Choosing suitable math subjects for a Molecular Biology/Math double major

[madshiver]

I'm in the second year of my studies of molecular biology and in the first year of my mathematics degree (in most german universities the concept of a "double major" does not really exist, so you need to "enroll" a second time in order to be granted two degrees at once).

I'd certainly like to combine those two majors, in the sense that I'd like to eventually be able to apply the math I learn to solve biological questions. I've figured out that the best way to do this (beyond real analysis/multivariable calculus and linear algebra) is to get a decent treatment of Statistics, Probabilities, ODEs and PDEs, possibly graph theory.

Nevertheless to fullfill my requirements of the mathematics major, I have to choose two from the following list of topics:

Algebra I
Algebra II
Complex Analysis I
Complex Analysis II
Algebraic Topology I
Algebraic Topology II
Introductory Geometry
Mathematical logic


I am fairly certain that I'd enjoy algebra (the linear algebra courses so far have been rigorous - right now we study modules and their properties and since I've enjoyed them, I guess this is a good indicator that I will also like the algebra courses). Then again, I'm not sure how useful algebra is going to be. Also, I am not sure if it would be preferable to pick the first and second part of a course in order to get a deeper understanding or to just pick two different introductory courses in order to get a greater coverage of mathematical topics, which might eventually be of use.

What would you suggest?

 

[R.Mesri]

It really depends on your particular goals and interests. If you are interested in applying mathematics to solve biological questions, then Algebra I and II may not be the most useful courses. Instead, it may be beneficial to focus more on Statistics, Probabilities, ODEs and PDEs, and Graph Theory. However, if you are still interested in gaining a deeper understanding of mathematics, then it may be beneficial to take both parts of a course, as well as other introductory courses to broaden your knowledge base. Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but it's important to consider your interests and goals when making your decision.