What Is A Biomathematics Degree?
The field of mathematical biology is more specialized than other disciplines, but one that is gaining in popularity with the wealth of data tools and concepts in modern molecular biology. Experimental biology takes apart systems at all levels of the organization to study them in isolation, while dynamic mathematic models use equations to put the pieces back together to study their interactions.
There are only a handful of undergraduate Biomathematics degree programs in the country. Florida Tech's Biomathematics degree program prepares students for careers in fields such as bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, and medicine. You’ll develop a strong background in biology and get hands-on experience in organic chemistry and vertebrate anatomy. You’ll work in both biology and math laboratories, be mentored by biology and math professors, and get hands-on training in biology and math.
Gain Practical Experience
The National Science Foundation supports the Florida Tech Biomathematics degree program, and students are very involved in research, which starts early on in the program.
The academic environment for Biomathematics majors is a typical research environment under the supervision of a faculty member and/or a graduate student. Biomathematics degree students spend most of their time outside of the classroom in the biology or math computer lab working on research or getting ready for a presentation. Nearby natural resources such as the estuarine habitats of the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean marine ecosystem are ideal for biomathematical research.
The program is hands-on, modeling-based, and includes lab and field experiments as part of the program. Some of the research may involve applied statistics, mathematical programming, combinatorial optimization, operations research, and queuing theory.
Earn An Advanced Degree
Most Biomathematics majors go on to graduate school in order to be better equipped in this very demanding field, such as master’s and doctoral programs at Florida Tech or at other prestigious universities, such as Johns Hopkins University, Indiana University, Brown University, and the University of Tennessee. Many graduates go on to medical school.
Why Pursue A Biomathematics Degree At Florida Tech?
Florida Tech is one of just a handful of Biomathematics colleges in the nation, a program offered through a collaboration between the mathematics and biology departments. As a Biomathematics college, our focus for the program is to use mathematical, statistical, and computational methods to solve complex biological problems.
Small Class Sizes And An Internationally Recognized Faculty
Students learn from world-renowned faculty who enjoy working closely with students. We pride ourselves on a low student-to-faculty ratio of just 5:1, a sought-after learning environment. We give our students the type of specialized training they need to design and control biological experiments.
For curriculum and career planning, professors are always available for student advising. The strong working relationship between students and professors gives us the edge over another biomathematics college. With this level of mentorship, our students become accomplished scientific writers and presenters of their research.
Our professors are internationally renowned experts with a wide range of expertise who are involved in meaningful research. Biomathematics students are involved in faculty-run interdisciplinary research beginning in their first year.
High-Tech Laboratories And Facilities
Students have access to the F.W. Olin Life Sciences Building—a 70,000-square-foot teaching and research laboratory that includes an aquaculture facility, climate change institute, and the offices and research labs of several of the biology faculty. It houses the Chemistry Department, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and rooms for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, photochemistry, glass-blowing, and computational chemistry.
The 29,000-square-foot Harris Center for Science and Engineering serves the research needs of our biology programs and includes teaching and research labs, a 16-workstation computer facility, and an electron microscope suite.
In addition to the labs in the Department of Biological Sciences, two computer labs in the math department have sophisticated mathematical and statistical software packages such as MATLAB and SAS.
Location, Location, Location
Florida Tech is the perfect place for a Biomathematics degree. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us), minutes away from the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America.
The area has the fifth-largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides a variety of internship and employment opportunities.
Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches and is a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.
Build Lasting Professional Relationships Through Campus Organizations
Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is a biology honor society that teaches students from all disciplines about biology and its importance and recognizes students for outstanding academic achievements. This active group holds events such as guest lectures, as well as social events such as BBQs, fishing outings, and more. Membership is the perfect way to network with other biological sciences students to learn about biology internships, research students, and hands-on activities.
The Infinity Math Club is for students who are curious to learn more about math and its applications. This club holds regular meetings to discuss different ways of looking at and learning more about mathematics.
Curriculum
Mathematical biology (biomathematics) is a highly interdisciplinary program at the intersection of mathematics, biology, and computer science. The biomathematics major is offered through the mathematics department. Primarily during the freshman and sophomore years, biomathematics majors complete core courses, then specialize during the junior and senior years. Specialization is based on interest in computer science, mathematics, or biology while retaining interdisciplinary training.
The interdisciplinary nature of the biomathematics major enables undergraduates who are interested in combining mathematics, computer science, and biology to be more competitive for graduate programs and careers in bioinformatics, biostatistics, biomedical engineering, biomathematics, or medicine.
Freshman Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
BIO 1010 Biological Discovery 1 and BIO 1030 Introduction to Biotechnology or MAR 1010 Biological Discovery 1 and MAR 1030 Introduction to Biotechnology
CHM 1101 General Chemistry 1
COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric
FYE 1000 University Experience
MTH 1001 Calculus 1 or MTH 1010 Honors Calculus 1
Spring (18 credit hours)
BIO 1020 Biological Discovery 2 and BIO 1040 Introduction to Biodiversity and Physiology or MAR 1020 Biological Discovery 2 and MAR 1040 Introduction to Biodiversity and Physiology
CHM 1102 General Chemistry 2
COM 1102 Writing About Literature
CSE 1400 Applied Discrete Mathematics
MTH 1002 Calculus 2 or MTH 1020 Honors Calculus 2
Sophomore Year
Fall (18 credit hours)
BIO 2110 General Genetics or MAR 2110 General Genetics
CHM 2001 Organic Chemistry 1
PHY 1001 Physics 1
Select one of the following:
CSE 1001 Fundamentals of Software Development 1
CSE 1002 Fundamentals of Software Development 2
CSE 2010 Algorithms and Data Structures
Select first HUM Core Course:
HUM 2051 Civilization 1: Ancient Through Medieval
HUM 2141 World Art History 1: Pre-History to Early Global Awareness
HUM 2211 British Literature and Culture
HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1
HUM 2331 American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era
HUM 2551 Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
Spring (15 credit hours)
CHM 2002 Organic Chemistry 2
BIO 2332 Primer for Biomath
MTH 2201 Differential Equations/Linear Algebra or MTH 3200 Honors Differential Equations
PHY 2002 Physics 2
Select second HUM Core Course:
HUM 2052 Civilization 2: Renaissance Through Modern
HUM 2142 World Art History 2: Early Modern to Post-Colonial
HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1 (may not be repeated for credit)
HUM 2213 British and American Literature 2
HUM 2332 American History: From Reconstruction to the Present
HUM 2552 Survey of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy
Junior Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
BIO 4990 Biology Forum or MAR 4990 Marine Biology Forum
COM 2223 Scientific and Technical Communication
HUM 2510 Logic
MTH 2401 Probability and Statistics *
MTH 3663 Mathematical Methods for Biology and Ecology
Restricted Elective (2xxx-4xxx BIO, CSE, MTH) Credit Hours: 3
*Biology students take MAR 2801 Biometry.
Spring (17 credit hours)
BIO 4991 Undergraduate Research 1 * (Q) or MAR 4991 Undergraduate Research 1 * (Q)
*Mathematics students take MTH 4990 Undergraduate Research
Restricted Electives (2xxx-4xxx BIO, CSE, MTH) Credit Hours: 7
Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select one of the following (may not be repeated for credit):
CSE 1001 Fundamentals of Software Development 1
CSE 1002 Fundamentals of Software Development 2
CSE 2010 Algorithms and Data Structures
Senior Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
MAR 3701 Evolution
Liberal Arts Elective Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives (2xxx-4xxx BIO, CSE, MTH) Credit Hours: 7
Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
Spring (16 credit hours)
CSE 4051 Advanced Java Concepts
Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Liberal Arts Elective Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Elective (2xxx-4xxx BIO, CSE, MTH) Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Elective (Biology course with lab) Credit Hours: 4
Elective Restrictions
Choices of restricted electives are subject to approval by the student’s advisor. At least 30 elective credit hours must be at the 3000-level (or higher).
Total Credits Required: 132
Career Outlook
The US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes a resource called the Occupational Outlook Handbook that provides detailed information about hundreds of jobs, including data about median pay, projected growth in employment, and specifics about what the jobs entail and prerequisites. According to the bureau, job growth for biological scientists is expected to grow more than 20% through 2018.
Biomathematics Careers with a Focus in Math Include:
Computer programmer
Computer systems analyst
Database administrator
Economist
Financial analyst
Mathematician
Nuclear engineer
Operations research analyst
Physicists and astronomer
Postsecondary teacher
Statistician
Survey researcher
Biomathematics Careers with a Focus in Biology Include:
Agricultural and food scientist
Biochemists and biophysicist
Biomedical engineer
Geoscientist
Hydrologist
Marine biologist
Natural sciences manager
Pharmacist
Molecular biologist
Biomathematics Careers with a Focus in Computer Science Include:
Artificial intelligence
Software designers and developer
Computer programmers and database administrator
Computer and information system manager
Information security analyst
Web developer
Computer network architect
Network/computer systems administrator
Management analyst
