Digital Biology Learning Community (DBLC)

The DBLC was established in 2005 to promote interaction of students and faculty in the computational and life sciences.  We meet twice per month (usually in the Grisham Room) of the Mitchell Memorial Library for an informal exchange of ideas and pizza.  Presentations by students, faculty members, and guest speakers focus on the intersection of computing/engineering with biology. The DBLC is supported by a grant from the Office of the Provost.

Computational Biology Certificate Program

Undergraduate and graduate students at MSU can now earn a certificate in Computational Biology.  Completion of the certificate program will be indicated on the student’s transcript.  This program requires that the student complete a total of five courses that have been approved by the Computational Biology Advisory Board.   

• Students in the life sciences must also complete CSE 4613/66133 Bio-computing
• Students in computer science, computer engineering, and biological engineering must complete BCH 4113/BCH 6113 Essentials of Molecular Genetics.
• All students must complete the capstone course, CSE 4623/CSE 6623 Computational Biology.
• Students must complete at least three additional relevant courses (for a minimum of nine hours)  chosen from computational or life sciences fields.  The courses in the list below are all acceptable.  In addition, many relevant courses are often taught as special topics courses in a variety of departments.  A student must obtain approval for all special topics courses before enrolling. 

Up to three hours of appropriate Directed Individual Study hours may be applied toward the degree.  The student should supply a synopsis of the course.  At least 4 of the 5 courses including the capstone course CSE4623/6623 must be completed at MSU.  Only undergraduate courses completed with a grade of C or better or graduate courses completed with a grade of B or better will be allowed to apply to the certificate.

Life sciences courses:

BCH 4414/6414 Protein Methods
BCH 4713/6713 Molecular Biology
BCH 4804/6804 Molecular Biology Methods
BCH 4990/6990 Special Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (when appropriate)
BCH 8243 Molecular Biology of Plants
BCH/PSS 8623 Genomes and Genomics
BCH 8633 Enzymes
BCH 8643 Molecular Genetics
BCH 8990 Special Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
BIO 4133/6133 Human Genetics
BIO 4990/6990 Special Topics
BIO 4113/6113 Evolutionary Biology
BIO 4442/6442 Bacterial Genetics Lab
BIO 4443/6443 Bacterial Genetics
BIO 8990 Special Topics in Biology (when appropriate)
ABE 4423/6623 Bioinstrumentation II
ABE 4803/6603 Biosystems Simulation
EPP 8483 Ecological Genetics
PSS 8653 Genomes and Genomics

Plus other courses from Entomology and Plant Pathology, Forestry, Plant and Soil Sciences, Poultry Sciences, Veterinary Medicine

Computational courses:

CSE 4253/6253 Designing Parallel Algorithms

CSE 4283/6283 Principles of Computer Graphics

CSE 4504/6504 Database Management Systems

CSE 4633/6633 Artificial Intelligence

CSE 4833/6833 Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms

CSE 4990/6990 Special Topics in Computer Science

CSE 8163 Parallel and Distributed Scientific Computing

CSE 8413 Visualization

CSE 8543 Advanced Topics in Database Design

CSE 8663 Neural Computing

CSE 8673 Machine Learning

CSE 8833 Algorithms

CSE 8843 Complexity of Sequential and Parallel Algorithms

CSE 8990 Special Topics in Computer Science (when appropriate)

Example Special Topics Courses:

The following courses are examples of special topics courses taught recently that would be appropriate.

PSS 8990  Topics in Genomics (Dan Peterson)

ADS 8990 Current Topics in Animal Cell and Molecular Biology (Erdogan Memili)

CSE 8990 Algorithms for Bioinformatics (Eric Hansen)

Illustrative Programs of Study:

Illustrative program of study for a student in the life sciences:

CSE 4613/66133 Bio-computing

CSE 4623/CSE 6623 Computational Biology. 

BCH 8643 Molecular Genetics

BIO 4133/6133 Human Genetics

BCH 4804/6804 Molecular Biology Methods

Illustrative program of study for a student in computer science:

BCH 4113/BCH 6113 Essentials of Molecular Genetics

CSE 4623/CSE 6623 Computational Biology 

CSE 4253/6253 Designing Parallel Algorithms

CSE 4283/6283 Principles of Computer Graphics

CSE 4504/6504 Database Management Systems