetic Engineering and Functional Genomics | 3 |
| MCB 3413 | Concepts of Genetic Analysis | 4 |
| MCB 3602W | 1 | |
| MCB 3617 | Molecular Biology and Genetics of Prokaryotes | 4 |
| MCB 3637 | Practical Methods in Microbial Genomics | 3 |
| MCB 5429 | 2 | |
| EEB 5300 | Practical Genomics in Ecology and Evolution | 3 |
| EEB 5348 | Population Genetics | 4 |
The following courses can be counted towards the 15-credit requirement, if approved by a member of the bioinformatics oversight committee:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MCB 3895 | Special Topics | 1-6 |
| MCB 3899 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| MCB 4896 | Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| MCB 4996 | Honors Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| EEB 3899 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| EEB 5895 | Investigation of Special Topics | 1-6 |
| PNB 3299 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| CSE 4095 | Special Topics in Computer Science and Engineering | 1-6 |
| CSE 4099 | Independent Study in Computer Science and Engineering | 1-4 |
The minor is offered jointly by the College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For the Bioinformatics minor, contact Dr. Ion Mandoiu at ion@engr.uconn.edu or Dr. J. Peter Gogarten at gogarten@uconn.edu.