Mathematical and computational components are vital to many areas of contemporary biological research, such as genomics, molecular modeling, structural biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and systems analysis of neurobiology, physiology and metabolism. Students interested in the interface between biology and mathematics may pursue the Mathematical Biology Major, which is jointly administered by the Departments of Biology and Mathematics.

The Mathematical Biology Major prepares graduates for further study in either biology or applied mathematics or for employment in industry. HMC's Common Core provides mathematical biology majors with a strong multidisciplinary foundation, and the college offers many opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary research in biomathematics and quantitative biology. Students who choose this major become immersed in the scientific and intellectual cultures of both biology and mathematics, and the major is sufficiently flexible to allow students to concentrate in a particular area of mathematical biology. Students in this major have both a Biology adviser and a Mathematics adviser, who will help them plan a program tailored to their interests and goals.

MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Mathematics (10 units)--

Mathematics 55: Discrete Math (3 units)
Mathematics 131: Analysis I (3 units)

Two mathematics electives (4 units); recommended courses include

• Mathematics 106: Combinatorics
• Mathematics 120: Chirality
• Mathematics 151: Probability
• Mathematics 152: Mathematical Statistics
• Mathematics 156: Stochastic Processes
• Mathematics 158: Applied Statistics
• Mathematics 159: Design and Analysis of Experiments
• Mathematics 173: Advanced Linear Algebra
• Mathematics 180: Applied Analysis
• Mathematics 181: Dynamical Systems
• Mathematics 182: Partial Differential Equations 
• Mathematics 185: Wavelets
• Mathematics 187: Operations Research 
• Mathematics 188: Social Choice and Decision Making 

Biology (15 Units)--

Biology 54: Biology Laboratory (1 unit)
 
Three of the following five courses (9 units)

• Biology 101: Comparative Physiology
• Biology 108: Ecology and Environmental Biology
• Biology 109: Evolutionary Biology
• Biology 113: Molecular Biology      
• Biology 115: Neurobiology

Two biology electives (one seminar and one lab, 5 units)
 
Computation (3 units)--

One of the following:

• Mathematics 164: Scientific Computing (3 units) or
• Mathematics 165: Numerical Analysis (3 units) or
• Mathematics 168/CS 140: Algorithms (3 units) or
• Biology 188: Computational Biology (3 units) or
• Another computation course with approval of the advisors
 
Mathematical Biology (4 units)--

• Mathematics 118: Mathematical Biology I (2 units)
• Mathematics 119: Mathematical Biology II (2 units)
 
Additional Requirements (9 units)--

One technical elective, chosen in consultation with student's adviser (3 units).

The elective will typically be an additional mathematics or biology course, but can be another technical course that strengthens the student’s area of interest. A few examples of the possible courses are:

• Biology 153: Biostatistics
• Computer Science 60: Principles of Computer Science or Computer Science 65: Principles and Practices of Computer Science
• Computer Science 152: Neural Networks
• Chemistry 51: Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
• Chemistry 56: Carbon Compounds
• Biology/Chemistry 182: Chemistry in Living Systems

Two semesters of Senior Thesis Research (Biology 193–194 or Mathematics 197) or Clinic (6 units) 

Colloquium

Biology 191–192: Biology Colloquium (two semesters) and

Mathematics 198, 199: Two semesters of Math Colloquium (Math 199) or one semester of Math Colloquium (Math 199) and one semester of Math Forum (Math 198).

For further information, contact the mathematical biology advisors Professors Stephen Adolph (Biology), Lisette de Pillis (Mathematics), and Jon Jacobsen (Mathematics).