Additional Major in Computational Biology
The Additional Major in Computational Biology is designed for undergraduate students wishing to study computational biology as a second field of study at Carnegie Mellon University in addition to their primary major.
We anticipate high interest in our additional major program from other majors in the School of Computer Science (SCS) as well as students from outside SCS who would like to study computational biology without having to meet the stringent requirements needed to transfer into SCS in order to complete the computational biology major as a primary degree program. In particular, the additional major is open to all students who complete the prerequisite coursework, with the requirement that a student from outside SCS must have a 3.0 overall QPA when applying.
To prevent double-counting, students must complete at least seven courses of at least 9 units each as part of the additional major in computational biology (not including pre-requisites) that are unique to the additional major. If you’re an SCS student who is interested in seeing how to maximize double counting for the additional major, please check out our page with double counting suggestions.
Students interested in the Additional Major in Computational Biology should contact Dr. Phillip Compeau, Asst. Dept. Head for Education in the Computational Biology Department.
Degree Requirements
| Prerequisite Courses |
Units |
| 02-251 |
Great Ideas in Computational Biology |
12 |
| or 02-250 |
Introduction to Computational Biology |
| 03-121 |
Modern Biology |
9 |
| or 03-151 |
Honors Modern Biology (if seats available) |
| 15-122 |
Principles of Imperative Computation |
10 |
| 15-151 |
Mathematical Foundations for Computer Science |
10 |
| or 21-127 |
Concepts of Mathematics |
| or 21-128 |
Mathematical Concepts and Proofs |
| or 15-260 |
Statistics and Computing |
|
| 21-120 |
Differential and Integral Calculus |
10 |
| 21-122 |
Integration, Differential Equations, and Approximation |
10 |
| Total Units |
61 |
| Math/Stats Core |
Units |
| 36-218 |
Probability Theory for Computer Scientists |
9 |
| or 36-226 |
Introduction to Statistical Inference |
| or 36-326 |
Mathematical Statistics (Honors) |
| 21-241 |
Matrices and Linear Transformations |
10 |
| or 21-242 |
Matrix Theory |
| Total Units |
19 |
| General Science Core |
|
Units |
| 09-105 |
Introduction to Modern Chemistry I |
10 |
| or 09-107 |
Honors Chemistry: Fundamentals, Concepts, and Applications |
| 33-121 |
Physics I for Science Students |
12 |
| or 33-141 |
Physics I for Engineering Students |
| Total Units |
22 |
| Biological Core |
|
Units |
| 03-221 |
Genomes, Evolutions, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis |
9 |
| or 03-220 |
Genetics |
| 03-232 |
Biochemistry I |
9 |
| or 03-231 |
Biochemistry I (Students taking 03-231 will take organic chemistry as a prerequisite, which will satisfy a biology electives requirement) |
| 03-320 |
Cell Biology |
9 |
| Total Units |
|
27 |
| Computer Science Core |
Units |
| 15-251 |
Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science |
12 |
| 15-531 |
Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures (Students taking 15-150 and 15-120 as prerequisites for 15-451 may apply these courses as CS electives |
12 |
| or 15-451 |
Algorithm Design and Analysis |
| 10-315 |
Introduction to Machine Learning (Undergrad) |
12 |
| Total Units |
36 |
| Major Electives |
Units |
| 02-3xx |
Computational Biology electives at 300 level or above (includes 03-445/03-545 if research is computational) |
18-24 |
| 03-3xx |
Biology electives at 300 level or above (09-217 or 42-202 also count as biology electives) |
9-12 |
| xx-3xx |
School of Computer Science electives at 300 level or above |
18-24 |
| Total Units |
45-60 |
| General Education (Humanities and Arts) |
| For specific courses that may be used to satisfy each elective, please consult the General Education Requirements for your primary major |
