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Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Computing Science Joint Honours

Bachelor of Science

The School of Computing Science and the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry offer this bachelor of science (BSc) joint honours program. The student enrolment, appeals, and graduation processing are administered by the School of Computing Science in the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Admission Requirements

To enter, students must meet the honours program admission requirements as specified by both departments.

Cumulative Grade Point Average Requirements

Students are required to achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0, and an upper division grade point average of 3.0.

Prerequisite Grade Requirement

Computing science course entry requires a grade of C- or better in each prerequisite course. A minimum 2.40 CGPA is required for 200, 300 and 400 division computing courses.

Program Requirements

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete either both of

CMPT 120 - Introduction to Computing Science and Programming I (3)
CMPT 125 - Introduction to Computing Science and Programming II (3)

or both of

CMPT 130 - Introduction to Computer Programming I (3)
CMPT 135 - Introduction to Computer Programming II (3)

and one of

CHEM 282 - Organic Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 283 - Organic Chemistry IIb (3)

and one of

MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)

and one of

MATH 232 - Applied Linear Algebra (3)
MATH 240 - Algebra I: Linear Algebra (3)

and all of

BISC 101 - General Biology (4)
BISC 102 - General Biology (4)
BISC 202 - Genetics (3)
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 281 - Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CMPT 225 - Data Structures and Programming (3)
CMPT 276 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3)
CMPT 295 - Introduction to Computer Systems (4)
MACM 101 - Discrete Mathematics I (3)
MATH 152 - Calculus II (3)
MBB 222 - Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (3)
MBB 231 - Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (3)

and both of

CMPT 210 - Probability and Computing (3)
STAT 271 - Probability and Statistics for Computing Science (3)

and one of

PHYS 101 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
PHYS 125 - Mechanics and Special Relativity (3)
PHYS 140 - Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics (4)

and one of

PHYS 102 - Physics for the Life Sciences II (3)
PHYS 121 - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
PHYS 126 - Electricity, Magnetism and Light (3)
PHYS 141 - Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (4)

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete all of

CMPT 307 - Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
CMPT 354 - Database Systems I (3)
CMPT 405 - Design and Analysis of Computing Algorithms (3)
CMPT 441 - Computational Biology (3)
MBB 308 - Molecular Biology Laboratory (3)
MBB 331 - Molecular Biology (4)
MBB 342 - Introductory Genomics and Bioinformatics (3)
MBB 496 - Directed Research for MBB-BUS and MBB-CS Joint Honours (6)
STAT 302 - Analysis of Experimental and Observational Data (3)

and one of

CMPT 376W - Professional Responsibility and Technical Writing (3)
MBB 309W - Biochemistry Laboratory (4)

and at least two of

CMPT 305 - Computer Simulation and Modelling (3)
CMPT 310 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
CMPT 340 - Biomedical Computing (3)
CMPT 361 - Introduction to Visual Computing (3)
MACM 316 - Numerical Analysis I (3)
MBB 321 - Intermediary Metabolism (3)

and at least three of

CMPT 413 - Computational Linguistics (3)
CMPT 419 - Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence (3)
CMPT 454 - Database Systems II (3)
MBB 438 - Human Molecular Genetics (3)
MBB 441 - Bioinformatics (3)
MBB 460 - Special Topics in Bioinformatics and Genomics (3)
MBB 461 - Comparative Genomics (3)
MBB 462 - Human Genomics (3)
MBB 463 - Forensic Genomics (3)
MBB 464 - From Genome to System (3)

and six additional 400 division computing science units

Co-operative Education and Work Experience

All computing science students are strongly encouraged to explore the opportunities that Work Integrated Learning (WIL) offers. Students should contact a computing science co-op advisor during the first year of study to ensure that they have all of the necessary courses and information to help plan for a successful co-op experience.

University Honours Degree Requirements

Students must also satisfy University degree requirements for degree completion.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Please see Faculty of Applied Sciences Residency Requirements for further information.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.