CURRICULUM AND COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
BS in Bioinformatics at Ramapo College of New Jersey
Bioinformatics Major Requirements:
Bioinformatics CORE:
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Bioinformatics/Biology courses (24 credits):
BIOL 110 Fundamentals of Biology I Lec and Lab (4)
An introduction to the principles of biological science. This first semester of a two-semester sequence will cover the cell from its chemical composition, structure, and function to the nature of information coding and transmission. This course also surveys the major phyla of animals, plants and fungi. Three hours of lecture and four hours of recitation/laboratory. Required for some science majors. NOTE: Dissection of plant or animal material is carried out in the laboratory portion of this course. Please refer to the Student Handbook for the College's dissection policy. Lab Fee.
BIOL 112 Fundamentals of Biology II Lec and Lab (4)
A continuation of Fundamentals of Biology I. It will examine mechanisms for maintaining individual and species homeostasis in plants and animals including physiological, behavioral, and reproductive strategies. An introduction to Ecology and Population Biology concludes this course. Three hours of lecture and four hours of recitation/laboratory. NOTE: Dissection of plant or animal material is carried out in the laboratory portion of this course. Please refer to the Student Handbook for the College's dissection policy. Lab Fee.
BIOL 331 Genetics Lec and Lab (4)
A study of the mechanisms of inheritance and gene action from the molecular to the organismic and population levels. Topics include: Mendalian principles, molecular genetics, genetic mapping, population genetics and quantitative genetics in both lecture and laboratory. Lab Fee.
BIOL 406 Cell & Molecular Biology Lec and Lab (4)
This course consists of lecture and lab in which students will acquire the current state of knowledge about the cells and their biology at molecular level. The concept learning process will be aided with many interesting experiments. The structure and function of cells will be discussed in relation to important cellular processes. Subjects to be covered include: the biogenesis of membranes, membrane function, regulation of protein expression, photosynthesis, signal transduction, cell division, cancer, and apoptosis. The experimental approaches that have lead to the current knowledge of cellular structure and function will be presented whenever possible. In addition, Bioinformatics, which applies computer technology for the management of biological information, will be introduced. Three hours of lecture/discussion and four hours of laboratory. Lab Fee.
BIIN/BIOL 430 Bioinformatics Lec and Lab (4)
The Bioinformatics course is designed to provide hands-on introduction to this emerging technological science for students of Bioinformatics, Biology, Biochemistry, health sciences, computer science and other related fields. In this course, students will learn about the major issues concerning representation, analysis and application of biological, molecular and biochemical information, especially from computational point of view. This course is divided into lecture and laboratory. The laboratory will be taught in an Internet equipped computer lab. It contains exercises to acquaint the students with the latest Internet based as well as commercial Bioinformatics tools and resources. The lectures will mostly focus on introduction to various computational methods for solving problems in genome and protein analysis. Strengths and limitations of each method will also be discussed. Some of the topics to be covered in the lectures are: Fundamentals of Gene Structure and Function, Database Searches, Molecular Sequence Analysis, Molecular Phylogenetics, Genomics, Gene Identification, Proteomics and Structure-Function Predictions. Lab Fee.
BIIN 450 Advanced Bioinformatics (4)
Advanced Bioinformatics, capstone course of B.S. in Bioinformatics curriculum, is designed to provide top level undergraduate education/training in Bioinformatics and associated tools. Students will further their knowledge of the latest computation techniques for management and analysis of biological information. Students will also be familiarized with current issues in Genomics and Proteomics and will be taught to design solutions for problems in these fields. Important algorithms behind various computational methods will be discussed and compared. Some of the topics to be covered in this course are: Molecular Sequence Comparisons, Multiple Sequence Alignments, Homology Modeling, Molecular Modeling, Bio-Molecular Database Design, Comparative Genome and Gene Expression Analysis, Gene Predictions, Structure/Function Predictions, Phylogenetic Predictions, Use of Data Mining and Automating Data Analysis. Training will be provided for the use of GUI and command based Bioinformatics software. PERL will be introduced to facilitate biological analysis. Lab Fee.
Computer Science courses (20 credits):
CMPS 147 Computer Science I (4)
An introduction to programming methodology including basic concepts of computer systems, the programming language "C" and "C++", algorithm design, program development, implementation, and testing. Lab Fee.
CMPS 148 Computer Science I I (4)
This course is a continuation of Computer Science I. It will continue the presentation of the programming language "C++" and object-oriented programming. It will further develop the student's skills in the design, implementation, and testing of programs. Lab Fee.
CMPS 231 Data Structures (4)
A study of the basic data structures and related algorithms. Stacks, queues, deques, arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, strings, sorting, searching, and file structures are among the topics presented in this course. Lab Fee.
CMPS 364 Database Design (4)
The study of the design and implementation of databases. File-system organization, hierarchical databases, relational databases, networked databases, reliability, security, and database software are discussed. Lab Fee.
CMPS 345 Analysis of Algorithms (4)
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to computer algorithms. The emphasis is on the design of efficient algorithms and data structures, proofs of their correctness, and analysis of their complexity. A number of algorithmic concepts and techniques are covered, including recursion, incremental design, divide-and-conquer, greedy algorithms, amortized analysis, and dynamic programming. The algorithms studied include sorting, searching, breadth-first search, depth-first search, minimum spanning trees, shortest paths, network flow, and string matching. Data structures studied include hash tables, heaps, binary search trees, and red-black trees. This course is meant as a follow-up to a course in data structures. Knowledge of elementary data structures such as stacks, queues, and linked lists are assumed. In addition, a module will be given on algorithms relevant to bioinformatics, which studies molecular sequence data (DNA, RNA, and protein). Much of the material learned in this course, such as graphs, trees, dynamic programming, and search algorithms apply to this new discipline.
Chemistry/Biochemistry courses (16 credits):
CHEM 110/111 Fundamentals of Chemistry I Lecture & Lab (4)
This course will provide a basic study of atomic structure, chemical measurements, chemical formulas, equations, chemical reactions, nomenclature, gas laws, quantum theory, periodicity, ionic and covalent bonding and chemical bonding theory. Required for Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Biology majors, and recommended for Physics majors. Lab Fee.
CHEM 112/113 Fundamentals of Chemistry II Lecture & Lab (4)
A continuation of Fundamentals of Chemistry I. The course involves a discussion of solution equilibrium, solubility equilibria, thermo chemistry, kinetics, acid-base equilibria, oxidation-reduction, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Lab Fee.
CHEM 210/211 Organic Chemistry I Lecture and Lab (4)
An introduction to the properties and reactions of carbon compounds. Course material includes the application of modern chemical theories to structure and reaction mechanisms. Chemical bonding in organic compounds, stereochemistry, and spectroscopy will be studied. Required for Chemistry and Biology majors. Lab Fee.
CHEM 212/213 Organic Chemistry II Lecture and Lab (4)
Emphasis will be placed on a study of functional groups including the syntheses, reactions, mechanisms, and utility of each group. A study of carbohydrates and amino acid/protein biomolecules will be included. Lab Fee.
Math courses (12 credits):
MATH 121 Calculus I (4)
An introduction to the theory and applications of differentiation and integration of algebraic and trigonometric functions. A graphing calculator is recommended. Prerequisite: Precalculus.
MATH 237 Discrete Structures (4)
An introduction to the mathematical terminology, tools, and theory that form the foundation for much of the material in mathematics and computer science. Topics include: logic, methods of proof including mathematical induction; and elements of set theory, number theory, and probability theory and combinatorics. Prerequisite: Precalculus.
PSYC 242 Statistics (4)
An introduction to statistics with examples. The course will cover techniques for describing observations, including frequency distributions, stem plots, graphs, averages, measures of variability, and co-efficients of correlation; and techniques for drawing inferences from observations, including regression, hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals. Prerequisite: a college-level mathematics course or permission of instructor.
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ELECTIVES (minimum 3 courses required):
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Group I: Bioinformatics/Biology/Biochemistry/ (one course minimum)
BIIN 350 Molecular Genetics (4)
This course is designed to serve as an elective for students of Bioinformatics, Biology and Biochemistry tracks. In this course, students will receive semester-long advanced level lectures on molecular mechanisms of basic genetic processes in prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes. Students will also be familiarized with current issues in Genomics. Some of the topics to be covered in this course are: Molecular Structure of Genes and Chromosomes, Comparative Genome and Automated Gene Expression Analysis, DNA Replication, DNA Repair and Recombination, Molecular Mechanisms of Transcriptional Initiation and Regulation, RNA Processing and other Post-Transcriptional Control Mechanisms.
Bioinformatics Research (BIIN 440)/Independent Studies/CO-OP (3-4)[*]
This course is designed to give Bioinformatics students an opportunity for undergraduate research experience. The students will select a mentor/supervisor from Bioinformatics faculty and a research project at the beginning of the semester. The project will involve two semester long experimental work in Bioinformatics. At the end of the second semester, students will submit a written project report.
CHEM 425 Biochemistry (4)
This course will introduce students to the principles of protein structure (amino acid chemistry, peptide and protein structure and protein folding), introduction to enzymes (mechanisms enzyme kinetics and inhibition), introduction to nucleic acids (nucleotides and nucleic acid chemistry, DNA sequencing, protein and genetic engineering) and metabolism (carbohydrate structure, glucose catabolism, citric acid cycle). Lab Fee.
CHEM 450 Special Topics: Medicinal Chemistry (4)
This course will introduce students to the language and theoretical foundations of Medicinal Chemistry. Students will learn the historical origins of therapeutics. Some of the topics that will be discussed in this course include: Drug Discovery, Combinatorial Libraries, Receptors, Enzymes, DNA Interactions, Drug Metabolism, Prodrugs and Drug Delivery Systems. Lab Fee.
BIIN Molecular Modeling (4)
The course is being developed. Description not available yet
Group II: Computer Science / Mathematics (one course minimum)
CMPS 331 Artificial Intelligence (4)
A study of the basic concepts and techniques of artificial intelligence. The programming language LISP, problem spaces, search strategies, game playing, knowledge representation using predicate logic, and resolution are presented. Lab Fee.
CMPS 342 Computer Graphics (4)
An introduction to computer graphics. The course will include: a review of relevant coordinate geometry, graphics devices, primitive graphics operations, polygons, transformations, windows, clipping, three-dimensional graphics, illumination, and modeling. Lab Fee.
MATH 122 Calculus II (4)
A continuation of Calculus I. This course includes the calculus of exponential, logarithmic, and inverse trigonometric functions, methods of integration, parametric equations, polar coordinates and polar curves. A graphing calculator is recommended.
MATH 245 Numerical Analysis (4)
An introduction to the numerical methods of mathematics. Topics include: the approximate solution of equations and systems of equations, Newton's method and other iteration schemes, interpolation, method of least squares for curve fitting, numerical integration, numerical solution of systems of linear equations, and numerical solution of ordinary differential equations.
Credit Calculations
General Education: 32
School Core Requirements (SCP): 4
Bioinformatics Core Requirements: 83-84
Required Core courses: (72)
Required Electives: (11-12)
Free Electives: 8-9
TOTAL CREDITS FOR GRADUATION: 128
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[*] A maximum of 3-4 credits of Bioinformatics Research OR Independent Study OR CO-OP credits may be applied to the Bioinformatics electives requirements.