Bioinformatics BA/BS

Bioinformatics is a discipline that applies Computer Science as a tool to solve problems in molecular biology. The degree has been developed in collaboration between Computer Scientists and Biologists.  Mathematics course work is also represented, as an understanding of statistics is necessary when working as a bioinformatics scientist.  This is truly a unique and interdisciplinary degree.   This degree is designed as a gateway for students who will pursue graduate programs (MS and PhD) in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.  Students will also have the training to enter the work force as system analysts working with large data sets in clinical research, government research labs, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.  Our faculty conduct bioinformatics research with a focus on image processing (MRI and histology images), and also genomics and molecular genetics (for example, studying genes associated with behavior/neural processing in mammals or genes involved in regulation drought-tolerance in crops).  

The goals of the bioinformatics program are to provide students with learning experiences in both the classroom and laboratory so that they are well-prepared to:

  • Think critically and apply knowledge in novel contexts;
  • Understand the computational analysis of biological systems;
  • Understand cell and genome structures, function, and reproduction;
  • Understand algorithms and data structures;
  • Perform basic laboratory procedures in a safe manner.

General Education Requirements

Written Communication
Select one of the following:6.00
WRITING AND RHETORIC I
and WRITING AND RHETORIC II
COLLEGE WRITING AND RESEARCH
Oral Communication
Select one from the following:3.00
FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Mathematical Ways of Knowing
MATH-143PRECALCULUS I: ALGEBRA3.00
Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing
Select one course from two categories:6.00-8.00
Literature
LITERATURE AND IDEAS
WORLD CLASSICS
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
MYTHOLOGIES
Arts
INTRODUCTION TO ART
THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE MOTION PICTURE
INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTS
SURVEY OF MUSIC
MUSIC IN AMERICA
WORLD MUSIC
HISTORY OF MUSICAL THEATER
HISTORY OF JAZZ AND POPULAR MUSIC STYLES
SURVEY OF THE THEATER
Language
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND HISTORY
ELEMENTARY SPANISH I
ELEMENTARY SPANISH II
Scientific Ways of Knowing
BIOF-100INTRODUCTION TO BIOINFORMATICS3.00
CHEM-111PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY I4.00
Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing
Select one course from two disciplines:6.00
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
WORLD PREHISTORY
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
WORLD HISTORY I
WORLD HISTORY II
UNITED STATES HISTORY I
UNITED STATES HISTORY II
DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS
HUMAN RELATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS
AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOCIAL PROBLEMS
DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS
HUMAN RELATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS
Global Perspectives
Select one of the following:3.00-4.00
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
WORLD PREHISTORY
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
RACE AND ETHNICITY
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE
NATIVE AMERICAN WRITTEN LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
WORLD HISTORY I
WORLD HISTORY II
UNITED STATES HISTORY I
UNITED STATES HISTORY II
DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS
ETHICS AND IDENTITY
SOCIAL-CULTURAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND HISTORY
COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
ELEMENTARY SPANISH I
ELEMENTARY SPANISH II
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II
DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS
Integrative Seminar: Ethics & Values
Select one of the following:3.00
ID 300A - 300Z (see course descriptions for options)
HELLS CANYON INSTITUTE
Foreign/Heritage Language
Select 16 credits of language if selecting Bachelor of Arts Degree16.00
Total Credits38.00

Program Requirements

Major Requirements
BIOF-301COMPUTATIONAL GENOMICS3.00
BIOL-181ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, DIVERSITY OF LIFE4.00
BIOL-182CONCEPTS IN CELLULAR MECHANISMS4.00
BIOL-213PLANT AND ANIMAL FORM AND FUNCTION4.00
or BIOL-216 FIELD EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY
BIOL-331ECOLOGY3.00
BIOL-341GENETICS4.00
BIOL-355GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY4.00
or BIOL-362 CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BIOL-372COMPUTATIONAL BIOSTATISTICS4.00
BIOL-460EVOLUTION4.00
BIOL-490DIRECTED STUDY IN BIOLOGY4.00
CITPT-111WEB DEVELOPMENT BASICS3.00
CHEM-105GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY4.00
CS-111FOUNDATIONS OF PROGRAMMING4.00
CS-211COMPUTER SCIENCE II4.00
CS-226SQL: STRUCTURED QUERY LANGUAGE3.00
CS-253INTRO TO SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING4.00
MATH-170CALCULUS I4.00
Select 12 credits from the following:12.00
IMAGE ANALYSIS
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY RECITATION
MAMMALOGY
ORNITHOLOGY
ENTOMOLOGY
IMMUNOLOGY
FIELD BOTANY
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE
ALGORITHMS AND DATA STRUCTURES
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
OPERATING SYSTEMS
COMPUTER NETWORKS
DATABASES AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
CALCULUS II
ElectiveElective Credits6.00
Total Credits82.00

Sequential Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BIOF-100 INTRODUCTION TO BIOINFORMATICS 3.00
CORESocial & Behavioral Ways of Knowing 3.00
COREMATH-143 MATH-147 or MATH-170 4.00
ENGL-101 WRITING AND RHETORIC I 3.00
 Credits13.00
Spring
BIOL-181 ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, DIVERSITY OF LIFE 4.00
COREOral Communication 3.00
CS-108 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE 3.00
ENGL-102 WRITING AND RHETORIC II 3.00
MATH-170 CALCULUS I 4.00
 Credits17.00
Second Year
Fall
COREHumanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing 3.00
CORESocial & Behavioral Ways of Knowing 3.00
CITPT-111 WEB DEVELOPMENT BASICS 3.00
CS-111 FOUNDATIONS OF PROGRAMMING 4.00
CS-226 SQL: STRUCTURED QUERY LANGUAGE 3.00
 Credits16.00
Spring
BIOL-182 CONCEPTS IN CELLULAR MECHANISMS 4.00
COREHumanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing 3.00
CS-211 COMPUTER SCIENCE II 4.00
CS-253 INTRO TO SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING 4.00
 Credits15.00
Third Year
Fall
BIOL-213
PLANT AND ANIMAL FORM AND FUNCTION
or FIELD EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY
4.00
BIOF-301 COMPUTATIONAL GENOMICS 3.00
BIOL-331 ECOLOGY 3.00
BIOL-355
GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
or CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
4.00
Program RequirementBioinformatics Electives 1 3.00
 Credits17.00
Spring
BIOL-341 GENETICS 4.00
CHEM-105 GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY 4.00
COREGlobal Perspectives 3.00
Program RequirementBioinformatics Electives 1 3.00
 Credits14.00
Fourth Year
Fall
BIOL-372 COMPUTATIONAL BIOSTATISTICS 4.00
Program RequirementBioinformatics Electives 1 3.00
ElectiveElective Credits 3.00
ElectiveElective Credits 3.00
 Credits13.00
Spring
BIOL-460 EVOLUTION 4.00
BIOL-490 DIRECTED STUDY IN BIOLOGY 4.00
COREIntegrative Seminar: Ethics & Values 3.00
Program RequirementBioinformatics Electives 1 3.00
 Credits14.00
 Total Credits119.00
1

Program Requirement: Select 12 credits from the following, BIOF-350BIOL-227, BIOL-228, BIOL-312, BIOL-314, BIOL-401, BIOL-402, BIOL-404, BIOL-443, BIOL-450, CS-250, CS-311CS-360,  CS-430CS-435CS-445, MATH-175

Graduates with a BA/BS in Bioinformatics go on to obtain careers in a variety of fields:

  • Research Assistant
  • Data Collection/Analysis
  • Computer Science