incorporates biology, computer science and information technology to form a single scientific discipline. Major advances in molecular biology and genomic technologies have led to an explosive growth in biological knowledge and information. This in turn has influenced the need for better computer databases to store, organize and index the data and tools to view and analyze the information. Bioinformatics is employed to analyze the human genome, identify targets for drug discovery and to develop new algorithms and analysis methods. In addition, it includes the study of structural and functional biological relationships and molecular evolution. The bioinformatics major is designed for students interested in molecular biology and genetics, information technologies and computer science. The ultimate goal of bioinformatics is to increase the understanding of biological processes. The employment outlook for majors in bioinformatics is considered to be very promising.

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