Florida State University

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary undergraduate programme integrates core mathematics, statistics and computer science with molecular and organismal biology. Early years emphasise calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, probability and introductory programming (commonly Python or R) alongside foundational courses in cell and molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry.

As you progress you study modules specific to computational biology and bioinformatics, such as:

• Algorithms and data structures for biological sequence and structural analysis.
• Statistical inference and applied probability for experimental data and high-throughput assays.
• Computational genomics covering sequence alignment, assembly, variant calling and comparative genomics.
• Machine learning and data mining applied to biological datasets, including supervised and unsupervised methods.
• Mathematical modelling of biological systems — population dynamics, epidemiology, biochemical kinetics and systems biology.
• Structural bioinformatics and protein modelling, when offered as a specialised module.
• Laboratory courses and wet-lab rotations to ground computational work in experimental practise and data provenance.
• Capstone project or honours thesis that involves original computational or combined computational–experimental research, often supervised by faculty across mathematics, biological science and scientific computing.

Students may tailor studies with electives from statistics, scientific computing, data science or more advanced biology, and can usually choose a track emphasising either mathematical modelling or bioinformatics/data analysis.

Entry requirements

Applicants should demonstrate strong achievement in secondary-school mathematics (including calculus where available) and one or more sciences (biology and chemistry are particularly relevant). Solid preparation in algebra, precalculus and statistics is advantageous, and prior programming experience is helpful though not always required.

Typical departmental expectations include a competitive overall academic record and evidence of quantitative ability. Transfer students should check credit-transfer policies and may need approval for advanced standing within the major. Prospective students are encouraged to review the university admissions process and to contact departmental advisers for guidance on preparation and course planning.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of careers that bridge biology and quantitative analysis. Common pathways include:

• Bioinformatics analyst or computational biologist in biotechnology, pharmaceutical companies, clinical sequencing labs and contract research organisations.
• Data scientist or statistical modeller in healthcare, public health agencies and environmental consulting.
• Research technician or research scientist positions in academic or government labs, often leading to graduate study (MSc/PhD) in computational biology, genomics, biostatistics or related fields.
• Software engineer or developer roles focused on scientific software, database development and visualization tools for life-science applications.
• Roles in precision medicine, clinical bioinformatics, and regulatory affairs that combine domain knowledge with data analysis skills.

The programme’s emphasis on a combination of wet‑lab literacy, quantitative skills and programming prepares graduates for both immediate employment and further postgraduate study.

Why study at Florida State University

Florida State University offers this discipline within an environment that encourages cross-department collaboration among biological science, mathematics, statistics and scientific computing. Students benefit from access to research-active faculty whose work spans genomics, systems biology, mathematical modelling and computational methods.

Undergraduates have opportunities for hands-on research in laboratories, participation in interdisciplinary projects, and access to institutional computing resources for large-scale data analysis. Tallahassee’s research community and regional biotech connections support internships and applied experience, while university career services and departmental advisers help with placement and preparation for graduate study. The programme’s structure is designed to provide both the theoretical foundations and practical skills sought by employers and research programmes in computational biology and bioinformatics.