The CS and Biology combined major reflects the fact that research in biology, especially genetics, has become a computational science. The major requires a strong foundation in both biology and chemistry. The CS requirements focus on software development and algorithmics which are the most important aspects of CS for biology.
This degree program requires 141 SH
Computer Science (41 or 42 SH: 9 @ 4 SH, 5 or 6 @ 1 SH)
Freshmen and certain transfers will take CS 1200 during Fall semester.
Starting in Fall 2012, all students will take CS 1210 in the semester before going on co-op.
Prior to Fall 2012, transfers took CS 1220 instead of CS 1210. Starting in Fall 2012, CS 1220 will not be offered.
Students entering this program through Biology may substitute the following Biology courses for these requirements:
- CS 1200 CS/IS Overview 1 [1 SH]
- CS 1210 CS/IS Overview 2: Co-op Preparation [1 SH]
- CS 1220 CS/IS Co-op Preparation [1 SH]
- BIOL 1000 Biology/Biochemistry at Northeastern [1 SH]
- BIOL 1106 Introduction to Experiential Education [1 SH]
Freshman level courses with labs or recitations
- CS 1800 Discrete Structures [4 SH]
- CS 1801 Recitation for CS 1800 [0 SH]
- CS 2500 Fundamentals of Computer Science 1 [4 SH]
- CS 2501 Lab for CS 2500 [1 SH]
- CS 2510 Fundamentals of Computer Science 2 [4 SH]
- CS 2511 Lab for CS 2510 [1 SH]
- CS 2800 Logic and Computation [4 SH]
- CS 2801 Lab for CS 2800 [1 SH]
Upper level courses
- CS 3200 Database Design [4 SH]
- CS 3500 Object-Oriented Design [4 SH]
- CS 3800 Theory of Computation [4 SH]
- CS 4500 Software Development [4 SH]
- CS 4800 Algorithms & Data [4 SH]
Senior Seminar
- CS 4000 Senior Seminar [1 SH]
English (8 SH: 2 @ 4 SH)
With permission, you may substitute ENGL 3301 for ENGL 3302.
- ENGL 3301 Advanced Writing in the Disciplines [4 SH]
Mathematics (12 SH: 3 @ 4 SH)
- MATH 1251 Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 1 [4 SH]
- MATH 1252 Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 2 [4 SH]
- MATH 3081 Probability and Statistics [4 SH]
Biology (32 to 34 SH: 7 @ 4 SH, 4 to 6 @ 1 SH)
Introduction to College and Co-op
See the note under the Computer Science heading concerning BIOL 1000 and BIOL 1106.
Required Biology Courses (19 SH)
- BIOL 1101 Principles of Biology 1 [4 SH]
- BIOL 1102 Lab for BIOL 1101 [1 SH]
- BIOL 1103 Principles of Biology 2 [4 SH]
- BIOL 1104 Lab for BIOL 1103 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2301 Genetics & Molecular Biology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2302 Lab for BIOL 2301 [1 SH]
- BIOL 4701 Biology Capstone [4 SH]
Biology Integrative Course (4 or 5 SH)
Choose 1 Biology Integrative course (with lab if offered):
- Biology Integrative [4 or 5 SH]
Choose the Biology Integrative course from the following list.
Effective June 19, 2009:
- BIOL 3407 Molecular Cell Biology [4 SH]
- BIOL 5531 Molecular Ecology and Evolution [4 SH]
- BIOL 5532 Lab for BIOL 5531 [1 SH]
- BIOL 5547 Sociobiology [4 SH]
- BIOL 5587 Comparitive Neurobiology [4 SH]
- BIOL 6308 Genome and Proteome Analysis [4 SH]
Biology Elective Requirements (9 or 10 SH)
Choose 2 Biology Elective courses (with lab if offered) at the level BIOL 2311 or higher.
- Biology Elective 1 [4 or 5 SH]
- Biology Elective 2 [4 or 5 SH]
At least 1 of the 2 Biology Elective courses must come from the following list.
Effective June 19, 2009:
- BIOL 2311 Ecology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2312 Lab for BIOL 2311 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2313 Plant Biology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2314 Lab for BIOL 2313 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2315 Invertebrate Zoology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2316 Lab for BIOL 2315 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2317 Vertebrate Zoology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2318 Lab for BIOL 2317 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2319 Regulatory Cell Biology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2320 Lab for BIOL 2319 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2321 Microbiology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2322 Lab for BIOL 2321 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2323 Biochemistry [4 SH]
- BIOL 2324 Lab for BIOL 2323 [1 SH]
- BIOL 2325 Marine Biology [4 SH]
- BIOL 2326 Lab for BIOL 2325 [1 SH]
Total Biology Credits Required
Students are normally expected to take at least 32 SH in Biology not including BIOL 1000 and BIOL 1106 if these are selected as options for introduction to college and co-op.
Chemistry (20 SH: 4 @ 4 SH, 4 @ 1 SH)
- CHEM 1211 General Chemistry 1 [4 SH]
- CHEM 1212 Lab for CHEM 1211 [1 SH]
- CHEM 1213 Recitation for CHEM 1211 [0 SH]
- CHEM 1214 General Chemistry 2 [4 SH]
- CHEM 1215 Lab for CHEM 1214 [1 SH]
- CHEM 1216 Recitation for CHEM 1214 [0 SH]
- CHEM 2311 Organic Chemistry 1 [4 SH]
- CHEM 2312 Lab for CHEM 2311 [1 SH]
- CHEM 2313 Organic Chemistry 2 [4 SH]
- CHEM 2314 Lab for CHEM 2313 [1 SH]
General Requirements (4 SH: 1 @ 4 SH)
- SOCL 4528 Computers & Society [4 SH]
General Electives (24 SH: 6 @ 4 SH)
- Elective 1: Level 1 Arts/Humanities Core [4 SH]
- Elective 2: Level 1 Social Sciences Core [4 SH]
- Elective 3 [4 SH]
- Elective 4 [4 SH]
- Elective 5 [4 SH]
- Elective 6 [4 SH]
The general electives must be consistent with the policy on general electives articulated by the College of Computer and Information Science on the college web site.
NU Core
2 of the general electives must be used to satisfy:
Comparative Cultures Requirement
The Comparative Cultures Requirement must be satisfied. If this is done by taking a course then this course must be one of the general electives that is taken in addition to the NU Core Level 1 electives.
Integrative Courses
See CS 3800 Theory of Computation.
See CS 4800 Algorithms and Data.
See Biology Integrative Course.
