Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Major (BS)
College: College of Natural & Health Sciences
The major in molecular biology and bioinformatics consists of a minimum of 43 credits in biological sciences, with additional courses in mathematics, chemistry, computer science and physics.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge of the Natural World: Breadth of scientific knowledge, specifically, the ability to think beyond one’s area of concentration.
- Critical and Creative Thinking Skills: Experiential and problem solving skills as well as higher order qualitative and quantitative reasoning.
- Effective Communication Skills: Competence in speaking, reading, and writing abilities.
- Individual, Social and Environmental Responsibility: Civic knowledge and engagement (both local and global), ethical reasoning, and action; ability to interact and work with people under standard civility and professional norm.
Requirements for the Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Major
Within the major, a minimum of 15 credits in courses numbered 300 or above must be completed at UW-Parkside. Students must maintain a minimum UW-Parkside cumulative GPA of 2.50 in all courses required for the major to graduate.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| College of Natural and Health Sciences requirement | ||
| New entering students, and transfer students with less than 30 college credits, choosing a major in the College of Natural and Health Sciences are required to take this course. | ||
| UWP 101 | First Year Seminar: Natural and Health Sciences | 1 |
| Required Core Courses 1 | ||
| BIOS 101 | Bioscience | 4 |
| BIOS 102 | Organismal Biology | 4 |
| BIOS 210 | Biostatistics | 4 |
| BIOS 260 | General Genetics | 4 |
| BIOS 309 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOS 453 | Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics of Nucleic Acids | 4 |
| BIOS 455 | Protein Biochemistry and Bioinformatics | 4 |
| BIOS 489 must be taken twice | 2 | |
| Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Senior Project | ||
| BIOS 499 | Independent Study (over two semesters) | 4 |
| Students are also required to complete a minimum of 6 credits from the following list of courses: | 6 | |
| Cell Biology | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Biochemical Metabolism | ||
| Required Core Courses Subtotal | 40 | |
| Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics Courses 2 | ||
| Mathematics Course | ||
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
| Chemistry Courses | ||
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| CHEM 321 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 322 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| Physics Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| College Physics I and College Physics II | ||
| General Physics I and General Physics II | ||
| Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics Courses Subtotal | 33 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
BIOS 300-level through 600-level courses 3 | ||
| Organic Chemistry Lab 4 | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computer Science II | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 4 | ||
| Discrete Mathematics (Same As CSCI 231) | ||
| Probability and Statistics (Same As CSCI 309) | ||
| Business Programming II | ||
| Database Management Systems | ||
| Total Credits | 79 | |
- 1
Students must complete core courses numbered in the 300s and below before they enroll in 400-level biological sciences courses. Exception from this prerequisite requires approval from the program faculty. Students should consult with their academic advisor before registration if such a situation arises.
- 2
Students who plan to do graduate work are advised to also take MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II Calculus and Analytic Geometry II; and CHEM 302 Physical Chemistry I & CHEM 303 Physical Chemistry II Physical Chemistry I and II.
- 3
excluding: BIOS 435 Experimental Methods/Biochemistry Laboratory; BIOS 495 Senior Seminar; BIOS 499 Independent Study
- 4
Recommended but not required. Some graduate and professional schools require a second semester calculus and professional schools require a second semester calculus and/or an organic chemistry course with a laboratory component. It is recommended that students who are thinking about graduate or professional schools consult with their advisor to discuss options.
General University Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Skills | 7-8 |
| General Education | 36 |
| Foreign Language** | 6-8 |
| Ethnic Diversity | 3 |
| Total | 52-55 |
** Transfer students in sustainable management, and health information management and technology collaborative, online degree-completion programs, the business management online degree-completion program, and the flexible option degree-completion program will be exempt from the university’s foreign language requirement. See appropriate academic section for further information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| Computational Skills | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| College Mathematics with Applications | ||
| College Algebra I | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
Degree Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 |
Cumulative Degree GPA: 2.0 minimum
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| UWP 101 | First Year Seminar: Natural and Health Sciences | 1 |
| MATH 111 | College Algebra I | 5 |
| ENGL 100 | Fundamentals of English | 3 |
| BIOS 101 | Bioscience | 4 |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| BIOS 102 | Organismal Biology | 4 |
| MATH 114 | College Algebra II/Trigonometry | 5 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 35 | |
| Year 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| BIOS 210 | Biostatistics | 4 |
| CHEM 321 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| BIOS 260 | General Genetics | 4 |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOS 309 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
| General Education (SS) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Year 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| BIOS 453 | Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics of Nucleic Acids | 4 |
| PHYS 105 | College Physics I | 5 |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| Introductory Language | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOS 455 | Protein Biochemistry and Bioinformatics | 4 |
| PHYS 106 | College Physics II | 5 |
| BIOS 301 |
Cell Biology or Microbiology or Biochemical Metabolism |
3 |
| Introductory Language | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
| Year 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| BIOS 489 | Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Senior Project | 1 |
| BIOS 499 | Independent Study | 2 |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| General Education (SS)/ DV Course | 3 | |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective* | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOS 489 | Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Senior Project | 1 |
| BIOS 499 | Independent Study | 2 |
| General Education (SS) | 3 | |
| BIOS 303 |
Microbiology or Cell Biology or Biochemical Metabolism |
4 |
| General Education (SS) | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective* | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
* See Catalog for list of approved courses