Bioinformatics

This program offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary training in the new and rapid-evolving field of bioinformatics within the Division of Biological Sciences. Bioinformatics refers to advanced computational and experimental methods that model the flow of information (genetic, metabolic and regulatory) in living systems to provide an integrated understanding of the systems properties of model organisms. Given that this is a new and rapidly evolving field, and the fact that large volumes of both qualitative and quantitative biological data will accrue at an increasing pace in the next decade, the bioinformatician of the future must have a substantial mastery in the sciences and in engineering. The program offered by the Division of Biological Sciences is aimed at a student interested in applying, and to some extent developing, tools of bioinformatics for the study of biological systems.

Please be advised that there is a two step admissions process for this major. For further information, please see an advisor. For specific courses required for admission, see "Sample Plan" below. The deadline to apply for the pre-major or major is the 4th week of the quarter prior to beginning the program. Applications are available in Biology Student Affairs or on-line (Bioinformatics Application).

Degree Check (PDF format)

Sample Plan (PDF format)

Important things you should know....

Entered UCSD as a Freshman

Entered UCSD as a Transfer

Bioinformatics Major Requirements

Lower-Division Requirements

BILD 1 and 2
BILD 94
Chemistry 6A, B, C, and 6BL
CSE 11 & 12 (Students may take the slower paced version, CSE 8A+8B, instead of CSE 11)
Math 20A, B, C, F and Math 15B or CSE 21
Physics 2A, B, C

Upper-Division Requirements

1. Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A & 140B)
2. Advanced Data Structure (CSE 100 or Math 176)
3. Design and Analysis of Algorithms (CSE 101 or Math 188)
4. Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102) or Biochemical Energetics and Metabolism (Chem 114B)
5. Biochemical Techniques (BIBC 103)
6. Physical Biochemistry (BIBC 110) or Physical Chemistry (Chem 127)
7. Genetics (BICD 100)
8. Cell Biology (BICD 110)
9. Molecular Biology (BIMM 100) or Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (Chem 114D)
10. Recombinant DNA Lab (BIMM 101)
11. Molecular Sequence Analysis (BIMM 181)
12. Biological Databases (BIMM 182)
13. Applied Genomic Technologies (BENG 183)
14. Computational Molecular Biology (BIMM 184)
15. Bioinformatics Lab (BIMM 185)
16. Probability and Statistics (Math 186)
17. Three additional upper-division biology courses (each course must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of Biological Science are required.

* For more information on BISP 196 (Honors Thesis) or 199 (Independent Research) click here

* For more information on BISP 197 (Biotechnology Internship) click here

For further information, please contact Biology Student Affairs or check out the UCSD Catalog!