PROPOSAL TO REVISE A COURSE
(formerly known as subject)

1.	COURSE DETAILS

1.1	Course ID	     
	BINF2001

1.2	Course name - Long
	Bioinformatics 2

1.3	Course name - Abbreviated

	Bioinformatics 2

1.4	Course Authority	ext/email
       Dr. Bruno A. Gaëta	57213/bgaeta@unsw.edu.au	

1.5	Organisational Unit responsible for course
School/Department:	AOU Code:
	School of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences
							COMPSC

1.6	Revision of Course Summary Checklist
Indicate the type of revision proposed by checking the appropriate box(es).

to change the course name or number:
CURRENT COURSE ID/NAME 
NEW COURSE ID/NAME 	
	 to amend the Handbook description	X	 to vary the pre-requisites or co-requisites	
 	 to vary the contact hours	 	 to vary the unit of credit value	
	 to offer the course by alternative means eg. distance education.  
When using digitised material, consult with the University Librarian on 9385-2662 to make appropriate arrangements regarding COPYRIGHT LAW.	X	 Other (specify)  Vary the programs in which the course is available	

1.7	Justification of Proposal

The current version of the course was designed exclusively for students in the BE (Bioinformatics) program. There has been increasing interest from non-bioinformatics students to learn about bioinformatics, concurrent with a decrease in the number of students enrolling in the BE (Bioinformatics) program. By removing the course prerequisites, BINF2001 can be made available to students interested in the topic who want to take it as elective or as part of a bioinformatics “minor” in the Science program. This is especially relevant to science students with a biology/biochemistry/molecular biology/genetics major who want to incorporate some bioinformatics in their program, and computer science students interested in bioinformatics as an application area for their computing skills. Science students with a BABS major (biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, biotechnology) do not have room in first year to complete BINF1001, the old prerequisite for BINF2001, as they have to complete first year Maths, Chemistry and Biology, and would also need to complete 1st year Computing. However these students should have the required knowledge for BINF2001 if they have completed 2nd year biochemistry or molecular biology as well as 1st year Computing. 

1.8	Consultation Process
Which other interested parties, including other academic units, students and visiting committees, have been consulted on this proposal?  Provide further details under sections 2.3 and 2.4 and attach any copies of correspondence.

1.9	Units of credits	Session/s offered	Hours Per Week
Session 2	5 HpW 6UoC

1.10	Pre-requisites: BINF1001 or BIOC2101 or BIOC2181 or BIOC2201 or BIOC2291
Co-requisites: 	COMP2041
Exclusions: 	

1.11	Current Entry in the Faculty Handbook, with Proposed Revision Clearly Indicated or
Proposed Entry in the Faculty Handbook (including course description)

This course covers bioinformatics approaches that have become fundamental to genomic and post-genomic biology, with an emphasis on their evolutionary underpinnings. Topics include methods and algorithms for sequence analysis, classification and structure prediction; sequence, family and structure databases; genome project informatics; microarrays; pathways, networks and interactions. Practical work emphasises both use and development of software tools for bioinformatics analysis.

1.12	Is this course replacing an existing course?
YES		Give previous course ID and name 
	
NO	X(modification)	

1.13	Undergraduate / Postgraduate / Other 	(delete what is not applicable)

This is an undergraduate course. Postgraduate students should enrol in BINF9010 instead.

1.14	Core / Elective 	(delete one)

1.15	Program stage
Indicate the program stage in which the course is usually taken.
	2nd session of Year 2 for BE (Bioinformatics) students
	anytime for other undergraduates, provided prerequisites have been met.

1.16	Program/s in which course is be available
Provide course code and course name (address any servicing implications under sections 2.3 and 2.4).
	All programs (core for programs 3647, 3755, 3756, 3757, 3715 with bioinformatics plan, elective for others)

1.17	Proposed teaching methods and assessment practices
examinable (formal) 

1.18	Assessment grades to be used
full range of grades 

1.19	Mode of delivery
Internal	X	
External		
Other (specify) 		

1.20	Information Technology Requirements for students
Standard resources available in school

1.21	Textbooks

1.22	Industrial experience component
N/A

2.	RESOURCE STATEMENT

2.1	Enrolments
Estimated or proposed enrolments for the next three years.
2007	20	
2008	25	
2009	30	

2.2	Additional Resource Requirements Resulting from Revision

Staffing Requirements:

Hours per week
0	 Full-time Academic Staff  (NICTA conjoints)	
0	 Part-time Teaching Staff	
0	 General Staff	

Field Costs:	N/A	
Studio/Laboratory Requirements:	N/A	
Materials Requirements:	N/A	
Equipment Costs:	N/A	
Computing Requirements:	Standard for CSE courses, and already available	
Library Requirements:	Standard textbook requirements for a course of this size	
Capital funds Requirements:	N/A	

2.3	Servicing Implications:
Course proposals which involve servicing arrangements with Schools/Departments across Faculty boundaries should be considered by the other relevant Faculties or Boards of Studies.

Will service teaching be provided or has been in the past and will it no longer be provided, by another department/school?  NO.

2.4	Teaching Arrangements:
(i)	Will other units contribute on a regular basis to the teaching of this course?
YES	X	
NO		
(ii)	If so, which units are involved and what proportion of the course will they teach?
The school of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (BABS) will continue teaching around 40% of this course. The head of teaching in BABS, Dr Mike Edwards, has been consulted regarding the changes.

2.5	Alternative Delivery Arrangements:
N/A

2.6	Multi-mode Delivery Guidelines
N/A

2.7	Details of Tuition Fees:
Standard fee for Engineering courses of this type

3.	AUTHORISATION

3.1	University Librarian’s Endorsement

Note:  this section of the Proposal must be signed by a Library representative, stating:

I have examined the Library needs related to the above proposal and certify that existing Library holdings, staffing, services and accommodation are adequate / inadequate (delete one)  to cover the demands that are inherent in it.

Appropriate arrangements for the use of digitised material to support this course have been made by the Course Authority with the University Librarian.

Further Comments:

University Librarian
    /    /2004

3.2	Head of School’s Approval

Note:  this section of the Proposal must be signed by the Head of School, stating:

I have examined the resource implications of the above proposal in regard to staff, space, materials, equipment, capital funds, and computing, and certify that the School can cover the demands that are inherent in it.

Further Comments:

Head of School
    /    /2004

3.3	Dean’s Approval

Note:  this section of the Proposal must be signed by the Dean, stating:

I have examined the resource implications of the above proposal in regard to staff, space, materials, equipment, capital funds, and computing, and certify that:

(Tick whichever is applicable)

3.3.1	(i)	the proposal involves no additional resources. (A statement from the Head of School explaining how this can be achieved must be provided);  or

(ii)	the proposal involves additional resources and it is proposed to redeploy existing resources within the faculty. (A statement from the Head of School explaining how this will be achieved must be provided); or

(iii)	the proposal involves additional resources to be obtained as set out below; or

(iv)	the additional resources essential to bring the proposal into effect cannot be found within resources available to the faculty. 

3.2.2	Fees (delete if not applicable):

·	a fee will not be charged for this program (other than HECS)

·	a fee will be charged for this program for local fee-paying students

·	a fee will be charged for international students

If a fee is to be charged the Dean certifies as follows: 

I have ensured that the Vice-Chancellor has been advised of the proposed fee arrangements, and note that approval of fee arrangements is needed before the new program can be implemented.

3.3.3	the proposal conforms to the University's commitment to Equal Opportunity in Education.

Statement from Head of School on Source of Additional Resources and/or Further Comments:

Dean
    /    /2004