Course Requirements for the MB3 Program in the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics

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MOLECULAR BIOLOGY•BIOCHEMISTRY•BIOINFORMATICS

Course Requirements

The Program

Molecular biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics are disciplines that have arisen at the interfaces of biology, chemistry, and computer sciences. They have come to play a crucial role in virtually all areas of the life sciences, and in particular the applied discipline of biotechnology. The Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics Program offers a solid undergraduate preparation for graduate studies or direct entry into the workforce in the following areas: biochemistry, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, or molecular biology. The curriculum also provides a very good preparation for students interested in medical or dental school. There are three tracks within the major allowing students to emphasize molecular biology, biochemistry, or bioinformatics. Molecular biology examines the molecular basis of life, using molecular approaches to understand the processes of living systems, and has applications to virtually all areas of biology. Biochemistry, also examines the molecules of living systems, with an emphasis on the chemical structure and reactivity that shape biological function. Bioinformatics is a very new discipline and involves combining the study of the molecular basis of life with the study of computer science. It is a discipline at the interface of the two great revolutions of modern technology. All three tracks are interdisciplinary in their approach and include lecture, laboratory, and seminar courses that emphasize the practical application of discipline based knowledge. Students need not make a decision as to which track they will follow immediately upon entering the program, and may elect to choose a track after completing many of the core courses common to all three tracks.

Requirements for the major

All students are required to complete 31 units of common core courses in the Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Sciences Departments, and an additional 35-41 units within one of the three tracks.

Core Courses for the Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics Major (31 units)
BIOL 201	Cellular Biology and Genetics	4 units
BIOL 309	Genetics	4 units
BIOL 409	Molecular Biology	4 units
CHEM 110	General Chemistry I	4 units
CHEM 111	General Chemistry II	4 units
CHEM 351	Introductory Biochemistry	3 units
MBBB 301	Introduction to Bioinformatics	4 units
MBBB 493	Seminar in Bioethics	1 unit
BIOL 491or 492 or CHEM 491 or COSC 495 or An approved upper level science course BIOL, CHEM, COSC, MBBB or MATH (3XX/4XX)		3 units

Additional Courses Required for the Molecular Biology Concentration (36-39 units)
BIOL 202	Evolution and Ecology	4 units
BIOL 408	Cell Biology	4 units
BIOL 312 or BIOL 410	Genetics Laboratory Molecular Biology Laboratory	2 units
CHEM 210	Analytical Chemistry	5 units
CHEM 331	Organic Chemistry I	5 units
CHEM 332	Organic Chemistry II	5 units
PHYS 211 and 212 or PHYS 203 *	General Physics I and II Topics in Physics for Biology Majors *	5 * or 8 units
MATH 211 or MATH 237 or MATH 273 *	Calculus for Applications Elementary Biostatistics Calculus I *	3 or 4 * units
	Approved Biology, Chemistry or Computer Science Upper Division Elective Course	3 units

* Note: Many graduate and professional programs require two semesters calculus and/or physics. Students who are contemplating education beyond the undergraduate level (graduate school, medical school, etc.) need to talk with an advisor.

Additional Courses Required for the Biochemistry Concentration (39-40 units)
CHEM 210	Principles and Methods of Chemical Analysis	4 units
CHEM 331	Organic Chemistry I	5 units
CHEM 332	Organic Chemistry II	5 units
CHEM 345	Physical Chemistry	3 units
CHEM 356	Biochemistry Laboratory	2 units
CHEM 357 or BIOL/CHEM 450	Biochemistry II Ecological Biochemistry	3 units
CHEM 372	Intermediate Laboratory I	1 unit
MATH 273	Calculus I	4 units
MATH 274 or MATH 237 or MATH 231	Calculus II Elementary Biostatistics Basic Statistics	3-4 units
PHYS 211 and 212 or PHYS 241 and 242	General Physics I and II, Non-Calculus Based General Physics I and II, Calculus Based	8 units

Additional Courses Required for the Bioinformatics Concentration (38-43 units)
CIS 458 or COSC 457	Organizational Database Management Database Management Systems	3 units
COSC 236	Introduction to Computer Science I	4 units
COSC 237	Introduction to Computer Science II	4 units
COSC 336	Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis	4 units
CHEM 331 and 332 or CHEM 330 **	Organic Chemistry I and II Essentials of Organic Chemistry **	5 ** or 10 units
MATH 263 or MBBB 315	Discrete Mathematics Genomics	3 units
MATH 273	Calculus I	4 units
MATH 274	Calculus II	4 units
MATH 330	Introduction to Statistical Methods	4 units
MBBB 401	Advanced Bioinformatics	3 units

** Note: Many graduate and professional programs require two semesters of organic chemistry. Students who are contemplating education beyond the undergraduate level (graduate school, medical school, etc.) need to talk with an advisor.

Core Courses for the Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics Minor (27- 33 units)
CHEM 110	General Chemistry I	4 units
CHEM 111	General Chemistry II	4 units
BIOL 201	Cellular Biology and Genetics	4 units
CHEM 330* or CHEM 331 and CHEM 332	Essentials of Organic Chemistry Organic Chemistry I and II	5-10 units
BIOL 309	Genetics	4 units
and any two of the following three courses:
BIOL 409	Molecular Biology	3 units
CHEM 351	Introductory Biochemistry	3 units
MBBB 301	Introduction to Bioinformatics	4 units

* To see when these courses are available, please click here. *

The Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics (MB3) Program
Smith Hall, Room 360
Phone: 410 704 3491
Fax: 410 704 3490
email: MB3@towson.edu

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY•BIOCHEMISTRY•BIOINFORMATICS