Computational Biology Major | Department of Biological Sciences

Computational Biology, offered jointly between the Departments of Biological Sciences (Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences) and Computer Science (School of Computing and Information), will prepare students to understand core principles, models, and theories in the fields of biology and computer science and use them strategically to solve key problems in Computational Biology. Graduates will have the skills and knowledge to pursue graduate study or careers in industry.

This major is designed to be completed in 4 academic years. Specific course sequencing cannot be changed. If you are looking for a major that can be completed in fewer than 4 academic years, we offer a BS in Biological Sciences which is much more flexible in course sequencing. Occasionally a student bringing in transfer credit may have a different timeline; please see a Bio Advisor to discuss.

Computational Biology BS Requirements

All students within the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences must complete General Education Requirements. These courses provide breadth to your education beyond training in the Biological Sciences.
All majors within the Department of Biological Sciences must also complete Co-requisite courses in Chemistry, Math, and Physics; these courses give you the scientific background to maximize your education.
The major progress tracker below is a comprehensive list of the courses Biological Sciences majors must complete to obtain the B.S. degree. Review the BIOSC Courses webpage for available BIOSC electives. It is the student's responsibility to track their progress through the major and general education requirements.
- Computational Biology Major Progress Tracker
- Dietrich School Computational Biology Major Sheet

Use the following to help you compare choosing between Dietrich School and SCI:

	Dietrich School	SCI
Major course requirements	Same - see major progress tracker above.
Capstone	BIOSC 1640 Comp Bio Research	CS 1640 Comp Bio Software Design
Credits in residency	≥ ½ of BIOSC and CS credits earned at Pitt Pittsburgh campus. ≥ final 30 credits in DSAS.	≥ ½ of BIOSC and CS credits earned at Pitt Pittsburgh campus. 30 new credits in residency at the SCI and Information, including ≥ 15 credits within the major program.
Tuition	Varies by school - check current rates
Double majoring	Easiest with other DSAS majors.	Easiest with other SCI majors.
Job Outlook	According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, fields where computational biologists work, including, but not limited to, Medical Scientists and Computer and Information Research Scientists, are growing faster than average.
Departmental honors	Biological Sciences honors	Computer Science honors
General Education Requirements	Dietrich School gen eds	SCI gen eds
Advising	Biological Sciences Advisors	SCI Advisors
Contact	BioAdv@pitt.edu, 250 Thackeray Hall	sciadvising@pitt.edu , 5th Floor of the Information Science Building

Sample Schedule

This is a sample schedule of how one could arrange a well-balanced curriculum for a major in Computational Biology. We recommend students enroll in no more than 6 - 8 credits of science/math each term. Also, make sure to balance all labs across several terms.

Please note: You should work with one of our Biological Sciences Advisors to create a plan suitable for you and your specific educational plans.

Computational Biology Sample Schedule PDF

Year One

Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Course	Credits	Course	Credits
BIOSC 0150 CHEM 0110 (with lab) WorkCmp GenEd Elective	3 4 3 3 1	CS 0011 (Python) BIOSC 0160 CHEM 0120 (with lab) SemComp GenEd Elective	4 3 4 3 3 1
Total	14	Total	15
Only requisite & corequisite requirements are shown. General Education Requirements vary by school.

Year Two

Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Course	Credits	Course	Credits
BIOSC 1540 * CMPINF 0401 GenEd GenEd Elective	3 4 3 3 3	MATH 0220 BIOSC 0350 CS 0441 ‡ GenEd Elective	4 3 3 3 3
Total	16	Total	16
* Because of prerequisites for courses, you must complete BIOSC 1540 by the fall of your junior year. ‡MATH 0220 is a co-requisite for CS 0441

Year Three

Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Course	Credits	Course	Credits
CHEM 0310 CS 0445 GenEd GenEd Elective	3 3 3 3 3	BIOSC 1542 – or – 1544 (spring only) CS 1501 GenEd GenEd Elective	3 3 3 3 3
Total	15	Total	15

Year Four

Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Course	Credits	Course	Credits
BIOSC 1000 BIOSC 1630 writ (fall only) STAT 1000 GenEd Elective	3 2 4 3 3	BIOSC 1640 or CS 1640 (spring only) CS 1656 Comp Bio Elective GenEd Elective	3 3 3 1 3
Total	15	Total	13

Careers

What Can I Do with a Computational Biology Major?

More information coming soon!