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For the 5-year BS/MS program in Biology, please click here.
Complete before applying to BS/MS Bioinformatics
| # | REQUIREMENT | DETAILS | TYPICAL TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computing | CS 1301 or CS 1371 (CS1315 not allowed) | 2nd year - Fall |
| 2 | Multivariable Calculus |
MATH 2550*, 2551, 2561, or 2605 MATH 2550 is approved only for students who completed MATH 1552 and not MATH 1555. |
3rd year - Fall |
| 3 | GPA > 3.3 | Minimum GPA for Application | Apply after completion of 30 credit hours but before completion of 90 credit hours |
Complete before finishing BS Biology
Many BIOL and APPH classes were converted to the new BIOS subject code. A conversion table for students that have taken classes prior to the conversion can be found here.
| # | REQUIREMENT | DETAILS | TYPICAL TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genomics and Applied Bioinformatics | BIOL 6150 (double counted towards both BS and MS degrees)#,* | 4th year - Fall |
| 2 | Bioinformatics Statistics Requirement | BIOS 4401, MATH 3215, ISYE 3770 (or comparable) | 4th year - Spring |
| 3 | Graduate Biology Course | 3 hour graduate-level course (6000 and above - double counted towards both BS and MS degrees)#,* | 4th year - Spring |
| 4 | GPA > 3.0 | Minimum GPA for graduation with BSBIO to continue into MSBINF | 4th year - Spring |
Complete during MS Bioinformatics
| # | REQUIREMENTS | DETAILS | TYPICAL TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Programming for Bioinformatics | BIOL 7200 | 5th year - Fall |
| 2 | Bioinformatics Capstone Course | BIOL 8803F or alternate | 5th year - Fall |
| 3 | Bioinformatics Research or other Graduate Elective | BIOL 8901 | 5th year - Fall |
| 4 | Approved Electives | 10 hours - No more than 3 hours below 6000-level | 5th year - Fall and Spring |
| 5 | Computational Genomics | BIOL 7210 | 5th year - Spring |
| 6 | Intro Databases | CS 4400 | 5th year - Spring |
| 7 | Machine Learning in Computational Biology | CX 4803 MLB | 5th year - Spring |
| 8 | Bioinformatics Research or other Graduate Elective | BIOL 8902 | 5th year - Spring |
| 9 | GPA > 2.70 | Minimum GPA for graduation with MSBINF | 5th year - Spring |
Example Schedule of Classes
The full 5 year program of study can be completed as follows:
BS: Total Degree Hours = 122
| 1st Year Fall | Hours | 1st Year Spring | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| GT 1000 - Freshman Seminar [A] | 1 | ENGL 1102 - English Composition II | 3 |
|
ENGL 1101 - English Composition I |
3 | MATH 1552 - Integral Calculus (or MATH 1555 - Calculus for Life Sciences) | 4 |
| MATH 1551 - Differential Calculus | 2 | BIOS 1208 AND 1208L - Majors Organismal Biology [B] | 4 |
| BIOS 1207 AND 1207L - Majors Biological Principles | 4 | CHEM 1212K - Chemical Principles II | 4 |
| CHEM1211K - Chemical Principles I | 4 | ||
| TOTAL | 14 | TOTAL | 15 |
| 2nd Year Fall | Hours | 2nd Year Spring | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOS 2300 - Ecology, BIOS 2600 - Genetics, or BIOS 2610 - Integrative Genetics [C] | 3 | BIOS 2300 - Ecology, BIOS 2600 - Genetics, or BIOS 2310 - Problem-Based Ecology [C] | 3 |
| BIOS 2301 - Ecology Lab; BIOS 2601 - Genetics Lab; or BIOS 2611 Integrative Genetics Lab [C] | 1 | BIOS 2301 - Ecology Lab, BIOS 2601 - Genetics Lab, or BIOS 2311 - Problem-Based Ecology Lab [C] | 1 |
| Chem 2311 - Organic Chemistry I | 3 | CHEM 2312 - Organic Chemistry II or CHEM 2313 Bio-Organic Chemistry |
3 |
| MATH 1553 - Linear Algebra | 2 | CHEM 2380 - Synthesis Lab | 2 |
| CS 1301 or CS 1371 (CS 1315 not allowed for Bioinformatics) | 3 | Bioinformatics Statistics Requirement (BIOS 4401, MATH 3215, or ISYE 3770) | 3 |
| Constitution/History Requirement (Hum/SS Elective) [D] | 3 | Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 |
| TOTAL | 14 or 15 | TOTAL | 14 or 15 |
| 3rd Year Fall | Hours | 3rd Year Spring | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYS 2211 - Introductory Physics I for Life Sciences | 4 | PHYS 2212 - Introductory Physics II | 4 |
| BIOS 3450 - Cell & Molecular Biology or BIOS 3600 - Evolution | 3 | BIOS 3450 - Cell & Molecular Biology [C] or BIOS 3600 - Evolution | 3 |
| Multivariable Calculus (MATH 2550, 2551, 2561, or 2605) | 3 | BIOS 3451 - Cell & Molecular Biology Lab [C] | 1 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 | Biology Elective [E] | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Wellness | 2 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 | ||
| Total | 16 | Total | 15 or 16 |
| 4th Year Fall | Hours | 4th Year Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 6150 Genomics and Applied Bioinformatics [F] | 3 | Graduate Biology Elective (BIOL 6000 or higher) [F] | 3 |
| Biology Elective [E] | 3 | Biology Elective [E] | 6 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 5 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 | Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Senior Research (BIOS 4590 or 4690) [G] | 3 | Total | 17 |
| BIOS 4460 - Communicating Biological Research | 1 | ||
| Total | 16 | Total Degree Requirement Hours | 122 |
[A] Not required for graduation.
[B] Students who earned a 5 on the AP Biology Exam may substitute four hours of Biology Elective credit.
[C] Students must take two of the following three lab courses with the corresponding lecture courses: Ecology, Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology.
[D] The Constitution Requirement is fulfilled by HIST 2111 or 1212 or POL 1101 or PUBP 3000 or INTA 1200.
[E] Biology electives include 12 "depth" credit hours of "BIOS" courses (excluding BIOS 4694-4699) and 9 "breadth" credit hours of courses, as described in the Student Handbook.
[F] Two graduate-level classes must be taken as an Undergraduate and will be double counted towards both the BS and MS degrees. BIOL 6150 fulfills the BS Biology Quantitative Requirement.
[G] The Senior Research Experience can be met by taking BIOS 4590 or 4690.
MS Bioinformatics Degree Requirements = 37 hours
(includes 6 hours double-counted with BS BIOL degree: BIOL 6150 and Graduate Biology Elective)
| 5th Year Fall | Hours | 5th Year Spring | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 7200 - Programming for Bioinformatics | 3 | BIOL 7210 - Computational Genomics | 3 |
| BIOL 8803F - Applied Human Computational Genomics | 3 | Graduate Elective (BIOL 8902 Special Problems or Other Recommended) | 4 |
| Graduate Elective (BIOL 8901 Special Problems or Other Recommended) | 3 | CS 4400 Intro Databases | 3 |
| Electives (MSBINF Recommended Electives). Only 3 hours of MS BINF electives may be taken at the 4000-level. | 6 | CX 4803 MLB, Machine Learning in Computational Biology | 3 |
| Elective (MS BINF Recommended Electives) | 3 | ||
| Total | 15 | 16 |
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS INCLUDING DOUBLE-COUNTED CREDITS (6 HOURS) = 37
Questions?
- For questions on undergraduate courses, please contact your academic advisor
- For questions on graduate courses, please contact Lisa Redding (lisa.redding@biosci.gatech.edu)
- All other questions can be sent to BSMS@biosci.gatech.edu
