Bioengineering

[ undergraduate program | courses | faculty ]

STUDENT AFFAIRS:
141 Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall
Warren College
http://www.be.ucsd.edu

The Graduate Program

Admission to the M.Eng., M.S., 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 3.02 GPA). All applicants must submit GRE General Test scores, as well as three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to their 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), 213 (computer based), or 80 (Internet 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. (UC San Diego Extension offers an English language program during the summer as well as the academic year.) Admission to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree program 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., M.S., 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 101C or BENG 103B, and BENG 110, 122A in the first year and BENG 250A–B, 253 in the second year. A student deficient in biology and chemistry may have to take CHEM. 131 or BENG 130 and BIPN 100, 102 in the first year and BENG 230A-B-C in the second year.

Nonmatriculated students are welcome to seek enrollment in bioengineering courses via UC San Diego Extension’s Concurrent Enrollment program. However, such enrollment in a bioengineering graduate course must be approved by the instructor.

Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s 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 student’s senior undergraduate year, in addition to the requirements for the bachelor’s degree; these twelve units will count toward the requirements for the master’s 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 student’s advisor. The student will also arrange (with their faculty advisor’s 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.

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 while pursuing a doctorate. Doctoral degree students wishing to obtain the M.S. degree should refer to “Obtaining an M.S. Degree” under the section, “Doctoral Degree Program.”

An individualized program is agreed upon by the student and a faculty advisor. 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:

A thesis based on the research is written and subsequently reviewed by the thesis advisor and two other faculty members appointed by the dean of Graduate Studies. The oral defense of the thesis constitutes the departmental master’s exam.

Required Core Courses for M.S. Degree Program

CORE COURSES (six required)
Engineering Physics
Life Science
ELECTIVE COURSES (three required from any of the four categories)
Systems Biology
Regenerative Medicine and Imaging
Multiscale Bioengineering
Other Courses That Can Serve as Electives

BENG 207. Topics in Bioengineering

Course given at the discretion of the faculty on current topics of interest in bioengineering. (The specific topics course must be approved by the Student Affairs Office.) Graduate level courses must be approved by the assigned advisor (or thesis advisor if determined).

SEMINARS (required)

Restrictions to core course work requirements are as follows:

  1. Units obtained in BENG 281, 299, or 501 may not be applied toward the course work requirement.
  2. No more than a total of eight units of BENG 296 and 298 may be applied toward the course work requirement.
  3. 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.

Master’s 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 M.S.-level 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 concerning 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 student’s Ph.D. advisor. 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 concerning admission to the Ph.D. program.

A change of status from a master’s 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 medical and biological engineering industries within the framework of the graduate program of the Department of Bioengineering. It is a terminal professional degree in engineering, which includes recognition of the importance of breadth in technical knowledge and 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.

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. program.

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 comprehensive exam. However, students must enroll for technical elective credit in BENG 295, Bioengineering Design Project and Industrial Training, under the direction of a faculty instructor. 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 “Industrial Internship Program” and “Graduate Industrial Training Program” sections of this catalog.) BENG 295 course requirements include a written technical report.

In addition to enrolling in one to two quarters (four to eight units) of BENG 295, Bioengineering Design Project and Industrial Training, students must select six courses from the approved core areas, one to two courses from the approved technical elective course list, and three courses from the approved general elective course list. 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 listed. 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. M.Eng. students are required to complete course requirements with a grade of B or better.

Students must also enroll in BENG 291, Senior Seminar I: Professional Issues in Bioengineering. This course instills skills for personal and organizational development during lifelong learning. Students prepare portfolios and a model NIH small business research grant.

Required Core Courses for M.Eng. Degree Program

CORE COURSES (six required)
Engineering Physics
Life Science
Tissue Engineering
Imaging
TECHNICAL ELECTIVE COURSES FOR M.ENG. DEGREE (three required, one of which must be BENG 295)
Examples of General Electives for M.Eng. (three required)

For other courses that address job-specific interests and professional skills such as economics, management, and business, consult with the Student Affairs Office.

SEMINAR (required)

BENG 291. Professional Issues in Bioengineering

Sample M.Eng. Degree Schedule

FALL WINTER SPRING
Core Core Core
Core Core Core
BENG 225 (GE) BENG 295 (TE) BENG 295 (TE)
Tech. Elec. Gen. Elec. Gen. Elec.
BENG 291 (Seminar)

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 student’s 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 advisors, 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.

Ph.D. in Bioengineering with Specialization in Multiscale Biology

As of winter 2009, the UCSD campus is offering a new Ph.D. specialization in Multiscale Biologythat will be available to doctoral candidates in participating programs that span four divisions: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Jacobs School of Engineering, and Health Sciences at UCSD. The Ph.D. specialization is designed to allow students to obtain standard basic training in their chosen field within the Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering and Health Sciences with training in integrative and quantitative analysis across multiple scales of biological organization from molecule to organism in health and disease into their graduate studies. It trains a new cadre of Ph.D. scientists and provides a unique interdisciplinary education at the interfaces between the biological, medical, physical, and engineering sciences.

The specific objectives of this program are

  1. Focused collaboration across nine graduate degree programs train a new generation of cross-disciplinary scientist.

  2. State-of-the-art interdisciplinary training through a new technology-centered hands-on graduate laboratory course curriculum.
  3. Novel emphasis on research aimed at integrative and quantitative analysis across multiple scales of biological organization from molecule to organism in health and disease.

Prospective students must apply and be admitted into the Ph.D. program in bioengineering described previously. (For more information, see the Department of Bioengineering and/or the Graduate Interfaces Training Program administered within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (4010 York Hall, Revelle College).

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, other faculty members from a related academic department (e.g., MAE, ECE, medicine). The scope of the oral examination includes the two broad areas that form the core first-year Ph.D. curriculum, namely Engineering Physics and Life Science. 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.

Curriculum for First-Year Ph.D. Students

All bioengineering students are expected to enroll for letter grade credit in the core courses in Engineering Physics and Life Sciences tracks listed below. In addition they are required to take three electives for a letter grade from among the courses listed based on advice from the graduate advisor. Each incoming student will be assigned a bioengineering faculty advisor who will serve as a graduate advisor until the student chooses a thesis advisor. First-year students are also required to enroll in two one-credit seminars.

CORE COURSES (all six required)
Engineering Physics
Life Science
ELECTIVE COURSES (three required, from any of the four categories)
Systems Biology
Regenerative Medicine and Imaging
Multiscale Bioengineering
Other Courses That Can Serve as Electives

BENG 207. Topics in Bioengineering

Course is given at the discretion of the faculty on current topics of interest in bioengineering. (The specific topics course must be approved by the Student Affairs Office.)

Graduate level courses approved by the assigned advisor (or thesis advisor if determined).

SEMINARS (required)

In addition to the above mentioned breadth requirements, students must complete the following courses in their second and subsequent years of study:

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 (BENG 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 advisor, 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 student’s 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 student’s 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 completion of at least three quarters from the date of advancement to doctoral candidacy. Acceptance of the dissertation by the Office of Graduate Studies 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.

Obtaining an M.S. Degree

Ph.D. students may obtain the M.S. degree by completing the course work requirements and by passing the Ph.D. departmental qualifying examination. Course work requirements include successful completion of a total of forty-eight units of credit comprising Engineering Physics and Life Science and two four-unit courses from an approved list taken during the second year of the Ph.D. degree (see details on course work requirements in the section “Doctoral Degree Program”). Students should consult with the Student Affairs Office in advance of their second year of study concerning required paperwork and deadlines for conferral of the M.S. degree.

Ph.D. Time Limit Policy

Precandidacy status is limited to three 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 student’s 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 student’s work is found to be inadequate, the faculty may determine that the student cannot continue in the graduate program.

Industrial Internship Program and Graduate Industrial Training Program

The Department of Bioengineering offers two industry-related programs: the Industrial Internship Program for undergraduates and the Graduate Industrial Training Program for graduate students. Both industrial programs are designed to complement the department’s academic curriculum with practical industry experience. The Bioengineering Industrial Internship Office is located in 125 Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall. Students interested in these programs should contact the office at bioengineering@ucsd.edu 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 BENG 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 advisor 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 a company setting under the direction of an industrial and faculty advisor.