Computational Biology Minor

Computational Biology is an interdisciplinary field that develops and applies computational methods to understand and predict biological systems, and to address societal challenges. The Computational Biology (CBIO) Minor at CU teaches undergraduates to combine computational thinking and algorithms to study biological problems and systems. The program prepares students to understand complex biological phenomena and topics including epidemiology, biotechnology, precision medicine and human health, genetics and genomics, environmental systems, data science, and scientific research.

What will I learn in the minor?

• Computational biology core concepts and experimental techniques
• Representing and understanding biological data and patterns
• Biologically relevant skills in applied math, data science & statistics, and computing
• Modeling and predicting biological processes and dynamics
• Biological phenomena under uncertainty with probabilistic and statistical analyses

Can I join?

The CBIO Minor is a cross-college minor that welcomes students from a diversity of majors. Students come together from disciplines in biology, math, computer science, and engineering in interdisciplinary learning settings. Students must have a minimum CU cumulative GPA of 2.500 to enroll. A prerequisite course of Calculus I or equivalent, with a grade of C- or better, is required to enroll. If you are interested in enrolling, fill out the CBIO Minor Statement of Interest Form.

How soon should I start courses for the minor?

Students interested in computational biology should start computing sequences or foundational/prerequisite biology coursework as soon as is reasonably practical in their degree program.  Skills, BioElectives, and Data & Structure/Bioprocesses courses are sometimes offered in only one semester or may not be offered every academic year due to faculty leave. To have the most flexibility to meet requirements, computing sequences should be completed by the fourth or fifth semester of the degree. 

Course Requirements

• Requirements are met by completing courses in three areas: Skills, BioElectives, and Data & Structure + Bioprocesses.
• The two main pathways through the minor requirements are: a biology background, which fulfills BioElective coursework, or computing or math background, which fulfills most Skills coursework.
• The CBIO Minor is intentionally designed to provide overlap with your respective computational and biological expertise while challenging you to integrate core concepts and skills.
• A GPA of at least 2.000 (prior to December 2021 this threshold was 2.250) is required for the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for this minor.
• Relevant coursework can be petitioned.

Ready to enroll?

Interest Form: Interested in enrolling in the CBIO Minor or finding out more? Start here!

Questions?

Reach out to us at CBIOminor@colorado.edu.
You can visit the University Catalog CBIO Minor page here.

Advising

Reach out to Eva Lacy at eva.lacy@colorado.edu or the CBIO Minor Email - CBIOminor@colorado.edu.
Declared students: Use View All Calendars in Buff Portal Advising and select Other Helpful Meetings to find appointments with Eva

The CBIO Minor is brought to you by a partnership between the BioFrontiers Institute and the Dept. of Computer Science.