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Major In Computer Science - Concentration in Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics (also known as Computational Biology) is a new discipline that has emerged less than a decade ago and has spread through universities, first at the graduate level, and more recently also at the undergraduate level. It involves the use of techniques from computer science, mathematics and statistics to solve problems in molecular biology and evolution, as well as in epidemiology and medicine.

This concentration in Bioinformatics (92 credits) is offered by the Department of Computer Science, having received the full endorsement of the Department of Biology. The program involves a 6-credit stage to be performed in a research lab in the field.

The following description is based on a 3-year format for students coming out of CEGEPs. Students admitted into a 4-year program will have to take the following prerequisites and their associated labs in their forst year: BIO 191, CHE 191, CHE 192, MAT 191, MAT 192, PHY 191, PHY 192.

  1. CSC/MAT/PHY courses (29 credits)
    • 23 credits required:
      • PHY 101 Statistics
      • MAT 105 Discrete math
      • CSC 111 Programming methodology
      • CSC 204 Data structures
      • CSC 205 Data mining
      • CSC 217 Design and analysis of algorithms
      • CSC 327 Special Topics in Algorithms (new course)
    • 6 credits taken from any of:
      • CSC 201 Computer ethics or BIO 252 Bioethics
      • CSC 216 Artificial intelligence
      • CSC 207 Databases
      • CSC 208 Scientific computing
      • CSC 310 Software engineering
      • MAT 108 Matrix algebra
      • BMS 325 Operations Research
  2. BIO/BCH/CHE courses (39 credits plus associated labs)
    • 33 credits required, plus associated lab credits:
      • BIO 110 Introductory Cellular and Molecular Biology
      • BIO 115 Diversity of Life I
      • BIO 116 Diversity of Life II
      • BIO 118 Genetics
      • BIO 212 Evolution
      • BIO 314 Biotechnology or BCH 341 Current topics in Biotechnology (new course)
      • BIO 360/BCH 370 Molecular Genetics
      • BCH 211 Proteins
      • BCH 342 BioInformatics (new course)
      • CHE 105 Organic Chemistry I
      • CHE 106 Organic Chemistry II
    • 6 credits taken from any of:
      • BIO257 Plant Systematics
      • BIO291 Biometry
      • BIO365 Developmental Biology
      • BCH336 Immunology
      • BCH461 Enzymology
  3. Stage in Bioinformatics (6 credits)
  4. 21 credits of free electives

Computer Science courses are shown on this page. Also consult the Computer Science calendar. For the courses from other departments consult the respective calendars: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.