Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program 
First-Year Curriculum
UCLA’s Bioinformatics Core Curriculum has been offered continuously since 1999. It functions not as a monolithic, comprehensive bioinformatics curriculum, but instead defines the hard core of what you must know to invent new kinds of bioinformatics. It teaches the shared concepts, language and skills which bioinformaticists must have to operate in a collaborative, inter-disciplinary mode. Our goal is to train students who can speak the language of statistical inference, computational complexity, network analysis and data mining. The core curriculum teaches a common vocabulary and set of concepts so people can communicate and collaborate. Beyond this, our main goal is to leave flexibility for students to create a bioinformatics training tailored to their individual interests and background.
Lab Rotations
All entering Bioinformatics doctoral students are required to complete three “lab” rotations during their first year in the program. In general, you will be expected to be rotating with a different Bioinformatics core faculty member each quarter in order to seek a thesis advisor with whom to do your doctoral research. Lab rotation periods are congruent with the academic quarters (Fall, Winter and Spring). The purpose of the three rotations is to give you an opportunity to look closely at “labs” you are seriously considering joining for your thesis research. At the same time, rotations are an opportunity for the faculty to get to know you and to judge your ability to function in a research setting. During a rotation, you should try to function as if you were a graduate student in the host laboratory. You are expected to undertake at least a modest research project, and to participate fully in the intellectual life of the lab, attending group meetings and taking part in the give- and-take discussions of the lab’s research. Rotations are not simply a period for you to observe what goes on in the faculty member’s group. Students enroll for the quarter in Bioinformatics 596 under the faculty member with whom they are rotating.
Students are expected to independently arrange each of the three rotations with the Bioinformatics core faculty members with whom they are interested in working.
Fall Quarter
BIOINFO M260A. Introduction to Bioinformatics (Same as Chemistry CM260A, Computer Science CM221, and Human Genetics M260A.) (4.0 units)
Course Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour.Enforced requisites: Biostatistics 100A or 110A or Mathematics 170A or Statistics 100A or 110A, and Computer Science 180 or Program in Computing 60 with grade of C- or better. Introduction to bioinformatics and methodologies, with emphasis on concepts and inventing new bioinformatic methods. Focus on sequence analysis and alignment algorithms. S/U or letter grading.
BIOINFO M271. Statistical Methods in Computational Biology. (Same as Statistics M254 and Biomathematics M271.)(4.0 units)
Course Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Preparation: elementary probability concepts. Requisite: course 100A. Training in probability and statistics for students interested in pursuing research in computational biology, genomics, and bioinformatics. Letter grading.
BIOINFO M202. Bioinformatics Interdisciplinary Research Seminar (Same as Chemistry M202.) (4.0 units)
Course Description: Seminar, two hours; discussion, two hours. Concrete examples of how biological questions about genomics data map to and are solved by methodologies from other disciplines, including statistics, computer science, and mathematics. May be repeated for credit. S/U or letter grading.
BIOINFO M252. Seminar: Advanced Methods in Computational Biology (Same as Chemistry M252 and Human Genetics M252.) (2.0
units)
You will enroll in this course, in order to receive academic credit for your attendance at the weekly Bioinformatics seminar series (Mondays 4 – 6 pm.) Course Description: Seminar, one hour; discussion, one hour. Designed for advanced graduate students. Examination of computational methodology in bioinformatics and computational biology through presentation of current research literature. How to select and apply methods from computational and mathematical disciplines to problems in bioinformatics and computational biology; development of novel methodologies. S/U or letter grading.
BIOINFO 596. Directed Individual Study or Research in Bioinformatics (2.0-12.0 units)
Research units for doctoral students not advanced to candidacy. For your rotations, please enroll in 6.0 units per quarter. After you have joined a thesis advisor (starting a year after enrolling in the program), you will enroll in 12.0 units per quarter.
Winter Quarter
BIOINFO M252. Seminar: Advanced Methods in Computational Biology (Same as Chemistry M252 and Human Genetics M252.) (2.0
units)
You will enroll in this course, in order to receive academic credit for your attendance at the weekly Bioinformatics seminar series (Mondays 4 – 6 pm.) Course Description: Seminar, one hour; discussion, one hour. Designed for advanced graduate students. Examination of computational methodology in bioinformatics and computational biology through presentation of current research literature. How to select and apply methods from computational and mathematical disciplines to problems in bioinformatics and computational biology; development of novel methodologies. S/U or letter grading.
BIOINFO 596. Directed Individual Study or Research in Bioinformatics (2.0-12.0 units)
Research units for doctoral students not advanced to candidacy. For your rotations, please enroll in 6.0 units per quarter. After you have joined a thesis advisor (starting a year after enrolling in the program), you will enroll in 12.0 units per quarter.
***NOTE: You are not required to enroll in Bioinfo M202 in Winter or Spring Quarter. However, you are expected to complete 12 units of elective coursework. You may wish to enroll in an elective during this quarter. Electives must be approved by the IDP Faculty Graduate Advisor.
Spring Quarter
COM SCI CM224. Computational Genetics (Same as Human Genetics CM224.) (4.0 units)
Course Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour; outside study, eight hours. Preparation: one statistics course and familiarity with any programming language. Designed for undergraduate and graduate engineering students, as well as students from biological sciences and medical school. Introduction to current quantitative understanding of human genetics and computational interdisciplinary research in genetics. Topics include introduction to genetics, human population history, linkage analysis, association analysis, association study design, isolated and admixed populations, population substructure, human structural variation, model organisms, and genotyping technologies. Computational techniques include those from statistics and computer science. Concurrently scheduled with course CM124. Letter grading.
BIOINFO M252. Seminar: Advanced Methods in Computational Biology (Same as Chemistry M252 and Human Genetics M252.) (2.0
units)
You will enroll in this course, in order to receive academic credit for your attendance at the weekly Bioinformatics seminar series (Mondays 4 – 6 pm.) Course Description: Seminar, one hour; discussion, one hour. Designed for advanced graduate students. Examination of computational methodology in bioinformatics and computational biology through presentation of current research literature. How to select and apply methods from computational and mathematical disciplines to problems in bioinformatics and computational biology; development of novel methodologies. S/U or letter grading.
BIOINFO 596. Directed Individual Study or Research in Bioinformatics (2.0-12.0 units)
Research units for doctoral students not advanced to candidacy. For your rotations, please enroll in 6.0 units per quarter. After you have joined a thesis advisor (starting a year after enrolling in the program), you will enroll in 12.0 units per quarter.
*** For the first year, emphasis is placed on completing all the above courses.