Effective April 30, 2022 it will not be possible to declare the Life Science Informatics major. Students who declare Life Science Informatics prior to April 30, 2022 will be able to finish their declared major.
The Department of Statistics is also a partner in the interdisciplinary major in Informatics. Michigan's interdisciplinary approach to teaching Informatics gives you a solid grounding in contemporary computer programming, mathematics, and statistics, combined with study of the ethical and social science aspects of complex information systems.
Click on the button below for students still on the following tracks (effective Winter 2013):
The Life Science Informatics track is the remaining track available to declare in the Informatics major. Students who have previously declared another track will be able to complete what they have declared.
- Computational Informatics (no longer available to declare, students should consider the Computer Science -LSA major)
- Data Mining Information Analysis (no longer available to declare, students should consider the Data Science - LSA major)
- Life Science Informatics
- Social Computing (no longer available to declare, students should consider the Bachelor of Science in Information program through the School of Information)
Click on the button below for students still on the following tracks (effective Fall 2014):
- Data Mining Information Analysis
- Life Sciences
Life Sciences Informatics
Using artificial information systems, scientists have made great progress in identifying core components of organisms and ecosystems and are beginning to better understand how these components behave and interact with each other. In fact, biology has become an information science, as computational techniques have become an important means to develop and evaluate biological hypotheses. Informatics is used from basic biological research-studying how patterns of gene expression differ across various cell types-to the practice of medicine, where informatics is used to compare treatments, to identify social correlates of health, and to evaluate possible changes in health policy. The Life Science Informatics track prepares students for careers and advanced study in a number of information-related fields in the life sciences, as well as medical school and other areas of graduate study.
All Life Science Informatics students who declared the major in Informatics between September 2008 and December 2009 may follow the original curriculum or the new curriculum outlined below. If choosing to follow the new curriculum, please notify the Program Coordinator.
All Life Science Informatics who declare after January 1, 2010 will follow the curriculum outlined below:
Prerequisites
Core Requirements
Track Courses (14-15 credits)
BIOINF 527 Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
One of the following life science courses:
BIOLOGY 305
MCDB 310 Introductory Biochemistry
Two of the following computational/quantitative courses:
EECS 376 Foundations of Computer Science
EECS 485 Web Database and Information Systems
STATS 401 Applied Statistical Methods II
STATS / BIOSTAT 449 Topics in Biostatistics
STATS 470 Introduction to the Design of Experiments
*Courses have been historically offered as indicated (F = Fall, W = Winter, Sp = Spring, Su = Summer). Terms in which courses are offered are, however, subject to change.
Note: Students may enroll in track courses prior to completing all prerequisite and core courses.
Use this spreadsheet to calculate a major GPA in Informatics with a Life Science Informatics track. Use all attempts at a course in the GPA calculation.
Elective Courses (13-14 credits)
Four [4] elective credits must be at the 300 level or higher. See the list of approved major electives.
In consultation with a faculty advisor, a course not on the approved list of electives may be selected to fulfill elective credit. Approval of the course must be obtained prior to enrollment. The Informatics Elective Approval Form must also be submitted to the Program Coordinator in 323 West Hall.
