** New enrollments for this concentration are on pause for the 2024-25 academic year. **
Overview of the Concentration
Advances in the mathematical sciences — mathematics, statistics, and computer science — have brought new perspectives to biological research. By answering questions that cannot be addressed using other means, the mathematical sciences can provide indispensable tools for biological research. The result is the interdisciplinary field of mathematical biology, which involves developing analytical and computational predictive models of biological systems.
The concentration at St. Olaf is intended to train students in mathematical biology, allowing them to understand the development and applications of quantitative approaches to biological problems and how these handshake with experimental design. With the large number of subfields in mathematical biology today, the concentration allows students to pursue a path that best suits their interest (e.g., mathematical modeling, bioinformatics).
Students completing the concentration will be equipped with the skills necessary to enter the fast-growing field of mathematical biology or pursue graduate work in this area, other areas of applied mathematics, and especially in biological fields for which modeling or bioinformatics skills are expected.
Students will:
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describe the range of biological questions dependent on or enhanced by mathematical approaches.
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translate biological problems into mathematical models using appropriate mathematical, statistical, and computational tools.
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validate mathematical models using appropriate biological experimentation and data analysis.
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practice communication skills across the two disciplines.
** New enrollments for this concentration are on pause for the 2024-25 academic year. **
Requirements for the Concentration
The mathematical biology concentration consists of 5.25 credits, an integrative project, and participation in a Math Biology Symposium. A student may petition to count a course other than the pre-approved electives toward his or her concentration if the student can show and the director concurs that the course includes an integrative component related to mathematical and/or computational biology.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| |
| MATH 236 | Mathematics of Biology | 1.00 |
| |
| MABIO 130 | Exploring Biomathematics (0.25) | 0.25 |
| 2.00 |
| Computer Science for Scientists and Mathematicians | |
| Software Design and Implementation |
| Differential Equations I | |
| Modern Computational Mathematics | |
| Differential Equations II | |
| Data Science 2 | |
| Statistics 1 | |
| Biostatistics: Design and Analysis | |
| Intermediate Genetics | |
| Animal Physiology | |
| Ecological Principles | |
| Principles of Bioinformatics | |
| Evolutionary Genetics | |
| Field Ecology | |
| Evolutionary Biology | |
| Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems | |
| Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | |
| |
| |
| Total Credits | 5.25 |
Integrative Project
The project must be approved by the director in order for the student to finish the concentration. There are many ways in which the project can be completed. For example, the level III biology electives in the concentration all include final projects that allow a student to work on an integrative project for the concentration. Other experiences that could fulfill this requirement include a research project such as a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU); a project in the expanded Center for Interdisciplinary Research (eCIR); working with faculty to develop a module for a course; an independent research or independent study with a faculty member; or working with a faculty member to develop a computational lab that could be incorporated into an existing course.
Senior Math Biology Symposium
The symposium is open to the public and provides students the opportunity to explain mathematical and biological concepts to a broad audience. In addition, the symposium is an event that brings together all the students in the concentration, thus strengthening the mathematical biology community here at St. Olaf.
