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Academic Program Guide


Computational Biology (Biology)


ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2023 and after)

*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*

This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and multicultural requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.

Computational biology is a new and promising field of study. The purpose of this interdisciplinary major is to provide a top-notch educational program for students interested in the areas of computational biology and bioinformatics. This program seeks to achieve two goals: 1) to develop an understanding of the issues associated with developing biologically meaningful computational models, and 2) to give students the broad-based education that is needed to create a set of models directed towards solving a practical biomedical problem

Mapping Coordinator: Shellie Camp
Email: scamp@fsu.edu

Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term

Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs
ENC1101 Freshman Composition3
MAC1140 Pre-Calculus Algebra 3
MAC1114 Analytic Trigonometry3
CHM1045 General Chemistry I and CHM1045 Lab4
GE History3
Required Milestones: Term 1
Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete 1st GE Mathematics ( ≥ C minus )
Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs
ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3
MAC2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I4
CHM1046 General Chemistry II and CHM1046 Lab4
GE Core Social Science3
Elective or Writing Competency3
Required Milestones: Term 2
Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete MAC1140 or MAC1114( ≥ C minus )
Summer hrs
PHY2048C General Physics A with Lab5
MAC2312 Calculus with Analytical Geometry II4
Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs
Elective or Oral Communication Competency3
ISC3313 Introduction to Scientific Computing3
BSC2010 Biological Science I and BSC2010 Lab 4
GE Core Humanities3
Required Milestones: Term 3
Complete CHM1045 and CHM1045 Lab ( ≥ C minus ) in each
Complete BOTH MAC 1114 and MAC 1140 ( ≥ C minus ) in each
Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs
BSC2011 Biological Science II and BSC2011 Lab 4
ISC3222 Symbolic and Numerical Computation3
MAD2104 Discrete Mathematics3
GE Civic Literacy requirement3
Required Milestones: Term 4
Complete MAC2311 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete BSC2010 and BSC2010 Lab ( ≥ C minus ) in each
Complete CHM1046 and CHM1046 Lab ( ≥ C minus ) in each
Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs
STA2171 Statistics for Biology4
GE Ethics3
ISC4304C Programming for Scientific Applications4
PCB3063 Genetics3
Required Milestones: Term 5
Complete MAD2104 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete ISC3313 or other C++ course ( ≥ C minus )
Civic Literacy requirement
Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs
Foreign Language 1 4
Bio Elective 3
PCB4674 Evolution3
GE Diversity or other Elective3
Required Milestones: Term 6
Complete ISC3222 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete BSC2011 and BSC2011L ( ≥ C minus ) in each
Start Foreign Language
Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs
Foreign Language II4
ISC 4221C Algorithms for Scientific Applications II or ISC4220C Algorithms for Scientific Applications I 4
BSC4943r Practicum in Computational Biology2
Additional major elective3
Required Milestones: Term 7
Complete ISC4221 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete ISC4304 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete PCB3063 ( ≥ C minus )
Complete Pre-Graduation check
Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs
Foreign Language III4
ISC4420 Introduction to Bioinformatics 4
BSC4943r Practicum in Computational Biology2
Elective or remaining GE writing, formative experience3
Required Milestones: Term 8
Apply for graduation in 1st two weeks

Employment Information
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Computational Biologist, Bioinformatics Specialist, Biotechnologist, Pharmaceutical/Medical Researcher, Forensic Scientist, Molecular Medicine Specialist, Comparative Genomics Scientist, Genetic Engineer, Human Geneticist, and Genome Analyst, Programmer, Systems Analyst, Software Engineer, Data Processing System Manager, Network Administrator.

Representative Employers: Pharmaceutical Companies, Google, Healthcare Providers, Medical Laboratories, Biotechnology Companies, Law Enforcement Agencies, Colleges and Universities, State and Federal Government, Software Development Companies.

International Opportunities: International study is available for all students and may include opportunities for internships or taking course work towards various majors and minors. International study may have an impact on the MAP; therefore, it is important to consult with the academic advisor before participating. Interested students can find information about international study, research, internships, and service opportunities at: global.fsu.edu/undergraduate-students/going-abroad.

This Map is not a contract, either expressed or implied, between the University and the student, but represents a flexible program of the current curriculum which may be altered from time to time to carry out the academic objectives of the University. The University specifically reserves the right to change, delete or add to any Map at any time within the student’s period of study at the University.



View Computational Biology (Biology) Program Guide