2024-2025 Bioengineering Undergraduate Study

bioengineering students in laboratory

Bioengineering students set up for an experiment in professor Wentai Liu’s Biomimetic Research Laboratory.

Bioengineering BS

The bioengineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Capstone Major

The Bioengineering major is a designated capstone major. Utilizing knowledge from previous courses and new skills learned from the capstone courses, undergraduate students work in teams to apply advanced knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering principles to address problems at the interface of biology and engineering and to develop innovative bioengineering solutions to meet specific sets of design criteria. Coursework entails construction of student designs, project updates, presentation of projects in written and oral format, and team competition.

Educational Objectives

The goal of the bioengineering curriculum is to train future leaders by providing students with the fundamental scientific knowledge and engineering tools necessary for graduate study in engineering or scientific disciplines, continued education in professional schools, or employment in industry. There are five main program educational objectives: graduates (1) participate in graduate, professional, and continuing education activities that demonstrate an appreciation for lifelong learning; (2) demonstrate professional, ethical, societal, environmental, and economic responsibility (e.g., by active membership in professional organizations); (3) demonstrate the ability to identify, analyze, and solve complex, open-ended problems by creating and implementing appropriate designs; (4) work effectively in teams consisting of people of diverse disciplines and cultures; and (5) be effective written and oral communicators in their professions or graduate/professional schools.

Learning Outcomes

The Bioengineering major has the following learning outcomes:

Preparation for the Major

Complete 20 courses as follows:

Bioengineering

Complete the following course:

Chemistry

Complete the following six courses:

Computer Programming or Computer Science

Select one course from:

Life Sciences

Complete the following two courses. Life Sciences 7A satisfies the school GE life sciences requirement.

Mathematics

Complete the following six courses:

Physics

Complete the following four courses:

The Major

Complete eight required courses, three technical breadth courses (12 units), two capstone courses, and six major field elective courses (24 units) as follows:

Required Courses

Complete the following eight courses:

Technical Breadth

Complete three technical breadth courses (12 units) selected from approved lists available on the technical breadth web page.

Capstone Design

Complete the following two courses:

Major Field Electives

Select six additional major field elective courses (24 units) from the following list. A maximum of 8 units of course 199 may be applied.

Alternative Elective and Technical Breadth

Three of the major field elective courses and the three technical breadth courses may also be selected from one of the following tracks. Bioengineering majors cannot take bioengineering technical breadth courses to fulfill the technical breadth requirement. For Bioengineering 199 to fulfill a track requirement, the research project must fit within the scope of the track field, and the research report must be approved by the supervisor and vice chair. A maximum of 8 units of course 199 may be applied.

Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine

The materials science and engineering courses may be used to satisfy the technical breadth requirement.

Biomedical Devices

The electrical and computer engineering or mechanical and aerospace engineering courses listed may be used to satisfy the technical breadth requirement.

Policies

The Major Policies

Approved lists of technical breadth courses are available on the technical breadth web page.

For information on UC, school, and general education requirements, see Requirements for BS Degrees or the GE Requirement web page.