Bioengineering Option (BE)

The undergraduate bioengineering option provides a foundation for graduate studies and career paths that require the application of engineering principles to the design, analysis, construction, and manipulation of biological systems, and in the discovery and application of new engineering principles inspired by the properties of biological systems. By graduation, students are expected to have learned basic laboratory and engineering methods used in a broad range of bioengineering sub-disciplines.

Students will also have learned quantitative and analytic skills vital to experiments and system designs. Graduating students are expected to be able to critically evaluate and understand bioengineering literature, and be able to work in a team and communicate effectively.

To accomplish these goals, students are expected to complete a series of required courses designed to introduce them to a representative range of bioengineering sub-disciplines, provide them with a solid quantitative analysis foundation, and provide them with opportunities to work in teams through a number of project-oriented courses. Students will receive instruction in scientific communications through Bi/BE 24.

Undergraduate research is encouraged both during the academic year and through participation in summer research programs.

Students should present a plan for satisfying all degree requirements to their academic adviser by the end of the third term of the second year.

Students with a grade-point average lower than 1.9 will not be allowed to continue in the option except with special permission from the option representative.

1. BE/Bi 103 a or IDS/ACM/CS 157, BE 150 or BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 a, BE/Bi/APh 161, BE/ChE 163.
2. Experimental methods: Bi 1x; one of BE/EE/MedE 189 a or BE 107; one of ChE/Ch/BE 130 or BE/CS 196 a. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in Bi 1x as first-year students; Bi 1x must be completed by the sophomore year. Nine total units of BE 98 and BE 99 may be used in place of one of these courses (except Bi 1x) with the approval of the undergraduate option representative to ensure that the student’s research project provides comparable experimental laboratory experience. BE 98 and BE 99 units used to satisfy this requirement may not also be counted toward the elective requirement.
3. Biology, chemistry, and physics: two terms out of three from Ph 2 abc (Ch 21 a may be used in place of Ph 2 b and Ch 21 c may be used in place of Ph 2 c); Bi 8; Bi 9; BE/Bi 25; Ch 41 a; Ch/Bi 110 a. One advanced biology course of at least 9 units selected from Ch/Bi 111, Bi 114, Bi 117, Bi/BE 119, Bi 122, Bi 145 ab, NB/Bi/CNS 150, BE 150, Bi/BE/CS 183, or approved by the undergraduate option representative.
4. Mathematical and computational methods: ACM 95 ab; Ma 2; Ma 3; one course from ChE 105, CDS 110, or ACM 116; 9 units selected from CS 1, CS 2, CS 3, CS 21, CS 24, and CS 38.
5. 36 units of BE electives. These may include BE 98 and BE 99 (up to 12 units), any BE course numbered 100 or above except BE/Bi/CNS/NB 197, any of the BE-approved electives listed below, or any relevant course approved by the option representative. Additionally, courses listed in requirements 1-3 that are not used to fulfill those requirements may be counted as electives.
6. Communication: Bi/BE 24.
7. Courses satisfying option requirements must be taken for grades (except when courses are only available P/F). Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units.

Biology: Bi/Ge/ESE 105, NB/Bi/CNS162, Bi 190.
Biodevices: EE 112, EE 113, EE/MedE 114 ab, APh/EE 9, EE 45, EE 111, EE 151, CS/CNS/EE 156 a.

Biomaterials: MS/ME/MedE 116

Biomechanics: ME 12 abc, ME 14, Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc, Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc, Ae/APh 104 abc, ME 11 abc, ChE 103 abc.

Computational Biology: CS/CNS/EE 156 a
Synthetic biology: Ch 41 bc, ChE/Ch 148, ChE/Ch 164, ChE/Ch 165, APh/MS/ME 105 abc.

(Specific courses are representative and may be substituted per option requirements.) Students planning on pursuing graduate study should have a strong emphasis on research in their schedule and are advised to start their sophomore year and continue throughout their study.