Computational and Systems Biology

Computational and Systems Biology BS

Capstone Major

The Computational and Systems Biology major has the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrated critical thinking skills, and familiarity with research techniques, needed to successfully pursue a research project
• Conception and execution of a research project that engages current methods and theory
• Oral and written communication of original scholarly findings to peers
• Productive participation with others as part of a research team

Students entering UCLA directly from high school or first-term transfer students who declare the Computational and Systems Biology premajor at the time of application are automatically admitted.

Current students who were admitted as freshmen or transfer students (transfer students must have been admitted under the division of life sciences) may request to declare the premajor once they have met the following criteria: (1) completed one quarter at UCLA, (2) are in good academic standing, (3) have a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0, and (4) have established a premajor GPA of a minimum of 2.7 by taking at least one premajor course at UCLA for a letter grade.

Requests to declare the premajor should be sent by e-mail. For more information, see the program website.

All courses taken for the premajor must be completed with a grade of C or better. Premajor courses Program in Computing 10B, 16, or Computer Sciences 32 are required for students following the Biological Data Sciences or Bioinformatics concentrations, but do not have to be completed prior to applying to the major.

All students are identified as premajors until they satisfy the preparation for the major requirements by (1) achieving a minimum 2.7 GPA in all premajor mathematics courses, (2) achieving a minimum 2.7 GPA in all premajor courses, and (3) and a minimum grade of C in all premajor courses.

Required: A minimum of 66 to 82 units (depending on the calculus series, computer programming course, and additional requisites for specific concentrations), including Chemistry and Biochemistry 14A, 14B, and 14BL, or 20A, 20B, and 20L; Computer Science 31 or Program in Computing 10A; Life Sciences 30A, 30B, 40, and Computational and Systems Biology M32 or Mathematics M32T, or Mathematics 31A or 31AL, 31B, and Statistics 10; Mathematics 33A, 33B; Physics 1A, 1B, and 1C, or 1AH, 1BH, and 1CH, or Physics 5A, 5B, and 5C.

Students must also complete one of two life sciences sequences — either Life Sciences 1, 2, 3, and 4, or 7A, 7B, and 7C. They may not substitute courses in either sequence.

Students following the bioinformatics concentration must also complete Computer Science 32 or Program in Computing 10B or 16.

Students following the biological data sciences concentration must also complete Computer Science 32.

Students following the bioinformatics, biomedical systems, or systems biology concentrations must also complete Mathematics 32A.

In addition, Chemistry 14C or 30A may be requisite to desired concentration courses.

Students are allowed to repeat up to two premajor courses. Those who do not pass a course a second time are dismissed from the program.

Transfer applicants to the Computational and Systems Biology major with 90 or more units must complete as many of the following introductory courses as possible prior to admission to UCLA: one year of general chemistry with laboratory for majors, two years of calculus for majors, one year of calculus-based physics, one year of biology with laboratory for majors, and one programming course using C++, Python, or similar language.

Transfer applicants must meet the same academic requirements as current UCLA students, based on all courses transferred from another institution that satisfy premajor requirements, and must have completed one 12-unit term of residence in regular session at UCLA.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

The major consists of a methodology core of six courses (23 units) and a concentration of five upper-division courses (20 units minimum). Each course in the major must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Required: (1) Computational and Systems Biology M184, M185, (2) two probability and statistics courses from: Electrical and Computer Engineering 131A, Mathematics 170A, or Statistics 100A, and Biostatistics 100A or Statistics 100B, and (3) two capstone courses: Computational and Systems Biology 150, to be taken in the junior or senior year, and M187, to be taken in the junior or senior year after completion of course 150.

Required: A minimum of five courses (20 units minimum) from the concentrations listed below. No 199 course may be applied toward any concentration. An approved list of courses for each concentration is available in the program office and on the department website.

Bioinformatics (at least 20 units): Computer Science CM121, CM124, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M140 (or 144), 172 (or Physiological Science 125), and one additional course from the bioinformatics approved course list. Note: Computer Science 32 or Program in Computing 10B or 16, and Mathematics 32A are completed in the premajor.

Biological Data Sciences (at least 20 units): Computer Science CM121, M146 (or Statistics 101C or C161), 180, and two additional courses from the biological data sciences approved list. Note: Computer Science 32 is completed in the premajor.

Biomedical Systems (at least 20 units): Bioengineering CM102, CM103, Computational and Systems Biology M186, Electrical and Computer Engineering 133A (or Mathematics 151A), and one additional course from the biomedical systems approved course list. Note: Mathematics 32A is completed in the premajor.

Neurosystems (20 units): Computational and Systems Biology M186, Neuroscience M101A, M101B, 102 (or Electrical and Computer Engineering 113 or Mathematics 155), and one additional course from the neurosystems approved list.

Systems Biology (at least 20 units): Computational and Systems Biology M186, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 170 (or Physiological Science 166), Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology 100 (or 144), 172 (or Physiological Science 125), and one additional course from the systems biology approved list. Note: Mathematics 32A is completed in the premajor.

Students with a grade-point average of 3.5 or better in required major courses and a 3.0 cumulative GPA may apply for admission to the honors program. Honors or highest honors may be granted at the discretion of the faculty sponsor and the faculty committee to students demonstrating exceptional ability on the senior research thesis.