Bioengineering
2011-12 General Catalog
Baskin School of Engineering
335 Baskin Engineering Building
(831) 459-2158
http://www.soe.ucsc.edu
Program Description
Bioengineering focuses on the application of engineering tools and techniques to problems in medicine and the biological sciences. The UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) program in bioengineering, through its participating faculty and departments, provides students with inspiration and quality education in the theory and practice of bioengineering.
The UCSC bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in bioengineering prepares graduates for a career that combines engineering, medicine, and biology. UCSC bioengineering graduates will be trained in the principles and practices of bioengineering and in the scientific and mathematical principles upon which these principles and practices are built; graduates will be prepared for further education (both formal and informal) and for productive employment in industry.
Bioengineering is a broad discipline. To guide students in their study, the faculty have developed three concentrations: bioelectronics, biomolecular engineering, and rehabilitation. The bioelectronics concentration is designed for students interested in the interface between organisms and electronic instrumentation or implants. The biomolecular engineering concentration is designed for students interested in drug design or biomolecular sensors. The rehabilitation concentration is designed for students interested in developing technology to aid disabled individuals.
In the UCSC bioengineering B.S. program, many undergraduates work on faculty research projects, analyzing ideas, developing technologies, and discovering new approaches. Areas include biomolecular sensors and systems, nanoelectronic implants, assistive technologies for the elderly and disabled, bioinformatics, microfluidics, nano-scale biotechnology, and other areas at the junction between engineering, medicine, and the life sciences. More information about bioengineering research and undergraduate research opportunities can be found on the web at beng.soe.ucsc.edu, cbse.ucsc.edu, biomedical.ucsc.edu, marcmbrs.ucsc.edu, surf-it.soe.ucsc.edu, and graddiv.ucsc.edu/.
The program is sponsored by the Departments of Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, with additional participating faculty in the Departments of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Community Studies, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Philosophy, Physics, and Psychology.
The program has course requirements in mathematics, science, and engineering. Students interested in bioengineering as a major should contact the School of Engineering advising office (advising@soe.ucsc.edu) before enrolling in any courses at UCSC.
Bioengineering students may continue their research and studies at UCSC in the graduate programs of the collaborating department and other departments. Programs and application information may be found at http://www.graddiv.ucsc.edu.
Courses for Nonmajors
The following courses are recommended for nonmajors interested in bioengineering. Computer Engineering 80A, Universal Access: Disability, Technology, and Society; Biomolecular Engineering 80G, Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society; and Biomolecular Engineering 5, Introduction to Biotechnology. Students are also advised to consult the program discussions of the collaborating departments for additional possibilities related to bioengineering.
Admissions Policy
Admission to the major is selective. First-year applicants may receive direct admission at the time they apply to UCSC, based on their high school record and test scores.
Admission to the bioengineering major after a student has entered UCSC is based on performance in courses offered by the School of Engineering (SoE) and the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences (the SoE grade point average [GPA]). Students are required to have an SoE GPA of 2.7 or better at the time of major declaration. Progress in the major and ability to complete the major within campus limits will also be considered.
After the first year, at least six courses required for the major, and any associated laboratories, must be completed prior to declaration. Required courses are listed below.
Transfer Students
Admission of transfer students will be based on GPA and whether lower-division course requirements have been satisfied. Most importantly, transfer students should have completed required courses in calculus and differential equations, as well as required courses in at least three of the four other introductory areas (programming, biology, chemistry, and physics). Students may satisfy the bioethics requirement if they have completed a suitable ethics course at their community college.
Honors in the Major
Bioengineering majors are awarded “Honors in the Major” and “Highest Honors in the Major” based on GPA and on results of undergraduate research. Students with an SoE GPA of 3.7 in most cases receive highest honors. Students with an SoE GPA of 3.3 in most cases receive honors. Students with particularly significant accomplishments in undergraduate research may be considered with a lower SoE GPA.
Letter Grade Policy
The bioengineering program requires letter grades for all courses applied to the degree with the exception of two lower-division courses, which students may elect to take Pass/No Pass.
Major Disqualification
Success in bioengineering requires achievement in many areas. Pursuit of a related disciplinary major is a good choice for students whose interests or enthusiasm do not span bioengineering's full interdisciplinary range. The faculty have established the following requirements to remain in good standing in the major.
Bioengineering majors must maintain a cumulative SOE GPA of 2.5 up to the first quarter of senior standing, and not fall below 2.0 thereafter. Majors who do not meet the cumulative GPA requirement for two successive quarters are subject to disqualification from the major, as are students whose term SOE GPA falls below 1.5 in any quarter. Please see the Baskin School of Engineering section of the catalog for additional information. Students may appeal major disqualification through the Baskin School of Engineering Office of Undergraduate Affairs.
Baskin School of Engineering Policies
Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for additional policies that apply to all Baskin School of Engineering programs.
Materials Fee and Miscellaneous Fees
Please see the section on fees in the School of Engineering section.
Major Requirements
Advising and Elective Approval
Every major must have a bioengineering faculty adviser, assigned by the Baskin School of Engineering undergraduate advising office. With assistance from the adviser, students must formulate a program of proposed course work that meets the major requirements. All electives must be pre-approved by the bioengineering undergraduate director.
Optional Courses for Majors
Students desiring or needing an early introduction to the use of mathematics in engineering may wish to take Computer Engineering 8, Robot Automation, in their first quarter. Students pursuing the rehabilitation concentration may wish to include one or more psychology courses in their study plan.
Introductory Requirements for All Concentrations, 16 Courses
Mathematics 19A-B, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 7/L, Statistical Methods for the Biological and Environmental Sciences/Laboratory
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 10A and 20A, Basic Mathematical Methods for Engineers I & II (3 credits each); or Applied Mathematics and Statistics 10 and 20, Mathematical Methods for Engineers I and II; or Mathematics 24, Ordinary Differential Equations
Biomolecular Engineering 80G, Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society
Chemistry and Biochemistry 1A, 1B/M, and 1C/N, General Chemistry, or (with preapproval) courses completed elsewhere that enable enrollment in 108A/L
Chemistry and Biochemistry 108A/L or 112A/L, Organic Chemistry/Laboratory
Biology (BIOL) 20A, Cell and Molecular Biology
Biology (BIOE) 20B, Development and Physiology
Physics 5A/L or 6A/L, Introduction to Physics I/Laboratory
Physics 5C/N or 6C/N, Introduction to Physics II/Laboratory
Two (the rehabilitation concentration requires one more, see below) of:
Computer Engineering 12/L, Computer Systems and Assembly Language/Laboratory; or
Computer Engineering 13/L, Computer Systems and C Programming/Laboratory; or
Computer Science 12A/L, Introduction to Programming/Laboratory; or
Computer Science 12B/M, Introduction to Data Structures/Laboratory; or
Biomolecular Engineering 160/L, Research Programming for Biologists and Biochemists/Laboratory
Advanced Requirements for All Concentrations, 5-6 Courses
Either Biology (BIOL) 100/K, Biochemistry/Laboratory, or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 100A-B, Biochemistry
Biomolecular Engineering 150/L, Molecular Biomechanics/Laboratory
Electrical Engineering 101/L, Introduction to Electronic Circuits/Laboratory
Computer Engineering 9, Introduction to Statics, Dynamics, and Biomechanics
Computer Engineering 185, Technical Writing for Computer Engineers
Bioelectronics Engineering Concentration, 6 Courses
Electrical Engineering 103, Signals and Systems
Electrical Engineering 104/L, Measurement and Instrumentation in Physiology; or
Electrical Engineering 171/L, Analog Electronics
One design elective, from the approved list
Two upper-division Baskin School of Engineering electives
One upper-division Baskin School of Engineering or Division of Physical and Biological Sciences elective
Electives must be selected and pre-approved in consultation with your faculty adviser. Suggested electives include Electrical Engineering 154, Feedback Control Systems; 212, Introduction to Biomems;and 270, Neural Implant Engineering.
Biomolecular Engineering Concentration, 6 Courses
Biomolecular Engineering 5, Introduction to Biotechnology
Biomolecular Engineering 105, Genetics
One design elective, from the approved list
Two upper-division Baskin School of Engineering electives
One upper-division Baskin School of Engineering or Division of Physical and Biological Sciences elective
Electives must be selected and pre-approved in consultation with your faculty adviser. Suggested electives include Biomolecular Engineering 140, Bioinstrumentation; 155, Biotechnology and Drug Development; 128, Protein Engineering; 178, Stem Cell Biology; and 110, Computational Biology Tools.
Rehabilitation Engineering Concentration, 6 Courses
Students in the rehabilitation concentration must complete Computer Engineering 12/L, Computer Engineering 13/L or Computer Science 12A/L, and Computer Science 12B/M.
Computer Engineering 80A, Universal Access: Disability, Technology, and Society
Computer Engineering 131, Human-Computer Interaction
One design elective, from the approved list
One upper-division Baskin School of Engineering elective
One upper-division Baskin School of Engineering or Division of Physical and Biological Sciences elective
Electives must be selected and pre-approved in consultation with your faculty adviser.
Students may wish to focus on systems or software for rehabilitation. Suggested electives include Computer Engineering 118/L, Mechatronics/Laboratory; 167/L, Sensing and Sensor Technology/Laboratory; 232, Human Factors; and Computer Science 109, Advanced Programming.
Capstone Project, 2 Courses
All bioengineering students complete a senior capstone project in bioengineering. Students may satisfy this requirement with research in a faculty laboratory, concurrent with three offerings of 195, or by forming a student team to address a problem of interest and challenge within 123A and 123B. The project proposal must be approved by the bioengineering undergraduate director as a bioengineering project. (Satisfies the campus comprehensive requirement.)
- Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering 123A, Engineering Design Project I and Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering 123B, Engineering Design Project II; or
- 15 credits of independent study or senior thesis research, such as by completing three offerings of Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering 195; and Biomolecular Engineering 123T, Senior Thesis Presentation (2 credits).
Students pursuing the senior thesis option must seek approval of their project one year before graduation, typically spring quarter of the third year. Students spend three or more quarters working on their thesis projects. Thesis students also enroll in 123T, Senior Thesis Presentation, during the final spring quarter.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement. Bioengineering majors satisfy the DC Requirement by completing Computer Engineering 185, Technical Writing for Engineers.
Exit Requirement
Students are required to submit a portfolio, exit survey, and exit interview. The portfolios must be turned in electronically by the last day of the quarter of graduation.
The portfolios will be reviewed quarterly by the bioengineering undergraduate committee and must include the following:
1) The capstone project report
2) A second project report of the student’s selection
3) A narrative as specified at the submission site (http://beng.soe.ucsc.edu)
Exit interviews are scheduled during the last week of the quarter by the Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) advising office.
Bioengineering Major Planners
The following sample academic plans show possible courses of study for a bioengineering major. Students should consider taking courses during the summer to ensure timely completion of the degree. Courses planned to be taken at institutions other than UCSC require pre-approval. The first plan follows the biomolecular engineering concentration, the second plan follows the rehabilitation engineering concentration and includes precalculus, and the third plan follows the bioelectronics engineering concentration.
Plan One
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (frsh) | college core | BME 5 | gen ed (C2) |
| MATH 19A | MATH 19B | CMPS 12A/L | |
| CHEM 1A | CHEM 1B/M | CHEM 1C/N | |
| 2nd (soph) | CHEM 108A/L | PHYS 6A/L | PHYS 6C/N |
| AMS 10 | BIOL 20A | BIOL 20B | |
| BME 80G | AMS 20 | AMS 7/L | |
| 3rd (jr) | EE 101/L | BME 160/L | BME 150/L |
| BIOL 100/K | CMPE 9 | BIOL 105 | |
| gen ed | Design elective | gen ed | |
| 4th (sr) | BME 195 | BME 195 | BME 123T |
| BME 140 (elective) | BME 155 (elective) | BME 195 | |
| CMPE 185 | gen ed | elective | |
| gen ed |
Plan Two
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (frsh) | college core | CMPE 80A |
gen ed (C2) |
| AMS 3 |
MATH 19A | MATH 19B | |
| BME 80G |
CHEM 12/L | CMPE 13/L | |
| 2nd (soph) | CHEM 1A | CHEM 1B/M |
CHEM 1C/N |
| PHYS 6A/L | CMPE 9 | PHYS 6C/N | |
| AMS 10 | AMS 20 | gen ed | |
| 3rd (jr) | EE 101/L | BIOL 20A |
BIOL 20B |
| CMPS 12B/M |
CHEM 108A/L |
BIOL 100/K |
|
| gen ed | elective | elective | |
| 4th (sr) | CMPE 131 |
CMPE 123A | CMPE 123B |
| CMPE 185 | CMPE 233 (design elective) |
BME 150/L | |
| AMS 7 |
gen ed | gen ed |
Plan Three
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (frsh) | college core | CMPE 12/L |
gen ed (C2) |
| MATH 19A | MATH 19B | AMS 10 |
|
| PHYS 5A/L |
CMPE 9 | PHYS 5C/N |
|
| 2nd (soph) | CHEM 1A | CHEM 1B/M |
CHEM 1C/N |
| AMS 7 | AMS 20 |
BIOE 20B |
|
| BME 80G | BIOL 20A | CMPE 13/L |
|
| 3rd (jr) | EE 101/L | EE 103 | EE 171/L |
| CHEM 108A/L |
BIOL 100/K | BME 150/L | |
| gen ed | gen ed |
gen ed | |
| 4th (sr) | Design elective | EE 123A | EE 123B |
| CMPE 185 |
elective | elective | |
| elective | gen ed |
Revised: 8/13/12
