Additional Major in Computational Biology
The Additional Major in Computational Biology is designed for undergraduate students wishing to study computational biology as a second field of study at Carnegie Mellon University in addition to their primary major.
Our additional major program is open to students who are completing majors other than computational biology majors within the School of Computer Science (SCS), as well as students from outside SCS who are interested in the field. We have had additional majors whose primary majors are computer science, artificial intelligence, biology, mathematics, engineering, and neuroscience.
The additional major offers a compelling opportunity for students outside SCS to complete the requirements for a computational biology major without needing to meet the stringent requirements needed to transfer into SCS in order to complete the computational biology major as a primary degree. To join the additional major, students must complete some prerequisite coursework (indicated below), and students outside SCS must have a 3.0 overall QPA when applying.
Double-counting rules
To prevent double-counting, students must complete at least seven courses of at least 9 units each as part of the additional major in computational biology (not including pre-requisites) that are unique to the additional major. If you are an SCS student who is interested in seeing how to maximize double counting for the additional major, please check out our page with double counting suggestions after consulting the degree requirements below.
Degree Requirements
| Prerequisite Courses |
Units |
| 02-180 and 02-181 |
Great Ideas in Computational Biology I and Computational Biology II |
10 |
| or 02-250 |
Introduction to Computational Biology |
| 03-121 |
Modern Biology |
9 |
| or 03-151 |
Honors Modern Biology (if seats available) |
| 15-122 |
Principles of Imperative Computation |
10 |
| 15-151 |
Mathematical Foundations for Computer Science |
10 |
| or 21-127 |
Concepts of Mathematics |
| or 21-128 |
Mathematical Concepts and Proofs |
| 21-120 |
Differential and Integral Calculus |
10 |
| 21-122 |
Integration, Differential Equations, and Approximation |
10 |
| Total Units |
61 |
| Math/Stats Core |
Units |
| 36-218 |
Probability Theory for Computer Scientists |
9 |
| or 36-226 |
Introduction to Statistical Inference |
| or 36-326 |
Mathematical Statistics (Honors) |
| or 36-235 |
Probability and Statistical Inference I |
| or 15-259 |
Probability and Computing
|
| 21-241 |
Matrices and Linear Transformations |
10 |
| or 21-242 |
Matrix Theory |
| Total Units |
19 |
| General Science Core |
|
Units |
| 09-105 |
Introduction to Modern Chemistry I |
10 |
| or 09-107 |
Honors Chemistry: Fundamentals, Concepts, and Applications |
| 33-121 |
Physics I for Science Students |
12 |
| or 33-141 |
Physics I for Engineering Students |
| Total Units |
22 |
| Biological Core |
|
Units |
| 03-221 |
Genomes, Evolutions, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis |
9 |
| or 03-220 |
Genetics |
| 03-232 |
Biochemistry I |
9 |
| or 03-231 |
Honors Biochemistry (Students taking 03-231 will take organic chemistry as a prerequisite, which will satisfy a biology electives requirement) |
| 03-320 |
Cell Biology |
9 |
| Total Units |
|
27 |
| Computer Science Core |
Units |
| 15-251 |
Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science |
12 |
| 15-451 |
Algorithm Design and Analysis |
12 |
| or 15-351 |
Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures |
| 10-315 |
Introduction to Machine Learning (Undergrad) |
12 |
| Total Units |
36 |
| Major Electives |
Units |
| 02-3xx |
Computational Biology electives at 300 level or above |
18-24 |
| 03-3xx |
Biology electives at 300 level or above (09-217 or 42-202 also count as biology electives) |
9-12 |
| SCS-2xx |
These electives can be from any SCS department; 200-level or above, at least 9 units each. 15-150 is an acceptable 100-level course counting in this category, but the following exceptions are not allowed in this category: 02-201, 02-223, 02-250,
02-261, 02-262, 11-423, 15-351, 16-223, 17-200, 17-333, 17-562.) |
18-24 |
| Total Units |
45-60 |
| General Education (Humanities and Arts) |
| For specific courses that may be used to satisfy each elective, please consult the General Education Requirements for your primary major |
Last updated: August 2024
