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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Computer Science and Biology, BS

Computer Science and Biology, BS

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
      • Computer Science
      • Cybersecurity
      • Data Science
      • Khoury Combined Majors
        • Chemical Engineering and Computer Science, BSChE
        • Civil Engineering and Computer Science, BSCE
        • Computer Engineering and Computer Science, BSCmpE
        • Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Computer Science and Biology, BS
        • Computer Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology, BS
        • Computer Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Computer Science and Criminal Justice, BS
        • Computer Science and Design, BS
        • Computer Science and Economics, BS
        • Computer Science and English, BS
        • Computer Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Computer Science and Game Development, BS
        • Computer Science and History, BS
        • Computer Science and Journalism, BS
        • Computer Science and Linguistics, BS
        • Computer Science and Mathematics, BS
        • Computer Science and Media Arts, BS
        • Computer Science and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Computer Science and Philosophy, BS
        • Computer Science and Physics, BS
        • Computer Science and Political Science, BS
        • Computer Science and Sociology, BS
        • Computer Science and Theatre, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Business Administration, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Criminal Justice, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Economics, BS
        • Data Science and Biochemistry, BS
        • Data Science and Biology, BS
        • Data Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Data Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Data Science and Chemistry, BS
        • Data Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BS
        • Data Science and Economics, BS
        • Data Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Data Science and Health Science, BS
        • Data Science and Journalism, BS
        • Data Science and Linguistics, BS
        • Data Science and Mathematics, BS
        • Data Science and Physics, BS
        • Data Science and Psychology, BS
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The computer science and biology combined major reflects how research in biology, especially genetics, has become a computational science. The program provides a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, as well as software development and algorithms.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Computer Science Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
Computer Science Overview
CS 1200
First Year Seminar 1
CS 1210
Professional Development for Khoury Co-op 2
Computer Science Fundamental Courses
CS 1800
and CS 1802
Discrete Structures
and Seminar for CS 1800
5
CS 2500
and CS 2501
Fundamentals of Computer Science 1
and Lab for CS 2500
5
CS 2510
and CS 2511
Fundamentals of Computer Science 2
and Lab for CS 2510
5
Computer Science Required Courses
CS 3000Algorithms and Data4
CS 3200Database Design4
CS 3500
and CS 3501
Object-Oriented Design
and Lab for CS 3500
5
CS 3800Theory of Computation (integrative course)4
CS 4500Software Development4
or CS 4530 Fundamentals of Software Engineering
Khoury Elective Courses
With adviser approval, a directed study, research, project study, or appropriate graduate-level course may also be taken as a computer science elective.
Complete 4 credits of CS, CY, DS, or IS classes that are not already required. Choose courses within the following ranges:4
CS 2500 or higher, except CS 5010
CY 2000 or higher, except CY 4930
DS 2500 or higher, except DS 4900
IS 2000 or higher, except IS 4900
1

Students entering through the biology department may take Biology at Northeastern (BIOL 1000).

2

Students entering through the biology department may take Professional Development for Co-op (EESC 2000).

Biology Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
Foundations of Biology
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
Foundations of Biology
and Lab for BIOL 1107
5
Inquiries
BIOL 2299Inquiries in Biological Sciences4
Molecular Biology
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
Genetics and Molecular Biology
and Lab for BIOL 2301
5
BIOL 3611
and BIOL 3612
Biochemistry
and Lab for BIOL 3611
5
Techniques in Biology
BIOL 2309Biology Project Lab4
Chemistry
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
General Chemistry for Science Majors
and Lab for CHEM 1161
and Recitation for CHEM 1161
5
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
Organic Chemistry 1
and Lab for CHEM 2311
5
CHEM 2313
and CHEM 2314
Organic Chemistry 2
and Lab for CHEM 2313
5
Biology Capstone
Choose one:4
BIOL 4701
Biology Capstone
BIOL 4971
Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
BIOL 4900
Biology Research Capstone
Intermediate and Advanced Biology Electives
Complete two biology courses (with corequisite labs if offered). Choose one of these two courses from the following list:9-10
BIOL 2327
Human Parasitology
BIOL 3401
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIOL 3403
Animal Behavior
BIOL 3413
Current Topics in Organismal and Population Biology
BIOL 3421
and BIOL 3422
Microbiology
and Lab for BIOL 3421
EEMB 2302
and EEMB 2303
Ecology
and Lab for EEMB 2302
EEMB 2400
Introduction to Evolution
EEMB 2700
and EEMB 2701
Marine Biology
and Lab for EEMB 2700
EEMB 3460
Conservation Biology
Choose the second elective from the following list:4-5
BIOL 2311 to BIOL 4999
EEMB 2290 to EEMB 5515
EEMB 5548 to EEMB 5569
Biology Integrative Course
Complete one of the following:4-5
BINF 6308
Bioinformatics Computational Methods 1
BIOL 4707
Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL 5569
Advanced Microbiology
BIOL 5581
Biological Imaging
BIOL 5587
Comparative Neurobiology
BIOL 5591
Advanced Genomics
EEMB 4548
Sociobiology

Supporting Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
Calculus
MATH 1251Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 14
MATH 1252Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 24
Probability and Statistics
Complete one of the following:4-5
MATH 3081
Probability and Statistics
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
Biostatistics
and Lab for ENVR 2500
Computing and Social Issues
Complete one of the following:4
AFAM 2600
Issues in Race, Science, and Technology
CY 4170
The Law, Ethics, and Policy of Data and Digital Technologies
CY 5240
Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights
ENGL 2150
Literature and Digital Diversity
HIST 2220
History of Technology
INSH 2102
Bostonography: The City through Data, Texts, Maps, and Networks
IS 1300
Knowledge in a Digital World
or HIST 1300
Introduction to Health and Humanities
PHIL 1145
Technology and Human Values
SOCL 1280
The Twenty-First-Century Workplace
SOCL 2485
Environment, Technology, and Society
SOCL 4528
Computers and Society
Intermediate or Advanced Science
Complete one course from the following:4
BIOL 2327 to BIOL 3999
BIOL 4705 to BIOL 5999
CHEM 2311 to CHEM 5999
EEMB 2290 to EEMB 5999
ENVR 2310 to ENVR 5999
MATH 2280 to MATH 5999
PHYS 2303 to PHYS 5999
PSYC 2290 to PSYC 5999

Writing Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
College Writing
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
ENGW 3302Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions4
or ENGW 3315 Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
or ENGW 3307 Advanced Writing in the Sciences

Required General Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete 16 credits of general electives16

NUpath Requirements Satisfied

  • Engaging with the Natural and Designed World 
  • Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning 
  • Exploring Creative Expression and Innovation
  • Analyzing and Using Data 
  • Writing in the First Year 
  • Advanced Writing in the Disciplines 
  • Writing-Intensive in the Major 
  • Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone 

Integrating Knowledge and Skills Through Experience is satisfied through co-op.

Khoury College GPA Requirement

Minimum 2.000 GPA required in all CS, CY, DS, and IS courses

Program Requirement

141 total semester hours required 

Sample Patterns:

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 12001CS 2510
and CS 2511
5BIOL 23014Vacation
CS 1800
and CS 1802
5BIOL 22994BIOL 23021 
CS 2500
and CS 2501
5ENGW 11114Elective4 
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
5Elective4  
CHEM 11614   
CHEM 11621   
CHEM 11630   
 21 17 9 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 3500
and CS 3501
5CS 12101Elective4Co-op
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5CHEM 2313
and CHEM 2314
5BIOL 23094 
CS 32004CS 30004  
MATH 12514BIOL 36114  
 BIOL 36121  
 MATH 12524  
 18 19 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-opCS 38004ENGW 33024Co-op
 Computing and social issues4ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501 (or MATH 3081)
5 
 BIOL elective 5  
 BIOL integrative elective4  
 0 17 9 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-opCS 45004BIOL Elective4Co-op
 BIOL 47014Elective4 
 BIOL Intermediate/Advanced elective4  
 Khoury Elective 4  
 0 16 8 0
Total Hours: 142

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 1800
and CS 1802
5CS 2510
and CS 2511
5Vacation0Vacation0
CS 2500
and CS 2501
5BIOL 22994  
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
5ENGW 11114  
CS 12001MATH 12514  
CHEM 11614   
CHEM 11621   
CHEM 11630   
 21 17 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 3500
and CS 3501
5CS 30004Vacation0Co-op0
CS 32004BIOL 23014  
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5BIOL 23021  
MATH 12524CHEM 2313
and CHEM 2314
5  
 CS 12101  
 Elective4  
 18 19 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0CS 38004ENGW 33024Co-op0
 BIOL 23094BIOL 36114 
 Elective4BIOL 36121 
 BIOL elective4  
 0 16 9 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0BIOL elective5Elective4Co-op0
 Khoury Elective 4Elective4 
 ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501 (or MATH 3081)
5  
 Computing and social issues4  
 0 18 8 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0CS 45004  
 BIOL integrative elective4  
 BIOL 47014  
 BIOL Intermediate/Advanced elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 142

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 1800
and CS 1802
5CS 2510
and CS 2511
5Vacation0Vacation0
CS 2500
and CS 2501
5BIOL 22994  
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
5ENGW 11114  
CS 12001MATH 12514  
CHEM 11614   
CHEM 11621   
CHEM 11630   
 21 17 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5Co-op0Co-op0Vacation0
CS 3500
and CS 3501
5   
CS 12101   
MATH 12524   
BIOL 23014   
BIOL 23021   
 20 0 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 30004Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
CHEM 2313
and CHEM 2314
5  ENGW 33024
BIOL 23094   
BIOL 36114   
BIOL 36121   
 18 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 38004Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
BIOL elective4  Elective4
Elective4   
CS 32004   
 16 0 0 8
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
BIOL elective5CS 45004  
Khoury Elective4BIOL 47014  
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501 (or MATH 3081)
5BIOL integrative elective4  
Computing and social issues4BIOL Intermediate/Advanced elective4  
 18 16  
Total Hours: 142
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