Undergraduate degree in biomedical computing

DEGREES AVAILABLE: Major and Minor

NOTE: The major is open to freshmen in Fall 2009; open to transfers in Fall 2011. The senior design course sequence required for completion of this major will not be offered until AY 2012-13.

photo: biomedical computing

Biomedical Computing (BMC) is the intersection of computer science and information technology with biology and medicine. Students will receive a firm quantitative grounding in mathematics, statistics, and computation; become familiar with the basic foundations of physics, chemistry, and biology; master a rigorous and demanding Biomedical Computing year-long sequence; study theory, algorithms, data mining, and machine learning; and carry out a year-long immersive capstone Senior Project.

The immense growth and impact of biomedical information has led to a critical need for people who can understand the languages, tools, and techniques of both life sciences and computational sciences. The Biomedical Computing program aims to create a new generation of professionals with these complementary cross-disciplinary skills.

› Is Biomedical Computing for me?
› What do I take?
› What can I do with this degree?
› Biomedical Computing Minor
› Special Programs and Learning Opportunities
› Still not sure?

Is BMC for me?

The degree program in Biomedical Computing will:

  1. provide students with a solid foundation in computer science, quantitative methods, and biomedical computing;
  2. introduce students to biomedical computing problems and the corresponding computer science perspective;
  3. teach students the fundamental principles, methods, and technologies for addressing these problems; and
  4. provide students with extensive practice in biomedical computing.

In the lower-division program, students acquire a firm quantitative grounding in mathematics, statistics, and computation; become familiar with the basic foundations of physics and chemistry; and learn the fundamentals of molecular biology from a computational perspective. In the upper-division program, students take a year-long Biomedical Computing sequence; study theory, algorithms, data mining, and machine learning; and take several quantitative and biological electives.

The year-long immersive capstone Senior Project unifies theory and practice as applied to an intensive and meaningful real-world biomedical computing problem. By the end of the four-year degree program students will have mastered the theory, context, application, and practice of Biomedical Computing.

NOTE: The major in Biomedical Computing may not be combined with the minor in Information and Computer Science.

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What do I take?

Major Requirements

Lower division:

  • ICS 21, ICS 22, ICS 23, ICS 51, and ICS 52.
  • Mathematics 2A-B, Math 2D, Mathematics 6G or 3A, ICS 6B, ICS 6D, and Statistics 67.
  • Physics 7C-7LC and Physics 7D-7LD.
  • Chemistry 1A-B and Chemistry 1LE.
  • Biological Sciences 9C, 93, 94, and 97 (students may substitute one additional biology elective from the list in Upper Division section A below, not already used to satisfy a degree requirement of the major, for Biological Sciences 9C).

Upper division:

  • CS 183/Biological Sciences M123 and one biology elective from the following list: Biological Sciences N110, M133, D137, D155, or E153.
  • Three quantitative electives from the following list: CS 121/Informatics 141, CS 122A, CS 122B, CS 163, CS 169, CS 171, CS 177, Informatics 111, Informatics 115, Informatics 131, Informatics 143, Informatics 161, Informatics 171, Statistics 110, Mathematics 3D, Mathematics 13, Biomedical Engineering 110ABC, Biomedical Engineering 145, Biomedical Engineering 146.
  • CS 161, CS 178, CS 184A, CS 184B, CS 184C, CS 189A, CS 189B, CS 189C.

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What can I do with this degree?

photo: tech looking at blood sample

Students who complete the major requirements will be able to:

  • Synthesize computer science, quantitative methods, and biological science.
  • Understand the synergistic set of reciprocal influences between life and computational sciences and technologies.
  • Discuss biomedical computing problems and corresponding computer science perspectives.
  • Employ principles, methods, and technologies fundamental to biomedical computing.
  • Design and develop software that solves biomedical computing problems.

Graduates have considerable opportunities in the employment sector. The combined healthcare and biomedical industry is the nation’s largest industrial sector, and computational methods increasingly play a driving role.

For example, in the fast-paced pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, the highest projected recruiting demand is for medical, biological, and computer research personnel.

Students also would flow easily into many different graduate degree programs.

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Biomedical Computing Minor

Students may also pursue a minor in Biomedical Computing. The minor provides a focused study of biomedical computing to supplement a student’s major program of study and prepares students for a profession, career, or academic pursuit in which biomedical computing is an integral part but is not the primary focus.

The Biomedical Computing minor contributes to students’ competence in computing applied to biomedical problems and data, as well as exposing them to the fundamentals of the life sciences from a computer science perspective. The minor allows students sufficient flexibility to pursue courses that complement their major field or address specific interests.

Students who complete the minor requirements will be able to:

  • Synthesize computer science, quantitative methods, and biological science.
  • Understand the synergistic set of reciprocal influences between life and computational sciences and technologies.
  • Discuss biomedical computing problems and corresponding computer science perspectives.
  • Employ principles, methods, and technologies fundamental to biomedical computing.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR IN BIOMEDICAL COMPUTING

Lower division:
ICS 21, ICS 22, ICS 23; Biological Sciences 93, 94, and 9C

Upper division:
CS 183/Bio Sci M123, CS 184A, CS 184B, and CS 184C

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Special Programs and Learning Opportunities

There are several ways to add depth, scope, and experiential learning to your academic program of study. An academic counselor will help you determine the most efficient way to add another major, minor, or concentration to your academic plan, and will refer you to other campus programs and resources that support your interests and future goals.

» CONCENTRATIONS:


  • Engineering and Computer Science in the Global Context

    All Bren School majors in good standing may propose an academic plan that demonstrates the ability to complete the concentration and other requirements for graduation in a reasonable timeframe.

    The globalization of the marketplace for information technology services and products makes it likely that Bren ICS graduates will work in multicultural settings or be employed by companies with extensive international operations, or customer bases. The goal of the concentration is to help students develop and integrate knowledge of the history, language and culture of a country or geographic region outside the United States, through coursework both at UCI and an international host campus, followed by a technology related internship in the host country.

    Application:
    Each student's proposed program of study, specifying coursework and a guided internship experience in a region outside the U.S., must be approved in advance by the Bren School of ICS Associate Dean for Student Affairs. It is expected that each student's proposal will reflect a high degree of planning that includes the guidance of academic counselors and those at the UCI Center for International Education regarding course selection, as well as considerations related to internship opportunities, housing and financial aid. The academic counselors and the Associate Dean will be available to assist qualified students with the development of a satisfactory academic plan, as needed.

    Requirements:
    1. A minimum of eight courses at UCI or at the international campus with an emphasis on the culture, language (if applicable and necessary), history, literature of the country that corresponds to the international portion of the program, international law, international labor policy, global issues, global institutions, global conflict and negotiation and global economics;
    2. A one or two semester sequence of technical courses related to the major and, possibly, cultural, history, and literature courses taken at an international university;
    3. A two month or longer technical internship experience in the same country as the international educational experience.
» MINORS

Students inside and outside of the Bren School of ICS may want to pursue a minor, a coordinated set of courses which together take a student well beyond the introductory level in an academic field, subject, and/or discipline. Note: Some minor requirements may be fulfilled by the student’s major requirements. Some major/minor combinations are not allowed.

» OPPORTUNITIES FOR HONORS-LEVEL STUDY

Students who are majoring in Biomedical Computing, Business Information Management, Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, and Information and Computer Science, and ICS Undeclared Pre-Majors are invited to apply for admission to the Bren School of ICS's introductory honors sequence (ICS H21/H22/H23). These courses provide a uniquely challenging and intimate learning environment in which conventional course material is explored in greater depth.

A student must meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible to enroll in ICS H21:

  • Minimum 620 on each of 2 of 3 sections of the SAT; or
  • Member of the UCI Campuswide Honors Program; or
  • Verification of score of 3 or higher on AP Computer Science A exam; or

Eligible students will be provided an authorization code (required) for course enrollment at the time of their summer orientation/registration session.

» BREN SCHOOL OF ICS HONORS PROGRAM

Allows juniors and seniors majoring in Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Informatics, or Information and Computer Science to pursue advanced work in one of many research areas.

Students admitted to the program participate in an honors seminar, conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty member, and write a research paper.

More information about eligibility criteria and benefits of successful completion of the honors program is available at the Honors program web site.

» INDEPENDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

The School encourages all majors to take advantage of this valuable experience, and faculty advertise many research opportunities every year.

Students are also encouraged to participate in the campus Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), which offers guidance and grant funding for student-proposed independent research, and sponsors programs which provide summer stipends for students working on faculty-guided research.

» CAMPUSWIDE HONORS PROGRAM

Available to selected high-achieving students from all academic majors from their freshman through senior years. For more information see the CHP web site.

» EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAM

Upper-division students have the opportunity to experience different cultures while making progress toward degree objectives through the Education Abroad Program (EAP).

EAP is an overseas study program which operates in cooperation with host universities and colleges throughout the world.

» OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

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Still not sure?

Prospective and current students interested in learning more about the Bren ICS degree options are encouraged to meet with the Associate Dean, counselors and student ambassadors in the Bren ICS Student Affairs Office.

They will help you determine which of our majors and minors best support your academic strengths and interests.

CONTACT:
Bren ICS Student Affairs Office
Information and Computer Science Building I, Suite 352
Irvine, CA 92697-3430
Phone: (949) 824-5156
Email: ucounsel@uci.edu

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