The goal of the CTB concentration is to better serve the needs of students and prospective applicants to QSB who wish to train primarily or exclusively in computational, mathematical and theoretical approaches to biological research. Concentrations are elective and appear on the diploma of students who elect them.
Requirements for the Concentration in Computational and Theoretical Biology (CTB)
Program Learning Outcome (PLO) of the Concentration in CTB
Graduate-level knowledge of current advances in computational and theoretical approaches to biological science, as well as extensive scholarship, teaching and research ability in the application of computational and theoretical approaches to at least one area of biological science.
Core Requirements for Degree with Concentration in CTB
- One graduate-level course in Quantitative Biology (3 – 5 units)
- One graduate-level course in Systems Biology (3 – 5 units)
- One graduate-level course in Computational Biology* (3 – 5 units) d. One graduate-level course in Theoretical Biology* (3 – 5 units)
* Alternative courses that are not listed as fulfilling a specific requirement can be petitioned to qualify for one of the required subject areas.
Additional Requirements for Degree with Concentration in CTB
- No course may fulfill more than one degree requirement.
- The dissertation must fall within the areas of computational and/or theoretical biology broadly defined, as determined by the student’s dissertation committee.
Criterion for Courses that fulfill the CTB Requirement
Substantial exposure to both the primary and secondary scientific literature in one or more areas of computational biology or theoretical approaches to biological systems. Graduate level knowledge of the foundations of computational science or the foundations of theoretical modeling as applied to one or more areas of biology.
List of Courses that fulfill the Computational Biology Requirement
This list is maintained and updated by QSB Educational Policy Committee.
- QSB 244/244L Phylogenetics
- QSB 282 Bioinformatics
- QSB 284 Biomolecular Modeling and Simulation (to be offered first in 2023)
- QSB 285 Biostatistics
- BIOE/PHYS 230 Computation and Modeling for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology
- CHEM 260 Introduction to Scientific Computing
- CHEM 281 Introduction to Molecular Dynamics
- COGS 223 Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
- EECS 274 Computer Vision
List of Courses that fulfill the Theoretical Biology Requirement
This list is maintained and updated by QSB Educational Policy Committee.
- QSB 222 Modeling Social Behavior
- QSB 244/244L Phylogenetics
- QSB 247 Phylogenetic Comparative Methods
- QSB 256 Ecological Dynamics
- QSB 257 Evolutionary Dynamics
- QSB 275 Epigenetics and Gene Expression
- QSB 282 Bioinformatics
- QSB 290 Current Topics in Quantitative and Systems Biology
- BIOE 205 Molecular and Cell Biophysics
- CHEM 214 Statistical Thermodynamics
- CHEM 215 Chemical Kinetics
- PHYS 204 Biophysics
- PHYS 280 Nonlinear Dynamics
* A single course is will NOT satisfy more than one requirement.
