Bioengineering
STUDENT AFFAIRS: 141 Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall, Warren College
http://www-bioeng.ucsd.edu/homepage.html
Professors
Courses
Departmental Focus
Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary major in which the
principles and tools of traditional engineering fields, such as
mechanical, materials, electrical, and chemical engineering, are
applied to biomedical problems. Engineering plays an increasingly
important role in medicine in projects that range from basic research
in physiology to advances in biotechnology and the improvement of
health care delivery. By its very nature, bioengineering is broad
and requires a foundation in the engineering sciences as well as
in physiology and other biological sciences.
The overall mission of the Department of Bioengineering is to provide
students with an education that enables successful, innovative,
and lifelong careers in bioengineering industries and professions,
including
- depth, breadth, and creativity in the central areas of bioengineering,
its underlying mathematical, physical and biological sciences,
and related technologies
- effective communication, learning, and teamwork skills that
facilitate bioengineering practice, continued professional advancement,
and adaptation
- a recognition of professional and social responsibilities,
including sensitivity to ethical and health-related issues
At the undergraduate level, the department offers several four-year
engineering majors. One leads to a B.S. degree in Bioengineering.
This major prepares students for careers in the biomedical industry
and for further education in graduate school. Students completing
the B.S. Degree in Bioengineering have sufficient preparation to
be employed in traditional engineering areas other than the biomedical
industry, if they wish. This program addresses the bioengineering
topics of biomechanics, biotransport, bioinstrumentation, bioelectricity,
biosystems, and biomaterials, and the complementary fields of systems
and organ-level physiology. Education in these areas allows application
of bioengineering and scientific principles to the development of
medical devices and technologies that benefit human health by advancing
methods for effective diagnosis and treatment of disease. The bioengineering
program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission
of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET).
The department also offers a B.S. degree in Bioengineering:
Biotechnology. This is a four-year engineering curriculum that
prepares students for careers in the biotechnology industry and
for further education in graduate school. The curriculum has a strong
engineering foundation with emphasis on biochemical process applications.
This program addresses the bioengineering topics of biochemistry
and metabolism, kinetics, biotransport, biosystems, bioreactors,
bioseparations, tissue engineering, and the complementary fields
of cellular physiology. Education in these areas allows application
of bioengineering and physicochemical principles to cellular and
molecular biology, with the applications that benefit human health.
The Bioengineering: Biotechnology program is accredited by EAC/ABET.
In addition, the department offers a four-year major leading to
a B.S. degree in Bioengineering: Premedical. This curriculum
is designed to meet the requirements for admission to medical schools
and is also suitable for those planning to enter graduate school
in bioengineering, physiology, neurosciences, or related fields.
This program provides a quantitative understanding of the engineering
design of the body, as well as certain technologies used in medical
practice. It has less engineering content but more biological sciences
and is one of many majors that can serve as preparation for further
training in medical, veterinary, or allied health professions. Some
graduates of this program also go on to work in industry.
The department also offers a major leading to a B.S. degree
in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is the study
of the flow of information (genetic, metabolic, and regulatory)
in living systems to provide an understanding of the properties
of cells and organisms. This major has been developed by the Departments
of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science
and Engineering, and the Division of Biology. Students wishing to
major in bioinformatics may apply through any of these departments
or the division. The Bioinformatics major in Bioengineering emphasizes
systems engineering and model-based approaches to interpreting and
integrating bioinformatics data. The Bioinformatics major prepares
students for careers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and biomedical
software industries, and for further studies in graduate school.
The programs and curricula of bioengineering emphasize education
in the fundamentals of engineering sciences that form the common
basis of all engineering subspecialties. Education with this emphasis
is intended to provide students with a solid engineering foundation
for a career in which engineering practice may change rapidly. In
addition, elements of bioengineering design are incorporated at
every level in the curricula. This is accomplished by integration
of laboratory experimentation, computer applications, and exposure
to real bioengineering problems throughout the program. Students
also work as teams in senior design project courses to solve multidisciplinary
bioengineering problems suggested by industrial and clinical experience.
At the graduate level, specialized curricula lead to the M.S.,
M.Eng. (Master of Engineering), and Ph.D. degrees, as
well as an integrated B.S./M.S. degree. In addition to the
Ph.D. Degree, the department offers a Ph.D. degree with a specialization
in Bioinformatics. It is intended for students who have an interdisciplinary
persuasion to work across computers, biology, medicine, and engineering.
Bioinformatics characterizes the flow of information in living systems.
For further information on the specialization please consult with
the Student Affairs Office. There are also M.D./M.S., M.D./M.Eng.
and M.D./Ph.D. Degrees offered in conjunction with UCSD Medical
School, pending independent admission to the Medical School. The
M.Eng. Degree is a terminal professional degree whereas the M.S.
and Ph.D. Degrees are research programs. (See section on masters
degree programs.) The graduate programs are characterized by
strong interdisciplinary relationships with the other engineering
departments and Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Medicine, and others, as well as with campus organizations
such as the Whitaker Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Institute
for Mechanics and Materials, and the School of Medicine.
The Undergraduate Program
Major Requirements
Specific course requirements for each of the majors are outlined
in tables below. In addition to the required technical courses
specifically
indicated, a suggested scheduling of humanities and social science
courses (HSS) is included in the curricula for students to use
to meet college general-education requirements. To graduate, students
must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0, and obtain at least
a C grade in each course required for the major. All courses
required for the major must be taken for a letter grade.
Deviations from the required programs of study must be approved
by the Undergraduate Studies Committee prior to students
taking alternative courses. In addition, students must obtain departmental
approval of technical elective (TE) course selections prior
to students taking the course. In the ABET-accredited programs,
TE courses are restricted to those that meet ABET standards. Courses
such as Bioengineering 196, 197, and 198 are encouraged, but they
do not count as upper-division technical electives. Bioengineering
195 and 199 can be used as technical electives under certain conditions.
Policy information may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
Students with accelerated academic preparation at admission to
the university may vary the scheduling of lower-division courses
such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry, but must first consult
the department. Most lower-division courses are offered more than
once each year to permit students some flexibility in their program
scheduling. However, most Bioengineering upper-division courses
are taught only once each year. Deviations in the scheduling
of upper-division bioengineering courses are strongly discouraged,
as such changes usually lead to a delay in graduation. The curricula
shown in the tables below are consistent with the current scheduling
of classes.
Minors are not offered in bioengineering, and double major options
are restricted. Students interested in double majors should consult
the Student Affairs Office as early as possible.
General-Education/College Requirements
For graduation, each student must satisfy general-education course
requirements determined by the students college, as well as
the major requirements determined by the department. The six colleges
at UCSD require different general-education courses, and the number
of such courses differs from one college to another. Each student
should choose his or her college carefully, considering the special
nature of the curriculum and the breadth of general education.
The bioengineering programs allow for humanities and social science
(HSS) courses so that students can fulfill their college requirements.
In the bioengineering ABET-accredited programs, students must develop
a program that includes a total of at least twenty-four units in
the arts, humanities, and social sciences, not including subjects
such as accounting, industrial management, finance, or personnel
administration. It should be noted, however, that some colleges
require more than the ten HSS courses indicated in the Bioengineering,
Bioengineering: Premedical, Bioengineering: Biotechnology, and Bioengineering: Bioinformatics
curriculum tables. Accordingly, students in these colleges may take
longer to graduate than the four years, indicated in the schedule.
Students must consult with their colleges to determine which HSS
courses to take.
BIOENGINEERING
(ABET-Accredited Program)
FALL |
WINTER |
SPRING |
|
FRESHMAN YEAR |
|
|
Math. 20A |
Math. 20B |
Math. 20C |
Chem. 6A |
Chem. 6B |
BILD 1 |
MAE 9 or 10 |
Phys. 2A |
Phys. 2B/2BL |
HSS4 |
BENG 12 |
HSS4 |
|
HSS4 |
|
|
SOPHOMORE YEAR |
|
Math. 20D |
Math. 20F |
Math. 20E |
Chem. 6B1 |
MAE 140 |
MAE 3 |
Phys. 2C/2CL |
BENG 109 |
BENG 100 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
JUNIOR YEAR |
|
|
BENG 101 |
BENG 112A |
BENG 112B |
BENG 110 |
BENG 186B |
BENG 172 |
MAE 170 |
BENG 140A |
BENG 140B |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
BENG 103B |
|
|
BENG 187A |
|
SENIOR YEAR |
|
|
MAE 107 |
BENG 122A |
BENG 125 |
ENG 187B |
BENG 130 |
BENG 187D |
DE6 |
ENG 187C |
BENG 186A |
TE3 |
DE6 |
TE3 |
HSS4 |
MAE 150 |
HSS4 |
|
BENG 1915 |
|
|
1 Chem. 6BL may be taken in any quarter within the first
two years after completion of Chem. 6B.
2 BENG 1 may be taken in sophomore year.
3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from
a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college
requirements may be higher.
5 Recommended course, not required. For graduating seniors
only.
6 Design elective (DE) courses must be selected from
a two-quarter sequence, BENG 119AB, 126AB, 127AB, 128AB, 129AB,
139AB, 147AB,
148AB, 149AB, 169AB, 179AB. BIOENGINEERING: BIOTECHNOLOGY
(ABET-Accredited Program)
FALL |
WINTER |
SPRING |
|
FRESHMAN YEAR |
|
|
Math. 20A |
Math. 20B |
Math. 20C |
Chem. 6A |
Chem. 6B |
Chem. 6BL1/6C |
MAE 9 or 10 |
Phys. 2A |
Phys. 2B |
HSS4 |
BENG 12 |
HSS4 |
|
HSS4 |
|
|
SOPHOMORE YEAR |
|
Math. 20D |
Math. 20F |
Math. 20E |
Chem. 140A |
Phys. 2C/2CL |
Chem. 140B |
BILD 1 |
BENG 130 |
BENG 100 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
JUNIOR YEAR |
|
|
BIBC 100 |
BIBC 102 |
BENG 160 |
CENG 101A |
BICD 100 |
BENG 103B |
MAE 170 |
BENG 123 |
BENG 187A |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
SENIOR YEAR |
|
|
BENG 161A |
BENG 161B |
BENG 125 |
BENG 166A |
BENG 1915 |
BENG 186A |
BENG 187B |
BENG 187C |
BENG 187D |
DE6 |
DE6 |
TE3 |
BENG 162 |
TE3 |
|
|
HSS4 |
|
|
1 Chem. 6BL may be taken concurrently with Chem. 6C
or in any quarter within the first two years after completion of
Chem. 6B.
2 BENG 1 may be taken in sophomore year.
3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from
a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college
requirements may be higher.
5 Recommended course, not required. For graduating seniors
only.
6 Design elective (DE) courses must be selected from
a two-quarter sequence, BENG 119AB, 126AB, 127AB, 128AB, 129AB,
139AB, 147AB, 148AB, 149AB, 169AB, 179AB. BIOENGINEERING: PREMEDICAL
FALL |
WINTER |
SPRING |
|
FRESHMAN YEAR |
|
Math. 20A* |
Math. 20B* |
Math. 20C* |
Chem. 6A* |
Chem. 6B |
Chem. 6BL1/6C |
MAE 9 or 10* |
Phys. 2A* |
Phys. 2B*/2BL |
HSS4 |
BENG 12 |
HSS4 |
|
HSS4 |
|
|
SOPHOMORE YEAR |
|
Math. 20D |
Math. 20F |
Math. 20E |
BILD 1 |
Chem. 140A |
BENG 100 |
Phys. 2C/2CL |
BENG 109 |
Chem. 140B |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
JUNIOR YEAR |
|
BENG 110 |
BENG 112A |
BENG 112B |
Chem. 140C5 |
BICD 100 |
BIBC 100 |
Chem. 143A |
MAE 140 |
MAE 170 |
BILD 2 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
SENIOR YEAR |
|
|
BIPN 140 |
BENG 186B |
BENG 172 |
BIPN 100 |
BIPN 102 |
BENG 186A |
BIBC 1023 |
TE3 |
TE3 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
|
* Seven of the eight courses used to compute the performance index
upon which Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors are admitted to
the major at the end of the freshman year. The other course must
be in engineering, science, or mathematics.
1 Chem. 6BL may be taken concurrently with Chem. 6C
or in any quarter within the first two years after completion of
Chem. 6B.
2 BENG 1 may be taken in sophomore year.
3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from
a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college
requirements may be higher.
5 Chem. 140C is not required for the major and can be
used as a technical elective. Chem. 140C is a requirement for application
to most medical schools.
BIOENGINEERING: BIOINFORMATICS
FALL |
WINTER |
SPRING |
|
FRESHMAN YEAR |
|
BILD 3 |
BILD 1 |
BILD 2 |
Chem. 6A |
Chem. 6B |
BILD 94 |
Math. 20A |
Math. 20B |
Chem. 6BL1/6C |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
Math. 20C |
|
|
HSS4 |
|
SOPHOMORE YEAR |
|
CSE 112 |
CSE 12 |
CSE 21/Math. 15B |
Math. 20D |
Chem. 140A |
Chem. 140B |
Phys. 2A |
Phys. 2B |
Phys. 2C |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
JUNIOR YEAR |
|
|
BICD 102/Chem. 114B |
BIMM 100/Chem. 114C |
BICD 110 |
BICD 100 |
CSE 101/Math. 188 |
BIMM 101/Chem. 112B |
CSE 100/Math. 176
|
CSE 101/Math. 20F |
BENG 181 |
Phys. 140A |
Math. 186 |
HSS4 |
|
SENIOR YEAR |
|
|
BENG 182 |
BENG 130 |
BENG 161C |
BENG 183 |
BENG 184 |
BIMM 185 |
BIBC 103 |
TE3 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
HSS4 |
|
|
1 Chem 6BL may be taken concurrently with Chem. 6C or
in any quarter within the first two years after completion of Chem
6B.
2 Students may take the slower paced version, CSE 8A-B,
instead of CSE 11.
3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from
a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college
requirements may be higher.
Policies and Procedures
Transfer Student Admission into Bioengineering, Bioengineering:
Biotechnology, Bioengineering: Premedical, or Bioengineering:
Bioinformatics
Effective fall 2004, it is strongly recommended
that transfer students complete the following course preparation
for engineering majors*:
- Calculus I—for Science and Engineering (Math. 20A)
- Calculus II—for Science and Engineering (Math. 20B)
- Calculus and Analytic Geometry (Math. 20C)
- Differential Equations (Math. 20D)
- Linear Algebra (Math. 20F)
- Complete calculus-based physics series with lab experience (Physics
2A-B-C)
- Chemistry 6A (except Computer Science and Computer Engineering
majors)
NOTE: Effective fall 2007, a total of ten quarter-units
of general chemistry (including laboratory) will be required
for students applying to all majors offered by the Department
of Bioengineering.
- Highest level of introductory computer programming language
course offerings at the community college**
*Effective fall 2006, these courses will be required
preparation for all engineering transfer students.
**Refer to the UCSD General Catalog to select major prerequisite
requirement for computer language courses.
**Refer to the General Catalog to select major prerequisite requirement
for computer language courses.
Admission to Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology
Because of heavy student interest in the Bioengineering and Bioengineering:
Biotechnology majors, and the limited resources available to accommodate
this demand, maintenance of a high quality program makes it necessary
to limit enrollments to the most qualified students.
Freshman Students
Freshman students who have excelled in high school and have declared
Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology on their UCSD application
are eligible for direct admission into those majors. These students
will be notified directly by the Jacobs School of Engineering whether
they have been admitted into their chosen major, based on admissions
criteria and their ranking in the applicant pool. The only way
for
a student to become a Bioengineering or Bioengineering:
Biotechnology major as a freshman at UCSD is to be directly admitted
from high school at the time of entrance into UCSD.
Transfer Students
Admission of transfer applicants into Bioengineering or Bioengineering:
Biotechnology is limited to those who have demonstrated a
high level of achievement commensurate with the prospect of
success in these
majors. Successful applicants must have completed substantial training
at the community college and must have achieved a high level
of
academic performance there. The required minimum of ninety quarter
transfer units must include eighteen quarter-units of calculus,
twelve quarter-units of calculus-based physics, and the highest
level computer science course offered at their community college.
Beginning fall 2007, ten quarter units of general chemistry (including
laboratory), will be part of the required transfer units.
Applicants seeking admission as transfer students will be considered
for direct admission into the Bioengineering and Bioengineering:
Biotechnology majors in the Department of Bioengineering. The only
way to become a Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology major is to be directly admitted as an entering transfer student.
Although the actual required GPA cutoff depends on the number of
openings, at least a 3.2 GPA in the community college transfer courses,
and a 3.4 GPA in math, physics, and computer science courses, are
likely to be needed to gain admission.
Admission to Bioengineering: Premedical
Freshman Students
Students intending to complete a Bioengineering: Premedical major
are initially identified as Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors
and admitted into a pre-major status. Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors who have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or better in the eight required
pre-major courses (Mathematics 20A-B-C; Physics 2A-B; Chemistry
6A; MAE 9 or 10, and one other pre-bioengineering course by the
end of the freshman year) are assured of admission into the Bioengineering:
Premedical major. Students who have not completed the pre-major
courses or achieved the necessary GPA for entry into the Bioengineering:
Premedical major by the end of the freshman year may still enter
the Bioengineering: Premedical major if these requirements have
been satisfied before the end of the sixth quarter of study at
UCSD.
Students need to contact the Student Affairs Office at the end
of the appropriate quarter to check on their status and complete
an
Undergraduate Change of Major Request form. Pre-Bioengineering:
Premedical majors not admitted into the Bioengineering:
Premedical major by the end of the sixth quarter of study at UCSD will automatically
have their major converted from “Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical”
to “Undeclared” by the department.
Transfer Students
Students are initially identified as "pre-majors",
and will be admitted to the Bioengineering: Premedical major based
on academic performance in ten prerequisite courses. It is expected
that students will have completed or have in progress all ten prerequisite
courses when applying to UCSD. Students are required to achieve
a GPA of 3.0 or better in the ten prerequisite pre-major courses
(Mathematics 20A-B-C; Physics 2A-B; Chemistry 6A; MAE 9 or 10,
and
three other courses required by the major) by the end of the third
quarter of study at UCSD. Note: Two of the
prerequisite courses must be taken at UCSD, one of which must
be
an upper-division course. Students need to contact the Student
Affairs Office at the end of their third quarter at UCSD to check
on their status and complete an Undergraduate Change of Major Request
form.
Admission to Bioengineering: Bioinformatics
As the number of pre-majors and majors will be limited as described
in the catalog section on Bioinformatics, student demand may exceed
program capacity. Therefore, admission to the major is not guaranteed
and will be based on academic excellence, as described below. Since
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary major, a Steering Committee
involving faculty from the participating departments will select
among the best candidates applying and recommended through each
department, while insuring active participation of the departments
and division offering the major.
Freshman Students
Bioengineering: Bioinformatics has been recently developed, and
there is a multi-step process into this major for students entering
UCSD as freshmen. First, high school students should apply to UCSD
for direct admission into the Bioengineering, Bioengineering:
Biotechnology, or Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical major. Those admitted should then
complete the freshman courses, prescribed in the preceding Table
for the Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major. After completing BILD
1, Chem. 6A, Math. 20B, and Math. 20C during the freshman year,
such students can apply to Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Admission
will be based primarily on the GPA in the four preceding courses,
but also on a written statement, completion of the other listed
requirements, and overall academic excellence. Students approved
for Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics should then continue with
the sophomore courses, prescribed in the preceding Table, including
CSE 11 and 12 which serve as two additional screening courses. By
the end of the sophomore year, these students can then apply to
major in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Admission to the Bioengineering:
Bioinformatics major will be based on the GPA in all six screening
courses. The final decision on admission to the pre-major and major
will be made by the Bioinformatics Steering Committee, in consultation
with the departments. Those students who are not selected for the
Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major, will be eligible to remain
in the Department of Bioengineering in the status in which they
were originally admitted.
Continuing Students
Students who have not declared the Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major, but who have completed the screening courses for the Bioengineering:
Bioinformatics major, may apply for entry to the program after six
quarters (the end of sophomore year). Students will be admitted
on a space-available basis, after pre-majors have been screened
for admission to the major.
Transfer Students
As Bioengineering: Bioinformatics has been recently developed,
there is a multi-step process into this major for transfer students.
First, such students should complete at their community colleges
as many of the following courses as possible, with a strong GPA
that is competitive with that of UCSD students applying for entry
into this major. The required courses include a year of calculus
(equivalent to Math. 20A, 20B, and 20C), two quarters of biology
(equivalent to BILD 1 and 2), a year of general chemistry with
laboratory
(equivalent to Chem. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6BL), and the highest level
programming courses (equivalent to CSE 11 and 12). Next, such students
should apply to UCSD for direct admission into the Bioengineering,
Bioengineering: Biotechnology, or Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical major. After completing the necessary screening requirements equivalent
to those that apply for students entering UCSD as freshmen, such
students can apply to Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics and subsequently
apply to major in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Admission will
be based primarily on the GPA in the required screening courses,
but also on a written statement, completion of the other listed
requirements and overall academic excellence. The final decision
on admission to the pre-major and major will be made by the Bioinformatics
Steering Committee, in consultation with the departments. Those
who are not selected for the Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major,
will be eligible to remain in the Department of Bioengineering
in
the status in which they were originally admitted.
Academic Advising
Upon admission to the major, students are encouraged to seek advice
from departmental staff in the Bioengineering Student Affairs Office,
Room 141, Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall, to plan a program of
study. Students are expected to chart their progress within their
major. The program plan may be revised in subsequent years, but
revisions involving curricular requirements require approval of
the undergraduate adviser and the Undergraduate Studies Committee.
As the department may make a small number of course and/or curricular
changes every year, it is imperative that students consult the undergraduate
adviser on an annual basis.
To enroll in any courses required for a bioengineering major, a
student must have satisfied prerequisite courses with a C
or better. (The department does not consider D or F grades as adequate
preparation for subsequent material.) Furthermore, the majority
of bioengineering courses have enrollment restrictions and are open
only to students who have been admitted to a bioengineering pre-major
or major. Where these restrictions apply, the registrar will not
enroll other students except by department approval. The department
expects students to adhere to these policies and enroll in courses
accordingly. Students are advised that they may be dropped from
course rosters if prerequisites and/or performance standards have
not been met.
Bioengineering courses are typically offered only once a year and
therefore should be taken in the recommended sequence. If courses
are taken out of sequence, it may not always be possible to enroll
in courses as desired or needed for timely graduation. If this occurs,
students should seek immediate departmental advice.
Programmatic advice may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
In addition, technical advice may be obtained from a specific bioengineering
faculty adviser assigned to each student upon admission to the major.
Program Alterations, Exceptions to Requirements, and Special Programs
Exceptions to any program or course requirements are possible if
approved by the Undergraduate Studies Committee before the courses
in question are taken. Petitions may be obtained from the Bioengineering
Student Affairs Office.
Institution of Capstone Design Course Sequence for Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology
A capstone design course sequence
has been approved for senior level students in the Bioengineering and Bioengineering:
Biotechnology majors. The capstone
design course sequence is comprised of a multi-quarter upper-division sequence
of courses that totals ten quarter-units and includes (1) a series of four
one-unit courses on selection (BENG 187A), design (BENG 187B),
implementation (BENG 187C),
and presentation (BENG 187D) of design projects, with consideration of professional
issues, and (2) a sequence of two three-unit laboratory design projects, offered
in many of the primary areas of bioengineering, including biomechanics (BENG
119AB), systems bioengineering (BENG 127AB, 128AB, 129AB), nanoscale and molecular
bioengineering (BENG 139AB), organ system bioengineering (BENG 147AB, 148AB,
149AB), tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (BENG 169AB), and bioinstrumentation
(BENG 179AB). The design projects and presentations will be performed by student
teams in the course sequence.
The capstone design sequence is currently being
phased in, and the Department of Bioengineering will make provisions
to accommodate new and current majors.
Students graduating in spring 2006 will be provided an opportunity to participate
in the new design course sequence. For students graduating in spring 2007
and subsequently, the design course sequence will be fully implemented.
Independent Study for Undergraduates
Under the guidance of a bioengineering faculty member, lower- and
upper-division level bioengineering students have opportunities
to participate in independent study and research.
Upper-division bioengineering students may take Bioengineering
199, Independent Study for Undergraduates. Lower-division bioengineering
students may enroll in Bioengineering 99 which is similar to Bioengineering
199, except that less background in the curriculum is needed. These
courses are taken as electives on a P/NP basis. Under certain conditions,
however, a Bioengine-ering 199 course may be used to satisfy upper-division
technical elective course requirements for the major. Students
interested in this alternative must identify a faculty member with
whom they wish to work and propose a two-quarter research or study
topic for Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology majors,
and a one-or two-quarter research topic for Bioengineering:
Premedical majors. Completion of two consecutive quarters of BENG 199 will
satisfy both technical elective requirements in the Bioengineering and Bioengineering:
Biotechnology majors. A Bioengineering: Premedical major may satisfy up to two of the three technical elective requirements
in that major by completion of BENG 199 courses. After obtaining
the faculty adviser’s concurrence on the topic and scope
of the study, the student must submit a Special Studies course
form (each quarter) and a Bioengineering 199 as Technical Elective
Contract to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. These forms must
be completed, approved, and processed prior to the beginning of
the quarter in which the course is to be taken.
Teaching
Students interested in participating in the instructional activities
of the department may take Bioengineering 195, Undergraduate Teaching
as an elective on a P/NP basis. Under certain conditions, it may
be used to satisfy upper-division technical elective course requirements
for the Bioengineering: Premedical major. Policy in this
regard may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
Integrated Bachelors/Masters Degree Program
An integrated program leading to a bachelor of science and a master
of science degree in bioengineering is offered to undergraduate
students who are enrolled in any of the major programs offered by
the Department of Bioengineering. Students interested in obtaining
the M.S. degree within one year following completion of the B.S.
Degree may apply to the department for admission to the program
during the fourth quarter prior to the receipt of the B.S.
Degree The program is open only to UCSD undergraduates.
To be eligible, students must have completed the first two quarters
of their junior year in residence at UCSD and have an upper-division
GPA of 3.5 or better and a 3.0 overall UC GPA. Twelve units of bioengineering
graduate level courses must be completed during the students
senior undergraduate year, in addition to the requirements
for the bachelors degree; these twelve units will count toward
the requirements for the masters degree only and must be taken
for a letter grade. It is the responsibility of the prospective
B.S./M.S. student to select a bioengineering faculty member who
is willing to serve as the students adviser. The student will
also arrange (with their faculty advisers approval) a schedule
of courses for the senior year that will fulfill the requirements
for the B.S. Degree while also serving the program planned for the
M.S. degree. Students are expected to meet the requirements for
the M.S. degree in one year (three consecutive academic quarters)
from the date of the receipt of the B.S. Degree
Industrial Internship Program and Graduate Industrial Training
Program
The Department of Bioengineering offers two industrial programs:
the Industrial Internship Program for undergraduates and
the Graduate Industrial Training Program for graduate students.
Both industrial programs are designed to complement the departments
academic curriculum with practical industry experience. Students
interested in these programs should contact the Bioengineering Industrial
Internship Office (125 Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall) well in
advance of the quarter in which they would like to start their internship.
The Industrial Internship Program is available to undergraduate
students who have completed all lower-division course requirements.
Academic credit under Bioengineering 196, Bioengineering Industrial
Internship can be earned by spending ten weeks or more as interns
in an industrial setting. The intern may be involved in a range
of activities including design, analysis, manufacturing, testing,
regulatory affairs, etc., under the direction of a mentor in the
workplace. At the completion of the internship experience, students
are required to submit a brief report to the mentor and faculty
adviser describing their activities.
The Graduate Industrial Training Program is designed for
students in the Master of Engineering Degree Program. This program
serves to significantly enhance the professional development of
M.Eng. students in preparation for leadership in the bioengineering
industry. Students will complete an independent industrial bioengineering
project in the setting of a company under the direction of an industrial
and faculty adviser.
The Graduate Program
Admission to the M.Eng., MS, and Ph.D., as well as to the Ph.D.
with a specialization in bioinformatics programs, is in accordance
with the general requirements of the graduate division. Applicants
are required to have completed a B.S. And/or M.S. degree by time
of admission in a branch of engineering, natural sciences, mathematics,
or quantitative life sciences. M.S. and Ph.D. applicants must
have
a GPA of 3.4 or better in technical courses. M.Eng. Applicants
should have competitive grades (greater than a 3.0 GPA). All applicants
must submit GRE General Test scores, as well as three letters of
recommendation from individuals who can attest to the academic
or
professional competence and to the depth of their interest in pursuing
graduate study. Attention will be paid to the background and statement
of purpose to ensure that they are consistent with the goals of
the program. For example, whereas undergraduate research experience
and the intention to pursue a research career or advanced studies
are qualifications and interests typically well-suited to the
M.S.
program, industrial experience and the intention to pursue a professional
career are better suited to the M.Eng. program.
A minimum score of 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based) on
the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required
of
all international applicants whose native language is not English
and whose undergraduate education was conducted in a language
other
than English. Students who score below 600 on the TOEFL examination
are strongly encouraged to enroll in an English as a Second Language
program before beginning graduate work. (UCSD Extension offers
an English language program during the summer as well as the academic
year.) Admission to the M.S. or Ph.D. is designated when the applicants
are judged to be appropriately qualified to pursue the degree
requested
at the time of application. Applicants are considered for admission
for the fall quarter only.
A new graduate student who does not meet the prerequisites of required
courses in the M.Eng., MS, or Ph.D. curricula may have to take some
basic courses to make up the deficiency. Thus, a student deficient
in mathematics and mechanics may have to take Math. 110, CENG 103C
or Bioengineering 103B, Bioengineering 110, 122A-B in the first
year and Bioengineering 250A-B, 253 in the second year. A student
deficient in biology and chemistry may have to take Chemistry 131
or Bioengineering 130 and BIPN 100, 102 in the first year and Bioengineering
230A-B-C in the second year.
Non-matriculated students are welcome to seek enrollment in bioengineering
courses via UCSD Extensions concurrent registration program,
but such enrollment in a bioengineering graduate course must be
approved by the instructor.
Master of Science Degree Programs
The Master of Science (M.S.) program is intended to extend
and broaden an undergraduate background and equip the graduates
with fundamental knowledge in bioengineering. It is intended for
those students wishing to gain experience in academic research,
especially those considering continuing graduate studies at the
doctoral level. The M.S. degree may be terminal or may be obtained
on the way to the Ph.D. Ph.D. students may obtain the M.S. degree
by completing the course work requirements of the M.S. degree and
by passing the Ph.D. departmental examination.
An individualized program is agreed upon by the student and a faculty
adviser. The plan of study must involve both course work and research,
culminating in the preparation of a thesis.
A total of forty-eight units of credit is required:
- Thirty-six units in course work
Nine courses, of which six are core courses, described below,
and three are elective courses which can be drawn from Bioengineering
course offerings, other engineering/science course offerings,
and School of Medicine courses. The faculty adviser must approve
the three elective courses.
- Twelve units in research
Bioengineering Research (BENG 299) under the direction of the
chosen faculty research adviser.
A thesis based on the research is written and subsequently reviewed
by the thesis adviser and two other faculty members appointed by
the dean of Graduate Studies. The oral defense of the thesis constitutes
the departmental masters exam.
Required Core Courses for M.S. Degree Program
Integrative Bioengineering
- BENG 250A. Biomechanics
- BENG 253. Biomedical Transport Phenomena
- A third required course chosen from a list of approved courses
that satisfy the Integrative Bioengineering requirement i.e.,
Advanced Biomechanics 250B, Biomedical Imaging BENG 280B, Bioinformatics
IIIGenomic Analysis BENG 203, or other core Bioengineering
graduate courses that satisfy the Integrative Bioengineering requirement
as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. A list of applicable
approved courses is available from the Department of Bioengineering
Student Affairs Office.
Life Science
- BENG 230A. Biochemistry
- BENG 230B. Cell and Molecular Biology
- BENG 230C. Cardiovascular Physiology
Restrictions to core course work requirements are as follows:
- Units obtained in Bioengineering 281, or 299 or 501 may not
be applied toward the course work requirement.
- No more than a total of eight units of Bioengineering 296 and
298 may be applied toward the course work requirement.
- No more than twelve units of upper-division 100-level Bioengineering
courses may be applied toward the course work requirement.
Students must maintain at least a B average in the courses taken
to fulfill the degree requirements.
Masters Time Limit Policy
Full-time M.S. students are permitted seven quarters in which to
complete all requirements. While there are no written time limits
for part-time students, the department has the right to set individual
deadlines if necessary.
A strong effort is made to schedule MSlevel course offerings
so that students may obtain their M.S. degree in one year of full-time
study or two years of part-time study (see regulations on part-time
study under Graduate Studies). Entering students
who do not meet the prerequisites of these core courses may have
to take some basic courses to make up the deficiency.
A candidate admitted for the M.S. degree who wishes to transfer
to the Ph.D. Program must consult the Student Affairs Office for
the transfer before completion of the M.S. program.
Change of Degree Aim
Upon completion of the requirements for the M.S. degree, students
are not automatically eligible for admission to the Ph.D. Program
M.S. candidates who wish to pursue a doctorate must submit an application
for a change in status to the Graduate Studies Committee. The application
must be approved and signed by a bioengineering faculty member who
expects to serve as the students Ph.D. adviser. Applications
will be reviewed by an ad hoc faculty committee. If the committee
recommends that the student has good potential for success in the
doctoral program, the student will be given the opportunity to take
an oral examination equivalent to the Ph.D. Departmental Qualifying
Examination. At the time of that exam, an assessment will be made
on admission to the Ph.D. Program
A change of status from a masters program to the doctoral
program requires that the student meet the minimal grade-point average
required by the department of doctoral candidates.
Master of Engineering Degree Program
The department offers a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Degree
The purpose of this degree is to prepare design and project engineers
for careers in the biomedical and biotechnology industries within
the framework of the graduate program of the Department of Bioengineering.
It is a terminal professional degree in engineering which includes
a recognition of the importance of breadth in technical knowledge,
sufficient electives to address job-specific interests and professional
skills such as economics, management, and business. It is intended
for students who are primarily interested in engineering design,
development, manufacturing, and management within an industrial
setting.
The M.Eng. Program is a flexible, course- intensive terminal professional
degree, designed to be completed in one academic year of full-time
study. It does not require a research project, a thesis, or a comprehensive
exam. However, students do have the option of enrolling for technical
credit in BENG 295, Bioengineering Design Project and Industrial
Training under the direction of a faculty adviser. This is
done by participating in the Graduate Industrial Training Program
which
allows students to work in an industrial setting on bioengineering
projects in order to gain practical experience. (See section
on Industrial Internship Program and Graduate Industrial
Training Program.) Students who may be interested in
continuing to the Ph.D. Program should apply to the M.S. program
and not the
terminal M.Eng. Degree
Students must select six courses from approved
core areas, three additional approved technical elective
courses from any graduate engineering program, and three
general elective courses which may be drawn from the Bioengineering
core areas, engineering technical electives or other non-technical
courses. Such core courses and technical and general electives are
described below. In selecting breadth courses, students must be
mindful of the prerequisite requirements for some of the courses
in the lists. The lists below are based on the current graduate
course offerings of the bioengineering and other engineering departments.
The Graduate Studies Committee will review the M.Eng. course lists
annually and update them as course offerings change. Students must
maintain at least a B average in the courses taken to fulfill the
degree requirements.
Required Core Courses for M.Eng. Program (Six Required)
- Biomechanics and Transport Phenomena BENG 250A-B, 253
- Tissue EngineeringBENG 241A-B-C
- Life ScienceBENG 230A-B-C
- Other approved core graduate courses taught by Bioengineering
faculty that satisfy the depth requirement of the M. Eng. degree
as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. A list of applicable
approved courses is available from the Department of Bioengineering
Student Affairs Office.
Examples of Technical Electives for M.Eng. (Three Required)
BENG 202. Bioinformatics II
BENG 203. Bioinformatics III
BENG 207. Neuromuscular Physiology and Biomechanics
BENG 208. Topics w/BENG Lab
BENG 209. Continuum Mechanics
BENG 211/212/213. Systems Bioengineering
BENG 230A-B-C-D. Biochem/Physiology
BENG 238. Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular System
BENG 241A-B-C. Tissue Engineering
BENG 247A-B-C. Biophotonics
BENG 250A-B, 253. Biomechanics
BENG 267. Microcirculation in Health and Disease
BENG 275. Computational Biomechanics
BENG 280A-B. Biomedical Imaging
BENG 295. Bioengineering Design Project (two-quarters, four units
each)
MAE 231A-B-C. Solid Mechanics
MAE 210A-B-C. Fluid Mechanics
MAE 221A-B-C. Heat and Mass Transfer
MAE 229A. Mechanical Properties
CSE 202. Algorithm Design and Analysis
CSE 210. Principles of Software Engineering
CSE 250A. Artificial Intelligence
ECE 239. Nanometer-Scale Probes and Devices
ECE 251AN, BN. Digital Image Processing and Analysis
Examples of General Electives for M.Eng. (Three Required)
BENG 161A-B-C. Biochemical Engineering
BENG 186A-B-C. Principles of Biomaterials, Bioinstrumentation and
Bioengineering Design.
IR/PS Management: IRGN 438, 439, 442, 444, 445, 420, 434, IRCO 420,
421
IR/PS International Issues: IRCO 401, IRGN 407, 411, 413, 418
MAE 133. Finite Element Method
Phys. 206. Biophysics
Sample M.Eng. Program of Study
FALL |
WINTER |
SPRING |
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BENG 230A |
BENG 230B |
BENG 230C |
Tech Elec |
BENG 250A |
BENG 250C |
Gen Elec |
BENG 253 |
Tech Elec |
Gen Elec |
Tech Elec |
Gen Elec |
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Doctoral Degree Program
The Bioengineering Ph.D. Program is intended to prepare students
for a variety of careers in research and teaching. Therefore, depending
on the students background and ability, research is initiated
as soon as possible. Bioengineering students have specific course
requirements and must maintain a minimum grade-point average of
3.4 in these courses. Students, in consultation with their advisers,
develop course programs that will prepare them for the Departmental
Qualifying Examination and for their dissertation research. These
programs of study and research must be planned to meet the time
limits established to advance to candidacy and to complete the requirements
for the degree. Doctoral students who have passed the Departmental
Qualifying Examination may take any course for an S/U grade with
the exception of courses required by the Departmental or Senate
Qualifying Examination Committee. It is recommended that all bioengineering
graduate students take a minimum of two courses (other than research)
per academic year after passing the Departmental Qualifying Examination.
Details can be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
Doctoral Examinations
A bioengineering Ph.D. student is required to pass three examinations.
The first is a Departmental Qualifying Examination which must
be
taken during the spring quarter of the first year of study. The
exam is designed to ensure that all successful candidates possess
a
firm
command
of
the engineering
and life
science
subjects that form the foundations of bioengineering research
and
their integration at a level appropriate for the doctorate. It
is administered by a committee designated by the department, consisting
of departmental faculty members and, in some cases, one other faculty
member from a related academic department (e.g., MAE, ECE, Medicine).
The scope of the oral examination includes the three broad areas
that form the core first-year Ph.D. curriculum, namely engineering
foundations, life science, and integrative bioengineering. The
purpose of the exam is not merely to recapitulate the content
of first-year
courses, but rather to establish that students are able to synthesize
this knowledge and apply it to solve problems in contemporary
bioengineering
research.
- Engineering Foundations
Defined by the content of three graduate engineering courses
drawn from the following:
BENG 202/CSE 257A. Bioinformatics II: Sequence and Structure
Analysis
BENG 203. Bioinformatics III:Genomic Analysis
BENG 209/MAE 209. Continuum Mechanics Applied to Medicine/Biology
BENG 275. Computational Biomechanics
BENG 280A. Principles of Biomedical Imaging
CSE 202. Algorithm Design and Analysis
ECE 222A. Applied Electromagnetic Theory
ECE 238A. Thermodynamics of Solids
ECE 247A/BENG 247A. Advanced Biophotonics
ECE 247B/BENG 247B. Bioelectronics
ECE 251AN. Digital Signal Processing
ECE 270A-B-C. Neurocomputing
MAE 210A. Fluid Mechanics (best suited to students with some
undergraduate background in mechanics or mechanical engineering)
MAE 221A. Heat and Mass Transfer
MAE 223. Computational Fluid Dynamics
MAE 231A. Foundations of Solid Mechanics (best suited to students
with some undergraduate background in mechanics or mechanical
engineering)
MAE 233A. Fracture Mechanics
MAE 252. Chemical Reaction Engineering
MAE 280A. Linear Systems Theory
MAE 281A. Nonlinear Systems
MAE 290A. Numerical Methods in Science and Engineering
MATS 201B. Solid State Diffusion and Reaction Kinetics
Other topics may be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee
- Integrative Bioengineering
Defined by the content of the following three bioengineering
courses:
BENG 250A. Biomechanics
BENG 253. Biomedical Transport Phenomena
A third required course chosen from a list of approved
courses that satisfy the Integrative Bioengineering requirement
i.e., Advanced Biomechanics BENG 250B, Biomedical Imaging BENG
280B, Systems Biology and Bioengineering: Building-In-Silico
models BENG 213, Bionanotechnology ECE 247C/BENG 247C, or
other core Bioengineering graduate courses
that satisfy the Integrative Bioengineering requirement as
approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. A list of applicable
approved
courses is available from the Department of Bioengineering
Student Affairs Office.
- Life Science
The life science subject area consists of the following topics:
biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, organ physiology,
and
tissue engineering. These subject areas are defined by the contents
of the following four courses: BENG 230B. Cell and
Molecular Biology
BENG 230A. Biochemistry or CHEM 211. Metabolic Biochemistry BENG 230C. Cardiovascular Physiology or BENG 230D.
Respiratory and Renal Physiology
BENG 241A. Foundations of Tissue Engineering
In addition to the above mentioned breadth requirements,
students must complete the following courses in their second
and subsequent
years of study:
At least two courses from an approved list that includes
the continuation of Bioengineering Foundations course sequences,
BENG 230D, Pharm. 201, Math. 283, bioengineering
graduate course sequences, other engineering/science course
offerings, and School of Medicine courses.
One quarter of BENG 501, Teaching Experience
BENG 281, Seminar in Bioengineering (F,W,S)
Courses comprising subject areas as well as subsequent requirements,
and composition of the examination committee must be approved by
the Graduate Studies Committee. Students are advised to seek such
approval well in advance of their expected examination date, preferably
while planning graduate studies.
Teaching Experience is required of all bioengineering Ph.D.
Students prior to taking the Senate Qualifying Exam described below.
Teaching experience is defined as service as a graduate student
instructor in a course designated by the department. The total teaching
requirement for new Ph.D. Students is four quarters at 25 percent
effort (ten hours per week). At least one quarter of teaching experience
is required during the first year (prior to the departmental qualifying
examination) and at least one quarter in the second year. Teaching
experience can be fulfilled as a requirement for student support
or taken as a course for academic credit (Bioengineering 501). Students
must contact the Student Affairs Office to plan for completion of
this requirement.
The Senate Qualifying Examination is the second examination
required of bioengineering Ph.D. Students In preparation for this
examination, students must have completed the Departmental Qualifying
Examination and the departmental teaching experience requirement,
obtained a faculty research adviser, and identified a topic for
their dissertation research and made initial progress. At the time
of application for advancement to candidacy, a doctoral committee
responsible for the remainder of the students graduate program
is appointed by the Graduate Council. The committee conducts the
Senate Qualifying Examination, during which students must demonstrate
the ability to engage in thesis research. This involves the presentation
and defense of a plan for the thesis research project. Upon successful
completion of this examination, students are advanced to candidacy
and are awarded the Candidate in Philosophy degree (see Graduate
Studies section in this catalog).
The Dissertation Defense is the final Ph.D. examination.
Upon completion of the dissertation research project, the student
writes a dissertation that must be successfully defended in a public
presentation and oral examination conducted by the doctoral committee.
A complete copy of the students dissertation must be submitted
to each member of the doctoral committee approximately four weeks
before the defense. It is understood that this copy of the dissertation
given to committee members will not be the final copy, and that
the committee members may suggest changes in the text at the time
of the defense. This examination must be conducted after at least
three quarters of the date of advancement to doctoral candidacy.
Acceptance of the dissertation by the Office of Graduate Studies
and Research and the university librarian represents the final step
in completion of all requirements for the Ph.D.
There is no formal foreign language requirement for doctoral candidates.
Students are expected to master whatever language is needed for
the pursuit of their own research.
Ph.D. Time Limit Policy
Pre-candidacy status is limited to four years. Doctoral students
are eligible for university support for six years. The defense and
submission of the doctoral dissertation must be within seven years.
Evaluations
In the spring of each year, the faculty evaluate each doctoral
students overall performance in course work, research, and
prospects for financial support for future years. A written assessment
is given to the student after the evaluation. If a students
work is found to be inadequate, the faculty may determine that the
student cannot continue in the graduate program.
Bioengineering
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