Biomedical Informatics Degree Program

Computer Science Background

Knowledge of computational techniques is a prerequisite for most courses in the Biomedical Informatics curriculum. Important graduate level courses in computer science include COMS W4111 Database Systems and COMS W4701 Artificial Intelligence.

In order to take computer sicence courses at the graduate level, it is necessary to have a firm foundation in the essentials of computation. These skills are ideally acquired before entry to the program, but can be made up as deficiencies once enrolled. There are three distinct skills that must be mastered, each constituting a prerequisite for the next course. Relevant computer science courses at Columbia University are given below for each skill:

• Ability to design, diagnose and repair individual computer programs. This skill involves understanding a particular programming language, how it is used, how to find and fix "bugs". The Java language is currently recommended. At Columbia, the relevant course is COMS W1007 Introduction to Computer Science - in JAVA.

• Ability to conceptualize problems and create formal representations. This skill involves understanding what data structures and algorithms can be applied to solve various problems. At Columbia, the relevant course is COMS W3137 Data Structures and Algorithms.

• Ability to design and maintain systems of multiple programs. This skill involves decomposing large problems into smaller units, and understanding how these interact. At Columbia, the relevant course is COMS W3156 Introduction to Software Engineering. This course may also be taken as a graduate level course (COMS W4156) by doing a harder class project (requires instructor permission).