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Why biomathematics?
Biomathematics – what's that? Briefly, its a branch of mathematics which deals with problems in bioscience, e.g. in biology and medicine.

You want to know some more details? – If you want to solve a real-world problem by mathematical tools, you first have to translate it into mathematical terms. We call this new formulation a mathematical model. If we calculate the area of a rectangle, the adequate model is multiplication of length by width. If we want to determine the prob-ability to cure an illness from its severity, the type of therapy, the patient's age and possibly more characteristics, the mathematical model will become somewhat more complicated. Such models are developed and studied in biomathematics.

Modern biology and life sciences need more and more support from mathematics. And mathematics has begun to describe biological processes in quantitative terms, as it has been doing with physical phenomena for a long time. In medicine, recom-mendations for best therapy should be based on systematic research in large groups of patients rather than on subjective observations of a few patients. All groups in-volved in the health system, patients, physicians, hospitals and insurance companies are highly interested in applying the best available therapy based on a consolidated diagnosis. This has opened a new field of activities for mathematics.

However, an increasing demand for mathematicians in the bioscience is opposed by a limited number of educational courses in Germany. Only two German (scientific) universities offer studies in biomathematics and until recently, there was no such course at a university of applied sciences. As a first relief, the studies of biomathe-matics have been established at the RheinAhrCampus in Remagen, a site of the Uni-versity of Applied Sciences in Koblenz.

Students of biomathematics do not only acquire a deep knowledge of biometry, im-age analysis and mathematical models in cell biology but also become acquainted with computer science and learn how to work into complex problems. Hence, they are not restricted to work in their specific application area, but are also able to work in different areas of mathematics. Due to this universal competence, mathematicians have best chances to get a job in industry, business, research or service enterprises.

A parallel course to biomathematics in Remagen is business mathematics. In the first three semesters (“Grundstudium”) both courses have the same lectures with only a few exceptions and it is easily possible to change from one to the other course during that time. Biomathematics is still in its developmental state. Students are invited to participate in forming the style and contents of lectures. Their contribution is also welcome in academic commissions.

Contents of courses
During the first 3 semesters (Grundstudium) lectures, exercises and short presenta-tions in analysis, linear algebra and probability/statistics enable you to self-supporting work in mathematics. We meet problems. Problems in understanding mathematical thinking may arise at entry into university. We reduce them by extended care in the first semester.

In numerical mathematics, the newly acquired knowledge is applied to practical prob-lems and solved with computers. As a student of mathematics you become ac-quainted with several programming languages, e.g. C++, Java and Visual Basic, with professional statistics software and, of course, with office programs.

Some courses in bioscience and finance will introduce students to their application areas. In addition, lectures in English and business administration supplement your mathematical skills, broaden your scope and enhance your professional competence.

The second part of your studies (Hauptstudium) deepens your knowledge in analysis, numerics and statistics and you dig into new mathematical subjects like differential equations, biometrical methods of experimental design and biostatistics, image analysis and mathematical models in cell biology. You gain knowledge in biology from lectures and laboratory work on biochemistry and genetics. Mathematical meth-ods are motivated and demonstrated by applications in preclinical and clinical studies.

Your programming skills are extended and you become acquainted with modern relational and object-oriented data base technologies.

Exercises, seminars and practical work will enable you to successfully solve projects in your favourite areas.

The first time you transfer your knowledge from university to real life will be in the practical semester (5th semester). During these four or five months, you work for a German or foreign enterprise or public institution, in industry, research or business. You may deepen your contact to business in a diploma thesis which should be done in co-operation with an external site during the last (8th) semester. This close relation to professional work opens promising perspectives for your future.

Aims of the course
After your successful studies of biomathematics you have learned how to analyse the structure of images and how to compress them. Furthermore, you have familiarised yourself with methods of biostatistics in epidemiological and therapeutic research, including experimental design and quality control. You also got acquainted with mathematical analysis and efficient storage of data from cell biology (e.g. proteins and DNA sequences).

You know how to implement algorithms in relevant programming languages. You know about modern data base technology and you are able to define data base models for practical problems and to implement them in commercial data base systems.

Beyond your knowledge of mathematical techniques, you have gained competences which characterise mathematicians: you understand complex logical relationships, you are able to translate problems into mathematical terms, to select appropriate methods for their solution and to develop efficient algorithms. Finally, you can solve the problem, usually using a computer, and display the results in a language which is within everybody's grasp.

Your have got contacts to business and industry. This opens the possibility to con-tinue working in your special area, or you may decide to rely on your mathematical skills and achieve a new area by work.

Mathematics is valid at all times, not a fashion. less prone to fluctuations of fashion. Therefore, mathematicians are less dependent on fluctuations in the job market.

Career perspectives
· Pharmaceutical companies
· Service units for data management, programming and statistics (e.g. contract research organisations)
· Biometrical and epidemiological institutes in university hospitals
· Biotechnological companies
· Manufacturer of image processing systems
· Business consultants
· Software and data base developers

Modules

Modules for Biomathematics and Business Mathematics	Semester
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total hours
Introduction to Mathematics	2								2
Analysis	6	6	6	2					20
Linear Algebra	6	6							12
Probability Theory and Statistics		4	6						10
Numerical Mathematics			4	2		2			8
Differential Equations				4		2			6
Introduction to Computer Science	2	2							4
Programming	4	4	4			4			16
Data Base Systems				4					4
Application Software I (SAS)			2						2
Application Software II (Matlab)				2					2
Physics	2								2
Business Administration	2								2
Foreign Languages	2	2							4
Total of hours per week	26	24	22	14		8			94
Modules for Biomathematics
Biology		2							2
Human medicine			2						2
Chemistry			2						2
Biometry						4	4		8
Mathematical Models in Biology						2	4		6
Image processing/Structure Analysis				4			4		8
Selected mathematical topics						2	4		6
Application Software III						2			2
Application Software IV							2		2
Biochemistry				4					4
Genetics/Laboratory work				2		2			4
Seminar						2			2
Project							6		6
Seminar on practical work					4				4
Seminar on thesis projects								4	4
Total of hours per week		2	4	10	4	14	24	4	62
Total	26	26	26	24	4	22	24	4	156
Total of modules on Computer Science	6	6	6	10		6	6		40

General information concerning studies
Admission criteria:

Abitur or Fachoberschule (German) or educational level that is considered equiva-lent.
Applications can be made for winter and, for the time being, also for summer term.

Final degree:
Diplom in Mathematics (FH)

Duration of studies
8 semesters (= 4 years); there is a basic study phase of 3 semesters called "Grund-studium" and an advanced study phase of 5 semesters called "Hauptstudium" with one semester for practical work and the final semester for the diploma thesis in-cluded.

The practical semester is done in an enterprise or public institution. Students gain experience in professional work and should get ideas for their thesis.

Computing equipment
There are several PC-pools and UNIX-workstations available for students. All of them have access to the scientific network and to the internet. For work on projects and thesis we will finally have 6 mathematics labs with powerful workstations and soft-ware. Online inquiries in literature and in data bases can be done at several workstations in the library.