Science X Computation Undergrad: Queen’s Biomedical Computation
Ready to combine your love for computation and biology? Want a career at the intersection of mathematics, computing, biology, and medicine? Passionate about improving healthcare through technology? Then the Queen’s Biomedical Computation option or specialization is for you!
What’s the Difference Between a Specialization & an Option
This can be a bit tricky at first but here’s my best attempt at explaining the difference. You can think of specializations as being more intensive; they also appear on your diploma while options don’t. In a sense, specializations and majors are quite similar. In fact, specializations are more rigid than majors since they provide fewer elective units (units you can choose). Examples include Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Software Design, and of course Biomedical Computing.
Now onto options. They are “nested” within a Computing Major or Computer Science Specialization. At least one option is actually required for either the major or specialization. Options provide a guided pathway for students to take certain specific courses that interest them. For example, some options include Artificial Intelligence, Game Development, Security, and of course Biomedical Computing.
As you likely noticed, Biomedical Computing can be pursued as either a specialization or an option. If you choose to take it as a specialization, you’ll have many required biomedical computing courses with 18.00 electives. But if you take the Biomedical Computing option within the Computer Science Specialization, for instance, you’ll have a stronger focus on computer science with some biomedical computing courses.
Your decision depends on whether you’d like to mainly focus on computer science with some biomedical applications (option) or you want to pursue something that focuses strongly on the intersection of medicine and computing (specialization). To learn more, I recommend taking a look at these two websites.
Prerequisites
So what do you need to get into this program? The good news is that there are only three required high school prerequisites! In total, this is everything you need to take to apply to the program:
- English 4U
- Advanced Functions 4U
- Calculus and Vectors 4U
- 3 additional 4M/4U courses
If you’re accepted, you will enter the Queen’s Computing program initially and after first year in May, you’ll declare your area of study including your major/minor/specialization/option. Getting into your desired area might be tough depending on what other students in your year are interested in.
For example, in the 2017–18 academic year, you would require a 2.6 Cumulative GPA with minimum B in Introduction to Computing Science I to be automatically accepted into a specialization (excluding the Computing & the Creative Arts and Computing and Math specializations).
Courses & Future Career Paths
What happens when you get into the program? There are lots of interesting courses you’re required to take and some choices you get as well. In the Biomedical Computing Specialization, you’re required to take courses like Introduction to Computing Science I, Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cell Biology, General Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Artificial Intelligence, Social, Ethical and Legal Issues in Computing, and some units from courses like Linear Algebra, Differential and Integral Calculus, and Introduction to Statistics.
After completing all of these courses and graduating, there are many career paths for you to pursue. The Queen’s website itself cites careers like biotechnician, medical application programmer, medical/pharmaceutical researcher, and neuroscientist if you complete a Biomedical Computing Specialization.
For those who complete a Biomedical Computing Option, Queen’s includes careers like biostatistician, clinical data analyst, clinical project manager, and health information manager.
That brings us to the end. Good luck with whichever pathway you choose to pursue!
About the author
Parmin Sedigh is a 16-year-old stem cell and science communications enthusiast as well as a student researcher, based in Kingston, ON. She’s also the Director of Writing at Superposition. You can usually find her on her computer following her curiosity. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Sources
https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/course-planning-and-options
https://www.cs.queensu.ca/undergraduate/programs/options/
https://www.cs.queensu.ca/undergraduate/programs/specializations/
https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/programs-and-degrees/computing
About the Author
Parmin Sedigh is a 16-year-old stem cell and science communications enthusiast as well as a student researcher, based in Kingston, ON. She’s also the Director of Writing at Superposition. You can usually find her on her computer following her curiosity. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
