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Scientific Computing Concentration

Scientific computing concentration is a special track that spans all of the STEM majors. If you are a biology major student interested in computational biology/bioinformatics, it can be a great opportunity to get some coding and programming experiences with a scientific computing track. It can be helpful in expand your comprehension across different fields in biology and enhances your understanding about the connections between science.

Because scientific computing spans so many fields, this concentration doesn't have specific requirements. It only requires each concentrator to complete 6 course credits that fall into 4 different categories, A-D, allowing students to personalize their schedules according to their majors. At most two out of the six courses can count towards both the concentration and major requirement. 

Categories of Requirements

Category A

Year-long introduction to computer science and programming that may consist of  CMSC H105+CMSC H106, CMSC B110+CMSC B206, and CMSC H104/CMSC B115+CMSC H107. 

Category B

One course involving regular programming assignments and becoming familiar with discipline-specific programming idioms.  BIOL H311 Advanced Genetic Analysis (0.5 credit) is the only bio course included in this category, you may need to take courses outside bio major according to your interest. CHEM 304 Statistical Thermodynamics and Kinetics and/or CHEM 305 Quantum Chemistry can be an option if you are a chemistry minor/biochem concentrator. 

Category C

Three credits worth of electives in which real-world phenomena are investigated using computation. 

You can either take two taught courses on the list + apply one credit of senior research OR take three taught courses on the list if your senior thesis is not computational.

At least one of these three credits must come from a 300-level course or courses (not senior research).

BIOL H357 Topics in Protein Science (0.5 credit) and BIOL 301 Advanced Lab in Biology - Bioinformatics Superlab (1.0 credit) can be count toward bio major requirement, but you still need at least 1.5 more credits from the list. 

Category D

Some part of completion of the concentration must include a project-based experience in which computation is applied to investigate a real-world phenomenon, e.g.,

  • A senior thesis/experience with significant scientific computing component, or

  • A summer research experience, or

  • A multi-week project for a course that may (or may not) be one of the three electives that fulfill requirement (C)

It is important to notice that the Bio electives and Superlabs offered vary each year, so it is not guaranteed that you will be able to take the Bio courses listed above. Since bio major requirements do not have many overlaps with the concentration requirement, you may need to take several course outside major. It is recommended to take those course during your first and second year because it is highly possible that your schedule will be occupied by bio major requirements and lab works in the junior and senior years. 

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