Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics
At Illinois Tech the bioinformatics major blends courses in biology, chemistry, and physics with courses in programming, statistics, and other methods, producing graduates who are both strong in science and able to develop and use data processing tools to advance scientific knowledge.
Our program is scientifically rigorous, providing students with in-demand programming and analytical skills through a solid, balanced offering in STEM courses. Combined with undergraduate research opportunities, this rounded curriculum provides the knowledge, skills, and experiences to pursue careers in bioinformatics or computational biology.
Courses include programming in Perl, C++, and Java; data structure and algorithms; data mining; statistics; human biology; genetics; genomics and transcriptomics; and more.
Two tracks are available. Applied Bioinformatics has more required and elective courses in computer science. Computational Biology has more required and elective courses in biology.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Requirements | (29) | |
| BIOL 100 | Introduction to the Profession | 2 |
| BIOL 104 | Linux and Perl Programming | 3 |
| BIOL 107 | General Biology Lectures | 3 |
| BIOL 115 | Human Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 210 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 214 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 225 | Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 403 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| BIOL 413 | Genomics and Transcriptomics | 3 |
| BIOL 451 | Biological Literature | 2 |
| BIOL 495 | Biology Colloquium | 1 |
| Chemistry Requirements | (12) | |
| CHEM 124 | Principles of Chemistry I with Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 125 | Principles of Chemistry II with Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 237 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| Physics Requirements | (11) | |
| PHYS 123 | General Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 221 | General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| PHYS 224 | General Physics III for Engineers | 3 |
| Track Electives | (9-10) | |
| Select a track in Applied Bioinformatics or Computational Biology | 9-10 | |
Option 1: Applied Bioinformatics | 9 | |
| Elementary Linear Algebra | 3 | |
| Data Mining | 3 | |
| Database Organization | 3 | |
Option 2: Computational Biology | 10 | |
| Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 | |
| Cell Biology | 3 | |
| Cell Biology Laboratory | 3 | |
| Bioinformatics Technical Electives | (9) | |
| Select a minimum of nine credit hours of technical electives, with at least two electives in the chosen Bioinformatics track (Applied Bioinformatics or Computational Biology) | 9 | |
Applied Bioinformatics Technical Electives | ||
| Information Retrieval | 3 | |
| Introduction to Algorithms | 3 | |
| Object Oriented Design and Programming | 3 | |
| Operating Systems | 3 | |
| Introduction to Parallel and Distributed Computing | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Research 1 | 1-6 | |
| Topics in Computer Science 1 | 3-12 | |
Computational Biology Technical Electives | ||
| Human Anatomy | 3 | |
| Biochemistry Laboratory | 3 | |
| Medical Microbiology | 3 | |
| Concepts of Cancer Biology | 3 | |
| Human Physiology | 3 | |
| Biology Research Project 1 | 1-3 | |
Suggested Additional Electives | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | 3 | |
| Physical Chemistry I | 3 | |
| Introduction to Computational Mathematics 1 | 3 | |
| Computational Science | 3 | |
| Molecular Biophysics | 3 | |
| Mathematics Requirements | (20) | |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 152 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariate and Vector Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 475 | Probability | 3 |
| MATH 476 | Statistics | 3 |
| Computer Science Requirements | (10) | |
| Select one of the following options: | 4 | |
Option 1: | ||
| Object-Oriented Programming I and Object-Oriented Programming II | 4 | |
Option 2: | ||
| Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science | 4 | |
| CS 330 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CS 331 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) | (6) | |
| See Illinois Tech Core Curriculum, section E | 6 | |
| Humanities and Social Science Requirements | (21) | |
| See Illinois Tech Core Curriculum, sections B and C | 21 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 127-128 | |
- 1
Adviser and/or instructor approval required.
Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics Curriculum
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 100 | 2 | BIOL 104 | 3 |
| BIOL 107 | 3 | BIOL 115 | 3 |
| CHEM 124 | 4 | CHEM 125 | 4 |
| CS 115 | 2 | CS 116 | 2 |
| MATH 151 | 5 | MATH 152 | 5 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| BIOL 214 | 3 | BIOL 210 | 3 |
| PHYS 123 | 4 | BIOL 225 | 2 |
| CS 330 | 3 | PHYS 221 | 4 |
| MATH 251 | 4 | Track Elective1 | 3-4 |
| Social Sciences Elective | 3 | Humanities 200-level Course | 3 |
| 17 | 15-16 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 237 | 4 | BIOL 403 | 4 |
| MATH 475 | 3 | BIOL 413 | 3 |
| Bioinformatics Technical Elective | 3 | CS 331 | 3 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 | PHYS 224 | 3 |
| Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 | Bioinformatics Technical Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| MATH 476 | 3 | BIOL 451 | 2 |
| Track Elective2 | 3 | BIOL 495 | 1 |
| Track Elective2 | 3 | Bioinformatics Technical Elective | 3 |
| IPRO Elective I | 3 | Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 |
| Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 | Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 |
| IPRO Elective II | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credit Hours: 127-128 | |||
