Bioengineering

[ Undergrad Program] [ Graduate Program] [ Professors] [ Courses]

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

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 and biological 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 improve health and quality of life by applying engineering principles to scientific discovery and technology innovation and to train future leaders in bioengineering through inspiring education and dedicated mentorship.

The educational objectives of the Bioengineering program at UCSD are to produce graduates with a modern bioengineering education who will:

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 device industry and for further education in graduate school. Students completing the B.S. degree in Bioengineering have a broad preparation in traditional topics in engineering, allowing for a variety of career pathways. This program addresses the bioengineering topics of biomechanics, biotransport, bioinstrumentation, bioelectricity, biosystems, and biomaterials, and the complementary fields of systems and integrative physiology. Education in these areas allows application of bioengineering and other scientific principles to benefit human health by advancing methods for effective diagnosis and treatment of disease, e.g., through development of medical devices and technologies.

The department also offers a B.S. degree in Bioengineering: Biotechnology. This major 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, metabolism, kinetics, biotransport, biosystems, bioreactors, bioseparations, tissue engineering, and the complementary fields of cellular physiology. Education in these areas allows application of bioengineering and physicochemical principles to cellular and molecular biology, with the applications that benefit human health.

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 other schools of the health professions. 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. In addition to entering these health science professional schools, graduates of this program can also pursue graduate education in bioengineering, neurosciences, or related fields, or work in industry.

The department also offers a major leading to a B.S. degree in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is the study of the flow of information (genetic, metabolic, and regulatory) in living systems to provide an understanding of the properties of cells and organisms. This major has been developed by the Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science and Engineering, and 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 an interdisciplinary engineering foundation for a career in which engineering practice may expand 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. In the Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology majors, students also work in teams on a senior design project to design a solution to a multidisciplinary bioengineering problem suggested by professionals in bioengineering industry, academia, or medicine.

The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) is an organization with a mission of serving the public through promotion and advancement of education in fields including engineering, and ABET’s strategic plans include accreditation of educational programs and promotion of quality and innovation in education (http://www.abet.org). At UCSD, Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology have a relatively heavy emphasis on engineering, whereas Bioengineering: Bioinformatics and Bioengineering: Premedical have a relatively heavy emphasis on biological, chemical, and physical sciences. The Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology programs are accredited by EAC/ABET. The Bioengineering: Bioinformatics and Bioengineering: Premedical programs are not accredited by a Commission of ABET.

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. For further information on the specialization please consult with the Student Affairs Office. The M.Eng. Degree is a terminal professional degree whereas the M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees are research programs. (See section on master’s degree programs.) The graduate programs are characterized by strong interdisciplinary relationships with the other engineering departments and Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medicine, and others, as well as with campus organizations such as the Whitaker Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Mechanics and Materials, and the School of Medicine.

The Undergraduate Program

Major Requirements

Specific course requirements for each of the majors are outlined in tables below. In addition to the required technical courses specifically indicated, a suggested scheduling of humanities and social science courses (HSS) is included in the curricula for students to use to meet college general-education requirements. To graduate, students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0, and obtain at least a C– grade in each course required for the major. All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade.

Deviations from the required programs of study must be approved by the Undergraduate Studies Committee prior to students taking alternative courses. In addition, students must obtain departmental approval of technical elective (TE) course selections prior to students taking the course. In the ABET-accredited programs, TE courses are restricted to those that meet ABET standards. Courses such as Bioengineering 196, 197, and 198 are encouraged, but they do not count as upper-division technical electives. Bioengineering 195 and 199 can be used as technical electives under certain conditions. Policy information may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.

Students with accelerated academic preparation at admission to the university may vary the scheduling of lower-division courses such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry, but must first consult the department. Most lower-division courses are offered more than once each year to permit students some flexibility in their program scheduling. However, most upper-division bioengineering 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 student’s 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 forty units in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, not including subjects such as accounting, industrial management, finance, or personnel administration. It should be noted, however, that some colleges require more than the ten HSS courses indicated in the Bioengineering, Bioengineering: Premedical, Bioengineering: Biotechnology, and Bioengineering: Bioinformatics curriculum tables. Accordingly, students in these colleges may take longer to graduate than the four years indicated in the schedule. Students must consult with their colleges to determine which HSS courses to take.

BIOENGINEERING

(ABET-Accredited Program)

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

FRESHMAN YEAR

Math. 20A

Math. 20B

Math. 20C

Chem. 6A

Chem. 6B

BILD 1

MAE 9 or 10

Phys. 2A

Phys. 2B/2BL

HSS4

BENG 12

HSS4
 

HSS4

 

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Math. 20D

Math. 20F7

Math. 20E

Chem. 6BL1

MAE 1407

MAE 3

Phys. 2C/2CL

BENG 109

BENG 100

HSS4

HSS4

HSS4

JUNIOR YEAR

BENG 101

BENG 112A

BENG 112B

BENG 110

BENG 186B

BENG 172

MAE 170

BENG 140A

BENG 140B

HSS4

HSS4

BENG 103B

 

 

BENG 187A

SENIOR YEAR

MAE 107

BENG 122A

BENG 125

BENG 187B

BENG 130

BENG 186A

DE6

BENG 187C

BENG 187D

TE3

DE6

TE3

HSS4

MAE 150

HSS4

 

BENG 1915

 

1 Chem. 6BL may be taken in any quarter within the first two years after completion of Chem. 6B.
2 BENG 1 may be taken in sophomore year.
3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college requirements may be higher.
5 Recommended course, not required. For graduating seniors only.
6 Design elective (DE) courses must be selected from a two-quarter sequence, BENG 119AB, 126AB, 127AB, 128AB, 129AB, 139AB, 147AB, 148AB, 149AB, 169AB, 179AB.
7 Math. 20F and MAE 140 may be taken concurrently.

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

BENG 123

BENG 103B

CENG 101A

BIBC 102

BENG 160

MAE 170

BICD 100

BENG 187A

HSS4

HSS4

HSS4

SENIOR YEAR

BENG 161A

BENG 161B

BENG 125

BENG 187B

BENG 187C

BENG 187D

BENG 166A

DE6

BENG 186A

DE6

TE3

TE3

BENG 162

TE3

  

 

BENG 1915

 

1 Chem. 6BL may be taken concurrently with Chem. 6C or in any quarter within the first two years after completion of Chem. 6B.

2 BENG 1 may be taken in sophomore year.

3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.

4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college requirements may be higher.

5 Recommended course, not required. For graduating seniors only.

6 Design elective (DE) courses must be selected from a two-quarter sequence, BENG 119AB, 126AB, 127AB, 128AB, 129AB, 139AB, 147AB, 148AB, 149AB, 169AB, 179AB.

BIOENGINEERING: PREMEDICAL

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

FRESHMAN YEAR

Math. 20A*

Math. 20B*

Math. 20C*

Chem. 6A*

Chem. 6B

Chem. 6BL1/6C

MAE 9 or 10*

Phys. 2A*

Phys. 2B*/2BL

HSS4

BENG 12

HSS4

 

HSS4

  

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Math. 20D

Math. 20F

Math. 20E

BILD 1

Chem. 140A

Chem. 140B

Phys. 2C/2CL

BENG 109

BENG 100

HSS4

HSS4

HSS4

JUNIOR YEAR

BENG 110

BENG 112A

BENG 112B

Chem. 140C5

BICD 100

BIBC 100

Chem. 143A

MAE 140

MAE 170

BILD 2

HSS4

HSS4

SENIOR YEAR

BIPN 140

BENG 186B

BENG 172

BIPN 100

BIPN 102

BENG 186A

BIBC 1023

TE3

TE3

HSS4

HSS4

 

* Seven of the eight courses used to compute the performance index upon which Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors are admitted to the major at the end of the freshman year. The other course must be in engineering, science, or mathematics.

1 Chem. 6BL may be taken concurrently with Chem. 6C or in any quarter within the first two years after completion of Chem. 6B.
2 BENG 1 may be taken in sophomore year.
3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college requirements may be higher.
5 Chem. 140C is not required for the major and can be used as a technical elective. Chem. 140C is a requirement for application to most medical schools.

BIOENGINEERING: BIOINFORMATICS

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

FRESHMAN YEAR

BILD 3

BILD 1

BILD 2

Chem. 6A

Chem. 6B

BILD 94

Math. 20A

Math. 20B

Chem. 6BL1/6C

HSS4

HSS4

Math. 20C

   

HSS4

SOPHOMORE YEAR

CSE 112

CSE 12

CSE 21/Math. 15B

Math. 20D

Chem. 140A

Chem. 140B

Phys. 2A

Phys. 2B

Phys. 2C

HSS4

HSS4

HSS4

JUNIOR YEAR

BIBC 102/Chem. 114B

BIMM 100/Chem. 114C

BICD 110

BICD 100

CSE 101/Math. 188

BIMM 101/Chem. 112B

CSE 100/Math. 176

Math. 20F

BENG 181

Phys. 140A

Math. 186

HSS4

SENIOR YEAR

BENG 182

BENG 130

BENG 161C

BENG 183

BENG 184

BIMM 185

BIBC 103

TE3

HSS4

HSS4

HSS4

  

1 Chem. 6BL may be taken concurrently with Chem. 6C or in any quarter within the first two years after completion of Chem. 6B.
2 Students may take the slower paced version, CSE 8A-B, instead of CSE 11.
3 Technical elective (TE) courses must be selected from a departmental approved list. Consult the Student Affairs Office.
4 Ten HSS courses are listed here; individual college requirements may be higher.

Policies and Procedures

Transfer Student Admission into Bioengineering, Bioengineering: Biotechnology, Bioengineering: Premedical, or Bioengineering: Bioinformatics

The following courses are required preparation for all engineering transfer students.

**Refer to the UCSD General Catalog to select major prerequisite requirement for computer language courses.

**Refer to the General Catalog to select major prerequisite requirements for computer language courses.

Admission to Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology

Because of heavy student interest in the Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology majors, and the limited resources available to accommodate this demand, maintenance of a high quality program makes it necessary to limit enrollments to the most qualified students.

Freshman Students

Freshman students who have excelled in high school and have declared Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology on their UCSD application are eligible for direct admission into those majors. These students will be notified directly by the Jacobs School of Engineering whether they have been admitted into their chosen major, based on admissions criteria and their ranking in the applicant pool. The only way for a student to become a Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology major as a freshman at UCSD is to be directly admitted from high school at the time of entrance into UCSD.

Transfer Students

Admission of transfer applicants into Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology is limited to those who have demonstrated a high level of achievement commensurate with the prospect of success in these majors. Successful applicants must have completed substantial training at the community college and must have achieved a high level of academic performance there. The required minimum of ninety quarter transfer units must include eighteen quarter-units of calculus, twelve quarter-units of calculus-based physics, ten quarter units of general chemistry (including laboratory), and the highest level computer science course offered at their community college.

Applicants seeking admission as transfer students will be considered for direct admission into the Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology majors in the Department of Bioengineering. The only way to become a Bioengineering or Bioengineering: Biotechnology major is to be directly admitted as an entering transfer student. Although the actual required GPA cutoff depends on the number of openings, at least a 3.2 GPA in the community college transfer courses, and a 3.4 GPA in math, physics, and computer science courses, are likely to be needed to gain admission.

Admission to Bioengineering: Premedical

Freshman Students

Students intending to complete a Bioengine-ering: Premedical major are initially identified as Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors and admitted into a pre-major status. Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors who have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or better in the eight required pre-major courses (Mathematics 20A-B-C; Physics 2A-B; Chemistry 6A; MAE 9 or 10, and one other pre-bioengineering course by the end of the freshman year) are assured of admission into the Bioengineering: Premedical major. Students who have not completed the pre-major courses or achieved the necessary GPA for entry into the Bioengineering: Premedical major by the end of the freshman year may still enter the Bioengineering: Premedical major if these requirements have been satisfied before the end of the sixth quarter of study at UCSD. At the end of the appropriate quarter, students should contact the Student Affairs Office to check on their status and complete an Undergraduate Change of Major Request form to switch their status from “Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical” to “Bioengineering: Premedical.” Students who enter UCSD as Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical majors and who are not admitted into the Bioengineering: Premedical major by the end of the sixth quarter of study at UCSD will automatically have their major converted from “Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical” to “Undeclared” by the department.

Transfer Students

Students are initially identified as "pre-majors" and will be admitted to the Bioengineering: Premedical major based on academic performance in ten prerequisite courses. It is expected that students will have completed or have in progress all ten prerequisite courses when applying to UCSD. Students are required to achieve a GPA of 3.0 or better in the ten prerequisite pre-major courses (Mathematics 20A-B-C; Physics 2A-B; Chemistry 6A; MAE 9 or 10, and three other courses required by the major) by the end of the third quarter of study at UCSD. Note: Two of the prerequisite courses must be taken at UCSD, one of which must be an upper-division course. Students need to contact the Student Affairs Office at the end of their third quarter at UCSD to check on their status and complete an Undergraduate Change of Major Request form.

Admission to Bioengineering: Bioinformatics

Students interested in applying for Bioengineering: Bioinformatics should inquire at the Bioengineering Undergraduate Student Affairs Office during their freshman or sophomore year. Admission to the major is not guaranteed, but is based on academic excellence, as described below. Since bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary major, a steering committee of faculty from the participating departments and division (Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences) will offer admission to the major to those applicants who are most qualified and recommended through each department, while insuring active participation of the departments and division offering a bioinformatics major.

Freshman Students

Bioengineering: Bioinformatics has been recently developed, and there is a multistep process into this major for students entering UCSD as freshmen. First, high school students should apply to UCSD for direct admission into the Bioengineering, Bioengineering: Biotechnology, or Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical major. Those admitted should then complete the freshman courses, prescribed in the preceding table for the Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major. After completing BILD 1, Chem. 6A, Math. 20B, and Math. 20C during the freshman year, such students can apply to Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Admission will be based primarily on the GPA in the four preceding courses, but also on a written statement, completion of the other listed requirements, and overall academic excellence. Students approved for Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics should then continue with the sophomore courses, prescribed in the preceding table, including CSE 11 and 12 which serve as two additional screening courses. By the end of the sophomore year, these students can then apply to major in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Admission to the Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major will be based on the GPA in all six screening courses. The final decision on admission to the pre-major and major will be made by the Bioinformatics Steering Committee, in consultation with the departments. Those students who are not selected for the Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major, will be eligible to remain in the Department of Bioengineering in the status in which they were originally admitted.

Continuing Students

Students who have not declared the Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major, but who have completed the screening courses for the Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major, may apply for entry to the program after six quarters (the end of sophomore year). Students will be admitted on a space-available basis, after pre-majors have been screened for admission to the major.

Transfer Students

As Bioengineering: Bioinformatics has been recently developed, there is a multistep process into this major for transfer students. First, such students should complete at their community colleges as many of the following courses as possible, with a strong GPA that is competitive with that of UCSD students applying for entry into this major. The required courses include a year of calculus (equivalent to Math. 20A, 20B, and 20C), two quarters of biology (equivalent to BILD 1 and 2), a year of general chemistry with laboratory (equivalent to Chem. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6BL), and the highest level programming courses (equivalent to CSE 11 and 12). Next, such students should apply to UCSD for direct admission into the Bioengineering, Bioengineering: Biotechnology, or Pre-Bioengineering: Premedical major. After completing the necessary screening requirements equivalent to those that apply for students entering UCSD as freshmen, such students can apply to Pre-Bioengineering: Bioinformatics and subsequently apply to major in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics. Admission will be based primarily on the GPA in the required screening courses, but also on a written statement, completion of the other listed requirements and overall academic excellence. The final decision on admission to the pre-major and major will be made by the Bioinformatics Steering Committee, in consultation with the departments. Those who are not selected for the Bioengineering: Bioinformatics major, will be eligible to remain in the Department of Bioengineering in the status in which they were originally admitted.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the major, students are encouraged to seek advice from departmental staff in the Bioengineering Student Affairs Office, Room 141, Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall, to plan a program of study. Students are expected to chart their progress within their major. As the department may make a small number of course and/or curricular changes every year, it is imperative that students check their e-mail for updates and consult a bioengineering undergraduate advisor 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.) Also, the majority of bioengineering courses have enrollment restrictions and are open only to students who have been admitted to a bioengineering pre-major or major. Where these restrictions apply, the registrar will not enroll other students except by department approval. The department expects students to adhere to these policies and enroll in courses accordingly. Students are advised that they may be dropped from course rosters if prerequisites and/or performance standards have not been met.

Bioengineering courses are typically offered only once a year and therefore should be taken in the recommended sequence. If courses are taken out of sequence, it may not always be possible to enroll in courses as desired or needed for timely graduation. If this occurs, students should seek immediate departmental advice.

Programmatic advice may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office. In addition, technical advice may be obtained from a specific bioengineering faculty advisor 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.

Capstone Design Course Sequence for Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology

A capstone design course sequence is required for senior level students in the Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology majors. The capstone design course sequence consists of a multiquarter upper-division sequence of courses that totals ten quarter-units and includes (1) a series of four one-unit courses on selection (BENG 187A), design (BENG 187B), implementation (BENG 187C), and presentation (BENG 187D) of design projects, with consideration of professional issues, and (2) a sequence of two three-unit laboratory design projects, offered in many of the primary areas of bioengineering, including biomechanics (BENG 119AB), systems bioengineering (BENG 127AB, 128AB, 129AB), nanoscale and molecular bioengineering (BENG 139AB), organ system bioengineering (BENG 147AB, 148AB, 149AB), tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (BENG 169AB), and bioinstrumentation (BENG 179AB). The design projects and presentations will be performed by student teams in the course sequence.

Independent Study for Undergraduates

Under the guidance of a bioengineering faculty member, lower- and upper-division level bioengineering students have opportunities to participate in independent study and research.

Upper-division bioengineering students may take Bioengineering 199, Independent Study for Undergraduates. Lower-division bioengineering students may enroll in Bioengineering 99 which is similar to Bioengineering 199, except that less background in the curriculum is needed. These courses are taken as electives on a P/NP basis. Under certain conditions, a Bioengine-ering 199 course may be used to satisfy upper-division technical elective course requirements for the major. Students interested in this alternative must identify a faculty member with whom they wish to work and propose a two-quarter research or study topic for Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology majors, a one- or two-quarter research topic for Bioengineering: Premedical majors, and a one-quarter research topic for Bioengineering: Bioinformatics majors. Completion of two consecutive quarters of BENG 199 will satisfy both technical elective requirements in the Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology majors. A Bioengineering: Premedical major may satisfy up to two of the three technical elective requirements in that major by completion of BENG 199 courses. Additionally, Bioengineering: Bioinformatics majors may also use a BENG 199 course to satisfy the major’s one technical elective course requirement. After obtaining the faculty advisor’s concurrence on the topic and scope of the study, the student must submit a Special Studies Course Form (each quarter) and a Bioengineering 199 as Technical Elective Contract to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. These forms must be completed, approved, and processed prior to the beginning of the quarter in which the course is to be taken.

Teaching

Students interested in participating in the instructional activities of the department may take Bioengineering 195, Undergraduate Teaching as an elective on a P/NP basis. Under certain conditions, it may be used to satisfy upper-division technical elective course requirements for the Bioengineering: Premedical major. Policy in this regard may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.

Integrated 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

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. Students interested in these programs should contact the Bioengineering Industrial Internship Office (125 Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall) well in advance of the quarter in which they would like to start their internship.

The Industrial Internship Program is available to undergraduate students who have completed all lower-division course requirements. Academic credit under Bioengineering 196, Bioengineering Industrial Internship, can be earned by spending ten weeks or more as interns in an industrial setting. The intern may be involved in a range of activities including design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, regulatory affairs, etc., under the direction of a mentor in the workplace. At the completion of the internship experience, students are required to submit a brief report to the mentor and faculty 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.

The Graduate Program

Admission to the M.Eng., MS, and Ph.D., as well as to the Ph.D. with a specialization in bioinformatics programs, is in accordance with the general requirements of the graduate division. Applicants are required to have completed a B.S. And/or M.S. degree by time of admission in a branch of engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, or quantitative life sciences. M.S. and Ph.D. applicants must have a GPA of 3.4 or better in technical courses. M.Eng. Applicants should have competitive grades (greater than a 3.0 GPA). All applicants must submit GRE General Test scores, as well as three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the academic or professional competence and to the depth of their interest in pursuing graduate study. Attention will be paid to the background and statement of purpose to ensure that they are consistent with the goals of the program. For example, whereas undergraduate research experience and the intention to pursue a research career or advanced studies are qualifications and interests typically well-suited to the M.S. program, industrial experience and the intention to pursue a professional career are better suited to the M.Eng. program.

A minimum score of 550 (paper based), 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. (UCSD 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 Bioengineering 103B, Bioengineering 110, 122A 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.

Nonmatriculated students are welcome to seek enrollment in bioengineering courses via UCSD Extension’s concurrent registration program. However, 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 while pursuing a doctorate. Doctoral degree students wishing to obtain the M.S. degree should refer to "Obtaining 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

Integrative Bioengineering

Life Science

Restrictions to core course work requirements are as follows:

  1. Units obtained in Bioengineering 281 or 299 or 501 may not be applied toward the course work requirement.
  2. No more than a total of eight units of Bioengineering 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 MS–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 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 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 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 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.

The M.Eng. Program is a flexible, course- intensive terminal professional degree, designed to be completed in one academic year of full-time study. It does not require a research project, a thesis, or a comprehensive exam. However, students do have the option of enrolling for technical elective credit in BENG 295, Bioengineering Design Project and Industrial Training under the direction of a faculty advisor. 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.) Students who may be interested in continuing to the Ph.D. Program should apply to the M.S. program and not the terminal M.Eng. Degree

Students must select six courses from approved core areas, three additional approved technical elective courses from any graduate engineering program, and three general elective courses which may be drawn from the bioengineering core areas, engineering technical electives, or other nontechnical courses. Such core courses and technical and general electives are described below. In selecting breadth courses, students must be mindful of the prerequisite requirements for some of the courses 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. 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)
Examples of Technical Electives for M.Eng. (Three Required)

BENG 202/CSE 282. Bioinformatics II: Sequence and Structure Analysis–Methods and Applications
BENG 203/CSE 283. Bioinformatics III: Functional Genomics
BENG 207. Neuromuscular Physiology and Biomechanics
BENG 208. Topics in Bioengineering with Lab
BENG 209. Continuum Mechanics
BENG 211/212/213. Systems Bioengineering
BENG 230A-B-C-D. Biochem/Physiology
BENG 238/MED 238. Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular System
BENG 241A. Tissue Engineering
BENG 247A-B-C. Biophotonics
BENG 250A-B, 253. Biomechanics
BENG 267. Microcirculation in Health and Disease
BENG 276/Chem. 276/Math. 276. Numerical Analysis in Multi-Scale Biology
BENG 280A-B. Biomedical Imaging
BENG 295. Bioengineering Design Project (two-quarters, four units each)
MAE 210A-B-C. Fluid Mechanics
MAE 221A-B-C. Heat and Mass Transfer
MAE 229A. Mechanical Properties
MAE 231A-B-C. Solid Mechanics
MAE 280A. Linear Systems Theory
MAE 293. Advanced Computer Graphics for Engineers and Scientists
MATS 253. Nanomaterials and Properties
CSE 202. Algorithm Design and Analysis
CSE 206B. Algorithms in Computational Biology
CSE 210. Principles of Software Engineering
CSE 250A. Artificial Intelligence
ECE 239. Nanometer-Scale Probes and Devices
ECE 251AN, BN. Digital Image Processing and Analysis

Examples of General Electives for M.Eng. (Three Required)

BENG 161A-B-C. Biochemical, Bioreactor, and Metabolic Engineering
BENG 186A-B-C. Principles of Biomaterials, Bioinstrumentation and Bioengineering Design
BENG 207. Topic Courses
BENG 225. BioBusiness: Biotech Company
Chem. 140A-B-C. Organic Chemistry
CSE 167. Computer Graphics
ENG 201, 202, 203. Entrepreneurism
ECE 138L. Microstructuring Processing Technology Laboratory
ECE 254. Detection Theory
IR/PS Management: IRGN 420, 434, 438, 439, 442, 444, 445, IRCO 420, 421, 490G
IR/PS International Issues: IRCO 401, IRGN 407, 411, 413, 418
ECON 133. International Environmental Agreements
ECON 172A-B-C. Introduction to Operations Research
ECON 175. Financial Investments
ECON 178. Economic and Business Forecasting

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

MAE 133. Finite Element Method
MAE 152. Computer Graphics for Engineers and Scientists
MAE 290A. Numerical Methods in Science and Engineering
Phys. 206. Biophysics

Sample M.Eng. Program of Study

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

BENG 230A

BENG 230B

BENG 230C

Tech Elec

BENG 250A

BENG 247C

Gen Elec

BENG 253

Tech Elec

Gen Elec

Tech Elec

Gen Elec

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.

Doctoral Examinations

A bioengineering Ph.D. student is required to pass three examinations. The first is a Departmental Qualifying Examination which must be taken during the spring quarter of the first year of study. The exam is designed to ensure that all successful candidates possess a firm command of the engineering and life science subjects that form the foundations of bioengineering research and their integration at a level appropriate for the doctorate. It is administered by a committee designated by the department, consisting of departmental faculty members and, in some cases, one other faculty member from a related academic department (e.g., MAE, ECE, medicine). The scope of the oral examination includes the three broad areas that form the core first-year Ph.D. curriculum, namely engineering foundations, life science, and integrative bioengineering. The purpose of the exam is not merely to recapitulate the content of first-year courses, but rather to establish that students are able to synthesize this knowledge and apply it to solve problems in contemporary bioengineering research.

  1. Engineering Foundations
    Defined by the content of three graduate engineering courses drawn from the following:

    2. BENG 202/CSE 282. Bioinformatics II: Sequence and Structure Analysis–Methods and Applications
    BENG 209/MAE 209. Continuum Mechanics Applied to Medicine/Biology
    BENG 211/212. Systems Biology
    BENG 280A. Principles of Biomedical Imaging
    CSE 202. Algorithm Design and Analysis
    ECE 222A. Applied Electromagnetic Theory
    ECE 238A. Thermodynamics of Solids
    ECE 247A/BENG 247A. Advanced Biophotonics
    ECE 247B/BENG 247B. Bioelectronics
    ECE 251AN. Digital Signal Processing
    ECE 270A-B-C. Neurocomputing
    MAE 210A. Fluid Mechanics (best suited to students with some undergraduate background in mechanics or mechanical engineering)
    MAE 221A. Heat and Mass Transfer
    MAE 223. Computational Fluid Dynamics
    MAE 231A. Foundations of Solid Mechanics (best suited to students with some undergraduate background in mechanics or mechanical engineering)
    MAE 233A. Fracture Mechanics
    MAE 252. Chemical Reaction Engineering
    MAE 280A. Linear Systems Theory
    MAE 281A. Nonlinear Systems
    MAE 290A. Numerical Methods in Science and Engineering
    MATS 201B. Solid State Diffusion and Reaction Kinetics

    Other topics may be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

  2. Integrative Bioengineering
    Defined by the content of the following three bioengineering courses:
    3. BENG 250A. Biomechanics
    BENG 253. Biomedical Transport Phenomena
    A third required course chosen from the following list of approved courses that satisfy the Integrative Bioengineering requirement.
    BENG 203/CSE 283. Bioinformatics III: Functional Genomics
    BENG 213. Systems Biology and Bioengineering: Building In Silico Models
    BENG 247C/ECE 247C. Bionanotechnology
    BENG 250B. Advanced Biomechanics
    BENG 276/Chem. 276/Math. 276. Numerical Analysis in Multi-Scale Biology
    BENG 280B. Biomedical Imaging

    Or other core bioengineering graduate courses that satisfy the Integrative Bioengineering requirement as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. A list of applicable approved courses is available from the Department of Bioengineering Student Affairs Office.

  3. 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:
    4. BENG 230A. Biochemistry or Chem. 211. Metabolic Chemistry
    BENG 230B. Cell and Molecular Biology
    BENG 230C. Cardiovascular Physiology or BENG 230D. Respiratory and Renal Physiology
    BENG 241A. Foundations of Tissue Engineering

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

    At least two four-unit courses from an approved list that includes the continuation of Bioengineering Foundations course sequences, bioengineering graduate course sequences, other engineering/science course offerings, and School of Medicine courses. Students often take SOM courses to fulfill the second-year course requirement. The faculty advisor must approve the courses. Approved courses include: BENG 203, BENG 207, BENG 230D, BENG 247A-B-C, BENG 250B, BENG 238, MAE 231A-B-C, MAE 210A-B-C, MAE 207, MAE 221A, MATS 253, ECE 251, Chem. 211, and MAM 238

    One quarter of BENG 501. Teaching Experience

    BENG 281. Seminar in Bioengineering (F,W,S)

Courses comprising subject areas as well as subsequent requirements, and composition of the examination committee must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. Students are advised to seek such approval well in advance of their expected examination date, preferably while planning graduate studies.

Teaching experience is required of all bioengineering Ph.D. Students prior to taking the Senate Qualifying Exam described below. Teaching experience is defined as service as a graduate student instructor in a course designated by the department. The total teaching requirement for new Ph.D. Students is four quarters at 25 percent effort (ten hours per week). At least one quarter of teaching experience is required during the first year (prior to the departmental qualifying examination) and at least one quarter in the second year. Teaching experience can be fulfilled as a requirement for student support or taken as a course for academic credit (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 at least three quarters of 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 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 Foundations, Integrative Bioengineering, 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 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 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.