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 or 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 and bioseparations, 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 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 curricular track are outlined
in tables below. In addition to the required technical courses specifically
indicated, a suggested scheduling of humanities and social science courses
(HSS) are 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 taking alternative
courses. In addition, students must obtain departmental approval of
technical elective (TE) course selections prior to 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:
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
|
Chem. 6BL1
|
|
HSS4
|
HSS4
|
|
SOPHOMORE YEAR
|
|
Math. 20D
|
Math. 20F
|
Math. 20E
|
MAE 130A/SE 101A
|
MAE 140
|
MAE 3
|
Phys. 2C/2CL
|
BENG 106B
|
BENG 100
|
HSS4
|
HSS4
|
HSS4
|
|
JUNIOR YEAR
|
|
|
BENG 101
|
BENG 112A
|
BENG 112B
|
BENG 110
|
BENG 186B
|
BENG 172
|
MAE 107/SE 121
|
BENG 140A
|
BENG 140B
|
MAE 170
|
HSS4
|
BENG 103B
|
|
SENIOR YEAR
|
|
|
BENG 186A
|
BENG 122A
|
BENG 186C
|
MAE 105
|
BENG 130
|
TE3
|
TE3
|
MAE 150
|
HSS4
|
HSS4
|
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 electives (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.
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
|
BIBC 103
|
BICD 100
|
BENG 122A
|
BENG 103B
|
CENG 101A
|
CENG 100
|
BIMM 100
|
MAE 140
|
HSS4
|
HSS4
|
|
SENIOR YEAR
|
|
|
BENG 161A
|
BENG 161B
|
BENG 161C
|
BENG 166A
|
BENG 162
|
BENG 164
|
BENG 186A
|
BENG 1915
|
TE3
|
MAE 170
|
TE3
|
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 BENG 1 may be taken in sophomore year.
3 Technical electives (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.
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
|
BILD 2
|
BENG 100
|
Phys. 2C/2CL
|
Chem. 140A
|
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
|
HSS4
|
HSS4
|
HSS4
|
|
SENIOR YEAR
|
|
|
BENG 186A
|
BENG 186B
|
BENG 172
|
BIPN 140
|
BIPN 100
|
BIPN 102
|
TE3
|
TE3
|
TE3
|
HSS4
|
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 electives (TE) courses must be selected from
a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Twelve 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
|
BIMM 181
|
Phys. 140A
|
Math. 186
|
HSS4
|
|
SENIOR YEAR
|
|
|
BENG 182
|
BENG 130
|
BENG 161C
|
BIBC 103
|
BENG 183
|
BIMM 185
|
TE3
|
BENG 184
|
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
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 after enrolling as a freshman at UCSD is to be directly admitted
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. For example, 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. Currently, all applicants seeking
admission as transfer students must apply for pre-major
admission into Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology.
Applicants intending to complete a Bioengineering or Bioengineering:
Biotechnology major are initially identified as pre-majors
and may be admitted to these majors by application to the department
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. 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
for the major) by the end of the third quarter of study at UCSD. Note:
Two of the prerequisite courses, one of which must be an upper-division
course, must be taken at UCSD.
Effective fall 2004, 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. Transfer students who have declared pre-Bioengineering
or pre-Bioengineering: Biotechnology will be considered for direct admission
to the major. There will be no premajor admissions to Bioengineering
or Bioengineering: Biotechnology.
Admission to Bioengineering: Premedical
Freshman Students
Applicants intending to complete a Bioengineering: Premedical major
are initially identified as Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors and
admitted into the premajor. 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 not admitted to the Bioengineering: Premedical major by the
end of the freshman year may reapply before the end of the sixth quarter
of study at UCSD. 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
Applicants who are initially identified as "pre-majors" will
be admitted to the major by application 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. Students are required to achieve
a GPA of 3.0 or better in the ten prerequisite premajor 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.
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 one of the other three Bioengineering majors (i.e., Bioengineering,
Bioengineering: Premedical, or Bioengineering: Biotechnology). 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 to be a pre-major
in one of the other three Bioengineering majors (i.e., Bioengineering,
Bioengineering: Premedical, or Bioengineering: Biotechnology). 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 must make an appointment with
an undergraduate adviser in the Bioengineering Student Affairs Office,
Room 141, Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall, to plan a program of study.
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 declared pre-engineering
students and/or students who have been admitted to a bioengineering
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.
Pre-bioengineering majors can obtain programmatic advice 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.
Independent Study for Undergraduates
Bioengineering students may take Bioengineering 199, Independent Study
for Undergraduates, under the guidance of a bioengineering faculty member.
This course is taken as an elective on a P/NP basis. Under certain conditions,
however, it 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 (the other technical elective
must be an engineering course) and Bioengineering: Biotechnology
majors, and a one-quarter research topic for Bioengineering: Premedical
majors. After obtaining the faculty advisers 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 (4110
Engineering Building 1, Warren College) 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 (paperbase) or 213 (computer base) 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 103B 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. or by completing the
course 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 (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 coursees. The faculty adviser
must approve the three elective courses.) in course work and twelve
units of Bioengineering 299 to fulfill the research requirement. 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 from
time to time by the Graduate Studies Committee.
Quantitative Physiology
- 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 in 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 two three-course sequences (six courses)
from the three 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.
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
- Quantitative PhysiologyBENG 230A-B-C
- Other approved core graduate courses taught by Bioengineering faculty
that satisfy the depth requirement of the M. Eng. degree as approved
from time to time by the Graduate Studies Committee.
Examples of Technical Electives for M.Eng. (Three Required)
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 160A-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
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BENG 230A
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BENG 230B
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BENG 230C
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BENG 250A
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BENG 250C
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BENG 253
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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
immediately following the candidates first academic year of enrollment
and is usually scheduled in the month of July. The exam is designed
to ensure that all successful candidates possess a strong command of
the engineering and life science subjects that form the foundations
of bioengineering research 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 oral examination is based on the following three subject areas at
the graduate engineering level which ensures adequate breadth:
- 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 Biomechanic
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 247C/BENG 247C. Bionanotechnology
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 227. Structure and Bonding of Solids
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,
Bioinformatics IIIGenomic Analysis BENG 203, or other core
Bioengineering graduate courses that satisfy the Integrative Bionegineering
requirement as approved from time to time.
- 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 230C. Cardiovascular Physiology or BENG 230D. Respiratory
and Renal Physiology
BENG 241A. Foundations of Tissue Engineering
CHEM 211. Metabolic Biochemistry or
BENG 230A. Biochemistry
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, and other bioengineering graduate
course sequences.
One quarter of BENG 501, Teaching Experience
BENG 281, Seminar in Bioengineering (F,W,S)
Courses comprising the departmental qualifying examination 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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