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Concentration:
Computational and Mathematical Biology
background
Computational and Mathematical Biology are important new areas in the
biological sciences. Recognizing this, we have developed at Penn an
undergraduate concentration in Computational Biology, a Computational
Biology/Bioinformatics track in the Master's program in Biotechnology,
and a graduate level program in Computational Biology. We also support
post-doctoral students in this field.
The departments of Biology, Computer and Information Science (CIS),
and Mathematics have each devised undergraduate programs to train students
in Computational and Mathematical Biology. Here we describe only the
program available in the Department of Biology.
Within the Department of Biology there are two possible concentrations
aimed at training students in computational and mathematical skills.
These are the concentration in Computational Biology and the concentration
in Mathematical Biology. These concentrations are both designed so that
a student may focus on those areas in which he/she wishes to specialize.
They are described in detail below.
requirements for the Computational Biology Concentration
(17.5 - 18.5 CU)
Biology (4 - 5 CU):
- Introductory Biology (2 - 3 cu)
Track 1: BIOL
121 with 123 and BIOL 124 (2.0 cu)
Track 2: BIOL 101 and 102
(3.0 cu)
- BIOL 221 Molecular Biology and Genetics
(1 cu)
- BIOL 230 Evolution (1 cu)
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Two additional Biology
courses from the following list (2 CU):
- BIOL 202 Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (1 cu)
- BIOL 215 Vertebrate Physiology (1 cu)
- BIOL 251 Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (1.5 cu)
- BIOL 240 Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems(1 cu)
- BIOL 354 Developmental Biology (1 cu)
- BIOL 402 Biochemistry (1 cu)
- BIOL 410 Advanced Evolution (1 cu)
- BIOL 414 Advanced Ecology (1 cu)
- BIOL 421 Molecular Genetics (1 cu)
- BIOL 425 Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Superlab
(1 cu)
- BIOL 431 Genome Science and Genomic Medicine (1 cu)
- BIOL 480 Advanced Cell Biology (1 cu)
- BIOL 485 The RNA World: A Functional and Computational Analysis (1 cu)
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| General Chemistry OR Introductory Physics (1.5
CU):
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Introductory Math and Statistics
(2 CU):
- MATH 104 Calculus I (1 cu)
- BIOL 446 Statistics for Biologists (1 cu)
(STAT 111 or 102 or STAT 431 may be substituted
for BIOL 446)
Computer Science (3
CU):
- CIS 120 Programming Languages and Techniques I (1 cu)
- CIS 121 Programming Languages and Techniques II (1 cu)
- CIS 160 Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science I (1
cu)
"Capstone" Courses
(2 CU):
- BIOL 437 Introduction to Computational Biology & Biological Modeling (1 cu)
- BIOL 399 Interdisciplinary Research Project (1 cu)
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Three Computational Biology-related
courses from the following list (3 CU):
- CIS 262 Automata, Computability and Complexity (1 cu)
- CIS 320 Introduction to Algorithms (1 cu)
- CIS 330 Design Principles of Information Systems (1 cu)
- CIS 334 Advanced Topics in Algorithms (1 cu)
- CIS 391 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (1 cu)
- GCB 531 Introduction to Genome Science (1 cu)
- PHYS 280 Physical Models of Biological Systems (1 cu)
- CHEM 241 Organic Chemistry (1 cu)
- MATH 241 Calculus, Part IV (1 cu)
- MATH 360 Advanced Calculus (1 cu)
- MATH 361 Advanced Calculus (1 cu)
- MATH 370 Algebra (1 cu)
- MATH 371 Algebra (1 cu)
- MATH 420 Ordinary
Differential Equations (1 cu)
- MATH 425 Partial
Differential Equations (1 cu)
- STAT 431 Statistical Inference (can be counted as elective
only if NOT taken for the Introductory
Math and Statistics requirement)
- STAT 433 Stochastic Processes (1 cu)
- STAT 471 Intermediate Statistics (1 cu)
- STAT 473 Bioinformatics (1 cu)
- STAT 510 Probability (1 cu)
- BIOL 537 Advanced Computational Biology (1 cu)
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requirements for the Mathematical Biology
Concentration (17.5 - 18.5 CU)
Same as those
requirements listed for Computational Biology,
with the following alterations:
Replace "Introductory Computer
Science"
requirements with Math Core:
- MATH 114 Calculus, Part II (1
cu)
- MATH 240 Calculus, Part III (1 cu)
- MATH 320 Computer Methods in Mathematical Sciences I (1
cu)
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how to apply
The advisor for these concentrations is Dr.
Joshua Plotkin, Department
of Biology, Lynch Lab room 219, 215.573.8052.
After submitting an information form for the major and a worksheet for the concentraton to the Academic
Office, Leidy Lab room 102, a student intending to take either the
concentration in Computational Biology or the concentration in Mathematical
Biology must meet Dr. Plotkin to approve his/her choice of courses
from this list.
sample curriculum
The sample curriculum below incorporates the requirements of the concentration
in Computational Biology as well as those for the Biology major and
the general requirements for a College undergraduate. A sample curriculum
for the concentration in Mathematical Biology in the Biology major would
be similar, except that it would replace Computer Science courses with
mathematics courses as indicated above:
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BIOL 121 (1.0 cu) with 123 (0.5 cu)
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BIOL 124 (0.5 cu)
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| CIS 120 (1 cu) |
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CIS 121 (1 cu) |
| GE requirement
(a) (1 cu) |
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MATH 104
(1 cu) |
| GE requirement (1 cu) |
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GE requirement (1 cu) |
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GE requirement (1 cu) |
| Total 4.5 CU |
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Total 4.5 CU |
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BIOL 221 (1 cu)
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BIOL 230 (1 cu)
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| CHEM 101 and 53 or first
semester PHYS (1.5 cu) |
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Additional Biology
(b) (1 cu) |
| CIS 160
(1 cu) |
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GE requirement
(1 cu) |
| GE requirement (1 cu) |
|
GE requirement (1 cu) |
| |
|
GE requirement
(1 cu) |
| Total 4.5 CU |
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Total 5 CU |
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BIOL 446 (1 cu)
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BIOL 536 (1cu)
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| Additional Biology
(b) (1 cu) |
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Additional CompBio (c) (1
cu) |
| GE requirement
(1 cu) |
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GE requirement
(1 cu) |
| GE requirement (1 cu) |
|
GE requirement (1 cu) |
| GE requirement
(1 cu) |
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| Total 5 CU |
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Total 4 CU |
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BIOL 399 (1 cu)
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Additional CompBio
(1 cu)
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| Additional CompBio (1
cu) |
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GE requirement (1
cu) |
| GE requirement
(1 cu) |
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GE requirement
(1 cu) |
| GE requirement (1 cu) |
|
GE requirement (1 cu) |
| GE requirement
(1 cu) |
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| Total 5 CU |
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Total 4 CU |
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Notes
(a) The College requires all students to complete the General Education
curriculum. For students in the computational or mathematical biology concentration, a total of 19.0 credit units appropriately distributed
in the sectors, foundational approaches, and free electives are needed.
These requirements include competency in a foreign language. See specific
details at http://www.college.upenn.edu/curriculum/index.php
(b)"Additional Biology" denotes two courses from
the "Two additional Biology Courses" listed above.
(c) "Additional CompBio" denotes three courses from the "Computational
Biology-related courses" listed above.
alternatives to this concentration
Students interested in Computational or Mathematical Biology, but
who are not able to complete all the required courses for either of
these
concentrations, are encouraged to major in Biology and to take as many
of the courses in these concentrations as possible.
A student who has completed advanced coursework in computer science
or math may receive a wavier for the 3 cu Introductory Computer Science
or Introductory Math requirements, at the discretion of the concentration
advisor.
Any student leaving either the Computational or Mathematical Biology
concentration should be aware of the requirements for the Biology
major that will then apply, including that of three or four appropriately
distributed 200-level courses. Further, various courses in Computer
Science and Mathematics which count towards the Computational or Mathematical
Biology concentrations do not count towards the Biology major.
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Undergraduate Program