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 MEng, MS, and PhD, as well as to the PhD with a specialization in bioinformatics programs, is in accordance with the general requirements of the graduate division. Applicants are required to have completed a BS and/or MS degree by time of admission in a branch of engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, or quantitative life sciences. MS and PhD applicants must have a GPA of 3.4 or better in technical courses. MEng 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 MS program, industrial experience and the intention to pursue a professional career are better suited to the MEng 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 MS or PhD 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 MEng, MS, or PhD 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. A student deficient in biology and chemistry may have to take Chem 131 or BENG 130 and BIPN 100, 102 in the first 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 MS degree within one year following completion of the BS degree may apply to the department for admission to the program during the fourth quarter prior to the receipt of the BS degree. The program is open only to UC San Diego undergraduates.

To be eligible, students must have completed the first two quarters of their junior year in residence at UC San Diego 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 BS/MS student to select a bioengineering faculty member who is willing to serve as the student’s adviser. The student will also arrange (with their faculty adviser’s approval) a schedule of courses for the senior year that will fulfill the requirements for the BS degree while also serving the program planned for the MS degree. Students are expected to meet the requirements for the MS degree in one year (three consecutive academic quarters) from the date of the receipt of the BS degree.

Master of Science Degree Programs

The Master of Science (MS) 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 MS degree may be terminal or may be obtained while pursuing a doctorate. Doctoral degree students wishing to obtain the MS degree should refer to Obtaining an MS Degree under the section, Doctoral Degree Program.”

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:

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 master’s exam.

Required Courses for MS Degree Program

Core Courses (total of seven required)

All core courses must be taken for letter grade.

Engineering Physics (four required)
Life Science (three required)

Plus one of the following courses:

Elective Courses (two required)

All graduate level courses offered in the Department of Bioengineering may be used to fulfill the elective course requirement. Students may also take graduate level engineering/science courses offered in other departments (e.g., MAE, ECE, SOM) for elective credit with prior faculty adviser approval. Courses taken in fulfillment of the elective course requirement must be taken for letter grade.

Seminars (required)

Restrictions to course work requirements are as follows:

  1. Units obtained in BENG 281, 282, 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.

Students must maintain at least a B average in the courses taken to fulfill the degree requirements.

Master’s Time Limit Policy

Full-time MS 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 MS-level course offerings so that students may obtain their MS 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

A candidate admitted for the MS degree who wishes to transfer to the PhD program must consult the Student Affairs Office concerning the transfer before completion of the MS program.

Change of Degree Aim

Upon completion of the requirements for the MS degree, students are not automatically eligible for admission to the PhD program.

MS 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 PhD 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 PhD Departmental Qualifying Examination. At the time of that exam, an assessment will be made concerning admission to the PhD 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 (MEng) 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 PhD program should apply to the MS program and not the terminal MEng program.

The MEng 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 Programsections 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 MEng course lists annually and update them as course offerings change. MEng 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 Courses for MEng Degree Program

Core Courses (total of six required)
Engineering Physics
Life Science
Tissue Engineering
Imaging
Technical Elective Courses for the MEng Degree
(three required, one of which must be BENG 295)

Core courses may be taken for technical elective credit.

General Elective Courses (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 MEng 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 PhD 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 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 PhD 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, SOM). The scope of the oral examination includes the two broad areas that form the core first-year PhD 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 PhD Students

Each incoming student will be assigned a bioengineering faculty adviser who will serve as a graduate adviser until the student chooses a thesis adviser.

First-Year Requirements

All bioengineering students in their first year of study are expected to enroll in the seven required core courses in the Engineering Physics and Life Science tracks listed below. First-year students are also required to take: two quarters of laboratory research rotation (BENG 298L); both one-credit seminars (BENG 281 and BENG 282); and one quarter (W or S) of Teaching Experience (BENG 501).

Core Courses (total of seven required)

All core courses must be taken for letter grade.

Engineering Physics (four required)
Life Science (three required)

Plus one of the following courses:

Laboratory Rotation (two quarters required)
Seminars (both required)
Teaching Experience (one quarter required)
Elective Courses (five required)

PhD students are required to complete a total of five approved elective courses by the end of their third year of study. All graduate level courses offered in the Department of Bioengineering (other than the seven core courses) may be used to fulfill the elective course requirement. Students may also take graduate level engineering/science courses offered in other departments (e.g., MAE, ECE, SOM) for elective credit with prior faculty adviser approval. Courses taken in fulfillment of the elective course requirement must be taken for a letter grade.

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 PhD 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 PhD 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. Students must complete the entire teaching requirement prior to their Senate Qualifying Exam.

The Senate Qualifying Examination is the second examination required of bioengineering PhD students. In preparation for this examination, students must have completed the Departmental Qualifying Examination, the departmental teaching experience requirement, all required course work (seven core and five approved elective courses), obtained a faculty research adviser, 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 PhD 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 PhD.

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 MS Degree

PhD students may obtain the MS degree by completing the course work requirements and by passing the PhD departmental qualifying examination. Course work requirements include successful completion of a total of forty-eight units of credit comprising Engineering Physics, Life Science and five approved elective courses (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 MS degree.

PhD 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.

PhD in Bioengineering with Specialization in Multiscale Biology

A specialization in Multiscale Biology spanning four divisions—Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Jacobs School of Engineering, and Health Sciences—is available to doctoral candidates in bioengineering. The PhD 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. For more information students should contact the Student Affairs Office.