Bioinformatics (BS)
The field of Bioinformatics is rooted in the massive databases generated by worldwide DNA sequencing projects and by ever-widening 3-dimensional protein structure studies. Mining the wealth of biological and chemical information contained in these databases requires the tools of computer science and statistics.
Bioinformatics approaches have already led to countless scientific, medical, and agricultural breakthroughs that would have taken decades to achieve without the foresight of a small number of visionary scientists and programmers. This major provides students with the training, skills, and opportunity to become charter members of this exciting, ground-breaking discipline with virtually limitless post-graduate educational and career advancement possibilities for years to come.
Loyola is home to a superb group of faculty members already working at the interfaces of these four disciplines, who are combining their expertise to offer students this unique educational opportunity. This interdisciplinary major has its own detailed web pages at https://www.luc.edu/bioinformatics/.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Fundamental Courses | ||
| BIOL 101 | General Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 282 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 283 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| Chemistry Fundamental Courses | ||
| CHEM 160 | Chemical Structure and Properties | 3 |
| CHEM 180 | Chemical Reactivity I | 3 |
| CHEM 240 | Chemical Reactivity II | 3 |
| CHEM 260 | Quantitative Methods in Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 361 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| Computer Science Fundamental Courses | ||
| COMP 141 | Introduction to Computing Tools and Techniques | 3 |
| MATH 215 | Object-Oriented Programming with Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| COMP 231 | Data Structures & Algorithms for Informatics | 3 |
| Math/Stats Fundamental Courses | ||
| MATH 131 | Applied Calculus I | 3 |
| MATH 132 | Applied Calculus II | 3 |
| STAT 335 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| Bioinformatics Fundamental Courses | ||
| BIOL 387 | Genomics | 3 |
| or BIOL 392 | Metagenomics | |
| BIOL 388 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| COMP 383 | Computational Biology | 4 |
| STAT 337 | Quantitative Methods in Bioinformatics | 3 |
| or STAT 336 | Advanced Biostatistics | |
| Bioinformatics Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Exploring Proteins | ||
or CHEM 365 | Proteomics | |
| Database Programming | ||
or COMP 379 | Machine Learning | |
| Bioinformatics Research 2 | 1-4 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Bioinformatics Survey | ||
| Bioinformatics Internship | ||
| Bioinformatics Research | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Required courses within the major also satisfy the following university Core Curriculum requirements: scientific literacy (6 credits) and quantitative analysis (3 credits).
- 1
Maybe substituted with COMP 170 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
- 2
At least 1 Research credit hour is required for the BIOI major. BIOI 397 Bioinformatics Survey,BIOI 398 Bioinformatics Internship, or BIOI 399 Bioinformatics Research can be taken any semester offered, and Internship/research can be repeated with each semester for 1 - 4 credit hours.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
These course schedules display how students may complete the bioinformatics major in addition to their university Core requirements in four years of study. The sequence of courses below is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. A student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term and the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 | General Biology I | 3 |
| CHEM 160 | Chemical Structure and Properties | 3 |
| MATH 131 | Applied Calculus I 1 | 3 |
| CORE: College Writing Seminar | 3 | |
| CORE: Theology and Religious Studies Tier 1 | 3 | |
| UNIV 101 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMP 141 | Introduction to Computing Tools and Techniques | 3 |
| CHEM 180 | Chemical Reactivity I | 3 |
| MATH 132 | Applied Calculus II 2 | 3 |
| CORE: Ethics | 3 | |
| CORE: Theology and Religious Studies Tier 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 282 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 283 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 240 | Chemical Reactivity II | 3 |
| MATH 215 | Object-Oriented Programming with Mathematics 3 | 3 |
| CORE: Historical Knowledge Tier 1 | 3 | |
| CORE: Philosophical Knowledge Tier 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 260 | Quantitative Methods in Chemistry | 3 |
| COMP 231 | Data Structures & Algorithms for Informatics | 3 |
| CAS Elective | 3 | |
| CORE: Historical Knowledge Tier 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Philosophical Knowledge Tier 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 388 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| CHEM 361 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 392 or BIOL 387 |
Metagenomics (Fall only) 4 or Genomics |
3 |
| CAS Elective | 3 | |
| CAS Language Requirement 1 5 | 3 | |
| CORE: Literary Knowledge & Experience Tier 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| STAT 335 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| Select one Undergraduate Capstone: 6 | 1-4 | |
| Bioinformatics Survey | ||
| Bioinformatics Internship | ||
| Bioinformatics Research | ||
| CAS Language Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Literary Knowledge & Experience Tier 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Societal and Cultural Knowledge Tier 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 13-16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6-7 | |
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Exploring Proteins (Fall only) 7 or Proteomics |
||
| Machine Learning (Spring only) or Database Programming |
||
| CAS Elective | 3 | |
| CORE: Societal and Cultural Knowledge Tier 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12-13 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMP 383 | Computational Biology (Spring only) | 4 |
| STAT 337 or STAT 336 |
Quantitative Methods in Bioinformatics (Spring only) or Advanced Biostatistics |
3 |
| CAS Elective | 3 | |
| CAS Elective | 3 | |
| CORE: Artistic Knowledge and Experience | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 121-125 | |
- 1
May substitute with MATH 161 Calculus I
- 2
May substitute with MATH 162 Calculus II
- 3
May substitute with COMP 170 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
- 4
May substitute with BIOL 387 Genomics(Spring only)
- 5
Language competency required at the 102 level by course or test
- 6
BIOI 397 Bioinformatics Survey, BIOI 398 Bioinformatics Internship, and BIOI 399 Bioinformatics Research can be taken any semester offered and Internship/research can be repeated with each semester 1-4 credit hours (although only 1 credit hour is required for the major)
- 7
CHEM 365 Proteomicsonly offered in Spring - odd years
Note: College of Arts & Sciences requires 2 Writing Intensive (WI) courses; many CORE Tier 2 courses are available as WI; BIOL 390 Molecular Biology Laboratory is also WI. Note, only 1 WI course can be taken in a single semester.
Note: 120 credit hours are required for graduation.
Major Sample Schedule – Pre-Health
Updated 3/2024
The sequence of courses below is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 | General Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 111 | General Biology I Lab 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 160 | Chemical Structure and Properties | 3 |
| CHEM 161 | Chemical Structure and Properties Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 131 | Applied Calculus I 2 | 3 |
| CORE: College Writing Seminar | 3 | |
| UNIV 101 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 102 | General Biology II 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 112 | General Biology II Lab 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 180 | Chemical Reactivity I | 3 |
| CHEM 181 | Chemical Reactivity I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 132 | Applied Calculus II 3 | 3 |
| COMP 141 | Introduction to Computing Tools and Techniques | 3 |
| CORE: Historical Knowledge Tier 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 282 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 283 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 240 | Chemical Reactivity II | 3 |
| CHEM 241 | Chemical Reactivity II Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 215 | Object-Oriented Programming with Mathematics | 3 |
| CORE: Philosophical Knowledge Tier 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 260 | Quantitative Methods in Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 261 | Quantitative Methods in Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| COMP 231 | Data Structures & Algorithms for Informatics | 3 |
| CORE: Historical Knowledge Tier 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Philosophical Knowledge Tier 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Ethics | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 361 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 392 or BIOL 387 |
Metagenomics (Fall only) or Genomics |
3 |
| CAS Language Requirement 1 4 | 3 | |
| CORE: Literary Knowledge & Experience Tier 1 | 3 | |
| PHYS 111 | College Physics I Lec / Dis 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 111L | College Physics Laboratory I 1 | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 388 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 6 | 1-4 | |
| Bioinformatics Survey | ||
| Bioinformatics Internship | ||
| Bioinformatics Research | ||
| CAS Language Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Societal and Cultural Knowledge Tier 1 | 3 | |
| PHYS 112 | College Physics II Lec/Disc 1 | 3 |
| PHYS 112L | College Physics Lab II 1 | 1 |
| Hours | 14-17 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| STAT 335 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Exploring Proteins (Fall only) 7 or Proteomics |
||
| Database Programming or Machine Learning |
||
| CORE: Societal and Cultural Knowledge Tier 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Theology and Religious Studies Tier 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMP 383 | Computational Biology (Spring only) | 4 |
| STAT 337 or STAT 336 |
Quantitative Methods in Bioinformatics (Spring only) 8 or Advanced Biostatistics |
3 |
| CORE: Artistic Knowledge and Experience | 3 | |
| CORE: Literary Knowledge & Experience Tier 2 | 3 | |
| CORE: Theology and Religious Studies Tier 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 117-120 | |
- 1
Recommended for Pre-health students but not required for the major.
- 2
May substitute with MATH 161 Calculus I
- 3
May substitute with MATH 162 Calculus II
- 4
Language competency required at the 102 level by course or test
- 5
May substitute with BIOL 392 Metagenomics (fall only)
- 6
BIOI 397 Bioinformatics Survey, BIOI 398 Bioinformatics Internship, and BIOI 399 Bioinformatics Research can be taken any semester offered and Internship/research can be repeated with each semester 1-4 credit hours (although only 1 credit hour is required for the major)
- 7
Choose 2 of 3:
- 8
May substitute with STAT 336 Advanced Biostatistics (Fall & Spring)
Note: College of Arts & Sciences requires 2 Writing Intensive (WI) courses; many CORE Tier 2 courses are available as WI; BIOL 390 Molecular Biology Laboratory is also WI. Note only 1 WI course can be taken in a single semester.
Note: 120 credit hours are required for graduation.
College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test. More information can be found here.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
Learning Outcomes
The bioinformatics major at Loyola provides students with the training and opportunities to become leaders in this ground-breaking discipline, with career advancement and post-graduate possibilities for years to come. Loyola's BS Bioinformatics Program will prepare you with:
- technical skills at the interface of biology, computer science, chemistry and statistics;
- biological and chemical laboratory techniques;
- computer programming capabilities;
- statistical techniques to analyze results from laboratory experiments and computer outputs; and
- an understanding of key problems, proposed solutions, and future challenges of the bioinformatics field.