Mar 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2018-2019 
    
USC Catalogue 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Minor


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The USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences departments of biological sciences and mathematics and the Viterbi School of Engineering departments of computer science and biomedical engineering jointly offer the cross-departmental minor in computational biology and bioinformatics. This minor provides essential training in using quantitative skills to solve fundamental biological problems as well as problems related to public health, neuroscience and environment. The minor includes four tracks according to the background of the students in biology, mathematics, computer science and engineering.

As with all minors, students must include at least four upper-division courses (16 units) and four courses (16 units) dedicated exclusively to this minor (they can overlap). Four courses (16 units) taken outside the major department are required. The courses are designed for students in biology, mathematics, computer science or biomedical engineering. Other students may need more units to receive the minor. The CHEM 105bL  or CHEM 115bL  prerequisite for BISC 320  may be waived if the students have the necessary background determined by the faculty adviser for the minor. Students who waive these prerequisites cannot retake CHEM 105bL  or CHEM 115bL  for credit.

Please see the minor adviser for specific program requirements.

Required Courses


Mathematics


Electives


Note:


*Prerequisite required

Additional Requirements


Total requirements for students with no prior course work: 30 units. Students need to take 30 units of the courses listed: all requirements, and enough electives to add up to 30 units, while fulfilling the requirement that they must take 16 units unique to the minor (not used for their major or general education) and 16 units not offered by their major.

Students majoring in biological sciences, mathematics, computer science and biomedical engineering can meet many of these requirements with course work that also satisfies their majors.

Students of other majors need to take all the required courses plus at least one elective from mathematics or computer science (e.g., MATH 226 , MATH 407 , CSCI 201 ) from the list of elective courses to meet the minor requirements.

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