Course Descriptions

BMTH 295 Research Seminar in Biomathematics 1R-0L-1C Arranged
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

A seminar-style course that introduces novel problems in biomathematics. Problems will be drawn from the modern literature in biomathematics, computational biology, bioinformatics, systems biology, and biostatistics. This course may be taken at most twice for credit.

BMTH 301 Introduction to Biomathematics: Continuous Models 4R-0L-4C (even years) S
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: MA 212
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

This course requires no previous knowledge of biology. The application of differential equations and probability to modeling and analyzing dynamic biological systems. Mathematical topics include ordinary and partial differential equations, dynamical systems, bifurcations, limit cycles, chaos, and probabilistic and stochastic modeling. Biological applications may include biochemistry, cell biology, epidemiology, neuroscience, ecology, biofluids, biomaterials, diffusion, and pattern formation.

BMTH 302 Introduction to Biomathematics: Discrete Models 4R-0L-4C (odd years) S
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: MA 275
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

This course requires no previous knowledge of biology. The application of discrete mathematics and computational algebra for modelling biological phenomena. Topics may include: gene regulatory networks, genomics, RNA folding, neuronal networks, infectious disease modeling, phylogenetics, and/or ecological networks. Students will also use software currently used in mathematical biology research for visualization, simulation, and analysis.

BMTH 311 Systems Biology 4R-0L-4C F (even years)
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: MA 212 *MA 212 may be taken concurrently with instructor permission.
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

The study of how to combine detailed biological information to build models of entire systems. Nearly any biological scale can be considered. For example, at the biochemistry level the course will consider topics such as gene regulatory networks, protein interaction networks, and metabolisms. Moving toward larger scales, systems biology can be used to study the growth of cancerous tumors, and on an even larger scale, the mating and social structure of populations. The course's focus is on how to use relational information to perform model based inquiries of an entire system.

BMTH 312 Bioinformatics 4R-0L-4C W (even years)
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: CSSE 120, and MA 381
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

This course will study how to combine mathematical, statistical, probabilistic, and computational methods to analyze biological data. Example topics are sequence alignment, locating genes, structural alignment, microarray analysis, and drug design. The course emphasizes how to search and compare biological datasets to make scientific inferences.

BMTH 413 Computational Biology 4R-0L-4C W (odd years)
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: MA 332, and either BMTH 301 or BMTH 302 or BMTH 311, BMTH 312
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

The study of how to build and validate computational models to conduct biological studies. Ex-emplary topics include molecular dynamics, haplotyping, phylogenetics, neuroscience, and population dynamics. The course will consider the implementation and analysis of algorithms that are specifically germane to the life sciences.

BMTH 490 Topics in Biomathematics Variable Credit
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

Varies

BMTH 496 Capstone Experience I 2C F
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: Senior standing or permission of instructor.
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

Independent study in a thesis project to be directed by a faculty member. The project and faculty adviser are to be identified prior to starting BMTH 496, and a plan of study is to be agreed upon by the student and adviser prior to the initiation of the thesis sequence. The thesis will culminate in a written report and a public presentation/defense that will be evaluated by a thesis committee consisting of at least the adviser and two other members of the faculty. BMTH 496/497/498 must be taken in consecutive quarters.

BMTH 497 Capstone Experience II 4C W
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: BMTH 496
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

Independent study in a thesis project to be directed by a faculty member. The project and faculty adviser are to be identified prior to starting BMTH 496, and a plan of study is to be agreed upon by the student and adviser prior to the initiation of the thesis sequence. The thesis will culminate in a written report and a public presentation/defense that will be evaluated by a thesis committee consisting of at least the adviser and two other members of the faculty. BMTH 496/497/498 must be taken in consecutive quarters.

BMTH 498 Capstone Experience III 2C S
Graduate Studies Eligible: No
Prerequisites: BMTH 497
Corequisites: There are no corequisites for this course.

Independent study in a thesis project to be directed by a faculty member. The project and faculty adviser are to be identified prior to starting BMTH 496, and a plan of study is to be agreed upon by the student and adviser prior to the initiation of the thesis sequence. The thesis will culminate in a written report and a public presentation/defense that will be evaluated by a thesis committee consisting of at least the adviser and two other members of the faculty. BMTH 496/497/498 must be taken in consecutive quarters.