Bioengineering
2018-19 General Catalog
Baskin School of Engineering
335 Baskin Engineering Building
(831) 459-2158
https://beng.soe.ucsc.edu/
Program Description
The two concentrations of the UC Santa Cruz Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in bioengineering prepare graduates for productive employment in industry or further education in graduate school. Each concentration is based on different essential underlying science and share an emphasis on teaching engineering design using that basis in science. A related major, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics (BMEB), is described elsewhere in this catalog.
The bioelectronics concentration is designed for students interested in the interface between organisms and electronic instrumentation or implants. The emphasis is on the interfacing of biological sensors to computer systems, and the underlying sciences are physics and chemistry.
The assistive technology: motor concentration is designed for students interested in helping people with movement disabilities. The emphasis is on designing exoskeletons and robots, and the underlying sciences are physics and anatomy.
In both concentrations, students participate in a capstone design experience: a two- or three-quarter group project intended to prepare students for work in industry, a summer full-time synthetic biology project based on the iGEM competition, or a three-quarter senior thesis. All capstone options involve working closely with faculty and other researchers at UCSC, analyzing ideas, developing technologies, and discovering new approaches. Application areas include biomolecular sensors and systems, nano-electronic implants, assistive technologies for the elderly and disabled, microfluidics, nanoscale biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and other areas at the junction between engineering and the life sciences.
More information about bioengineering research and undergraduate research opportunities can be found at the undergraduate research opportunities website, the bioengineering website, the Genomics Institute website, the STEM maximizing access to research careers (MARC) website, and the STEM diversity programs website.
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, Chemistry and Biochemistry.
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. Early advising is particularly important before choosing calculus and physics courses.
Bioengineering students may continue their research and studies at UCSC in any of several graduate programs. Information may be found here.
Program Learning Outcomes
A bioengineering student completing the program should:
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have a broad knowledge of science and engineering disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, and computer science;
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be able to apply their broad knowledge to identify, formulate, and solve engineering design problems;
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be able to find and use information from a variety of sources, including books, journal articles, online encyclopedias, and manufacturer data sheets;
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be able to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
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be able to communicate problems, experiments, and design solutions in writing, orally, and as posters; and
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be able to apply ethical reasoning to make decisions about engineering methods and solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
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; BME 160, Research Programming in the Life Sciences; and BME 163, Applied Visualization and Analysis of Scientific Data. Students are also advised to consult the program discussions of the collaborating departments for additional possibilities related to bioengineering.
Declaration of the Major
In order to be admitted into the bioengineering major students must be listed as a proposed major within the School of Engineering. Please refer to the School of Engineering section under “Proposed Engineering Major Status” for more information.
In addition to being listed as a proposed major, to be admitted to bioengineering students must have completed at least 50 credits with a GPA of 2.8 or better in all attempts from the following courses: Applied Mathematics and Statistics (AMS) 10, AMS 20, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (BIOL) 20A, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (BIOE) 20B, BME 80G, Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHEM) 1A, CHEM 1B/M, CHEM 1C/N, Computer Engineering (CMPE) 9, CMPE 12/L, CMPE 13/L, CMPE 80A, CMPE 100/L, Mathematics (MATH) 19A, MATH 19B, Physics (PHYS) 5A/L, PHYS 5B/M and PHYS 5C/N.
Students who want to declare after the sixth quarter are required to appeal, must be declared in another major, and have completed 10 more credits of courses required for the major for each additional quarter.
Appeals for major declaration may be filed with the Baskin School of Engineering Office of Undergraduate Affairs according to the procedures given in the Baskin School of Engineering Program Statement.
Transfer Students
Transfer students need to have completed eight transferable courses from the list used for admission for on-campus students, with a GPA in those courses of 2.8 or better. However, students are recommended to complete at least ten transferable courses prior to transfer, as they may otherwise have difficulty finishing in a timely fashion.
Students may satisfy the bioethics requirement if they have completed a suitable ethics course at their previous institution, even if the course does not articulate to BME 80G.
Honors in the Major
Bioengineering majors are considered for “Honors in the Major” and “Highest Honors in the Major” based on their GPA and on the results of undergraduate research. Students with a GPA of 3.7 receive “Highest Honors in the Major.” Students with a GPA of 3.3 receive “Honors in the Major.” Students with particularly significant accomplishments in undergraduate research may receive honors or highest honors with a lower GPA. Students who have been found guilty of academic misconduct are not eligible for either honors or highest honors.
Letter Grade Policy
Please refer to the letter grade policy in the School of Engineering section.
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 coursework that meets the major requirements.
Optional Courses for Majors
CMPS 5P, Introduction to Programming in Python, is recommended for those students who have never done computer programming, before taking CMPS 12A, CMPE 12, or BME 160. Python is frequently used in bioengineering jobs, and starting in Python is easier than starting in Java. (The CMPS 5J+11 sequence is permitted, but not recommended for bioengineers.) Students considering the assistive technology: motor concentration or desiring an early introduction to the use of mathematics in engineering may wish to take Computer Engineering 8, Robot Automation, in their first quarter.
Courses Required for Both Concentrations (Lower-Division, 9)
Mathematics 19A-B, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
Biomolecular Engineering 80G, Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society
Biomolecular Engineering 51A and 51B, Applied Electronics for Bioengineers I and II (students who have previously had Biomolecular Engineering 101/L, Applied Electronics for Bioengineers, may substitute it for 51A-B)
Chemistry and Biochemistry 1A, 1B/M General Chemistry
Biology (BIOL) 20A, Cell and Molecular Biology
Biology (BIOE) 20B, Development and Physiology
All concentrations also require physics and computer programming, but the details of the requirements differ, due to the different needs of the concentrations (see below).
Courses Required for Both Concentrations (Upper-Division, 1)
Computer Engineering 185, Technical Writing or Biomolecular Engineering 185, Technical Writing
Capstone Requirement, Both Concentrations, 3 Courses
All bioengineering students complete a senior capstone project in bioengineering, either as a group project or as an individual senior thesis doing research in a faculty laboratory. (Satisfies the campus comprehensive requirement.)
Note that the technical writing requirement is a prerequisite for all the capstone options, including the senior thesis. The group project courses all have additional prerequisites that may not be met with just the required courses in a concentration. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the prerequisites for whichever capstone they choose.
Capstone Sequences
Biomolecular Engineering 123A-B, Bioengineering Project; or
Biomolecular Engineering 129A-C, Bioengineering Project; or
Computer Engineering 123A-B, Engineering Design Project I and II; or
Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering 129A-C, Capstone Project; (Note: Students may not have all prerequisite courses for 129A-C and will need either an additional course or permission of instructor to enroll); or
BME 180, Professional Practice in Bioengineering (2 credits), and BME 188A/B, Synthetic Biology—Mentored Research (10 credits); or
Twelve credits of independent study (198), Field Study (193), or senior thesis research (195), in biomolecular engineering, computer engineering, or electrical engineering; 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 must enroll in 123T, Senior Thesis Presentation, before completing their thesis.
Additional Required Courses for Bioelectronics Concentration (16 Courses)
Chemistry 1C/N, General Chemistry
Physics 5A/L, 5B/M, and 5C/N, Introduction to Physics I, II, and III
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 10, Mathematical Methods for Engineers I
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 20, Mathematical Methods for Engineers II
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 131, Introduction to Probability Theory
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 132, Classical and Bayesian Inference
Biomolecular Engineering 140, Bioinstrumentation or EE 104, Bio-electronics and Bio-instrumentations
Computer Engineering 12/L, Computer Systems and Assembly Language/Laboratory
Computer Engineering 13/L, Computer Systems and C Programming/Laboratory
Computer Engineering 100/L, Logic Design/Laboratory
Electrical Engineering 101/L, Introduction to Electronic Circuits/Laboratory
Electrical Engineering 103/L, Signals and Systems/Laboratory
And two upper-division or graduate courses from the approved list of electronics electives
Additional Required Courses for Assistive Technology: Motor Concentration (16 Courses)
Computer Engineering 80A, Universal Access: Disability, Technology, and Society, or Computer Engineering 8, Robot Automation: Intelligence Through Feedback Control
Physics 5A/L and 5C/N, Introduction to Physics I/Laboratory and Physics III/Laboratory
Computer Engineering 9, Introduction to Statics, Solid Mechanics and Biomechanics
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 10, Mathematical Methods for Engineers I
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 20, Mathematical Methods for Engineers II
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 131, Introduction to Probability Theory
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 132, Classical and Bayesian Inference
Computer Engineering 12/L, Computer Systems and Assembly Language/Laboratory
Computer Engineering 13/L, Computer Systems and C Programming/Laboratory
Computer Engineering 100/L, Logic Design/Laboratory
Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology (METX) 135/L, Functional Anatomy/Laboratory
Computer Engineering 118/L, Introduction to Mechatronics/Laboratory
Electrical Engineering 101/L, Introduction to Electronic Circuits/Laboratory
Electrical Engineering 103/L, Signals and Systems/Laboratory
One course from the approved list of electronics electives.
Disciplinary Communication
The disciplinary communication requirement is satisfied by the technical writing course (CMPE 185 or BME 185) plus the capstone requirement, though oral presentation and writing are integrated throughout the upper-division coursework. The portfolio in the exit requirement is a verification of disciplinary communication in several different forms.
Exit Requirement
Students are required to submit a portfolio, exit survey, and exit interview.
The portfolios must be turned in electronically as PDF files by the last day of the quarter of graduation, and will be reviewed quarterly by the undergraduate director.
Portfolios must contain the following:
- A substantial written report on a design project. This is typically satisfied by a senior thesis, a written capstone project report, or a design report from the Applied Electronics for Bioengineers course.
- Slides from a substantial verbal presentation. This is typically satisfied by a capstone design presentation, Stem Cell Engineering, or other design courses.
- A research poster. This is typically satisfied by a senior thesis poster or a capstone design project poster, presented at the undergraduate poster symposium.
The three parts of the portfolio should represent at least two different design projects. If a senior thesis is completed, it must be provided as the written report. If a capstone project is completed, it must be provided as one (or more) of the three submissions.
Exit interviews are scheduled during the last week of the quarter by the Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) advising office, generally as small group interviews.
Bioengineering Major Planners
The following sample academic plans show possible courses of study for a bioengineering major. The first plan follows the the bioelectronics concentration, and the second the assistive technology: motor concentration.
All plans assume that students are ready for calculus and advanced computer programming courses when they start. Those who need to take precalculus CMPS 5P or CMPS 5J may not be able to complete the entire program within four years.
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 by the undergraduate director.
All students should meet quarterly with an adviser from the School of Engineering Undergraduate Advising Office to review their finished and planned courses, as schedules and prerequisites change frequently. Any electives should be chosen well ahead of time, to ensure that prerequisites can be scheduled.
Plan One (Bioelectronics)
|
Year |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
|
1st |
college core |
CMPE 12/L |
CMPE 13/L |
|
MATH 19A |
MATH 19B |
CHEM 1B/M |
|
|
CHEM 1A |
PHYS 5A/L |
PHYS 5B/M |
|
|
2nd |
PHYS 5C/N |
CHEM 1C/N |
|
|
AMS 10 |
AMS 20 |
CMPE 100/L |
|
|
|
BME 51A |
BME 51B |
|
|
3rd |
BIOL 20A |
BIOE 20B |
EE 103/L |
|
BME 80G |
electronics |
electronics |
|
|
EE 101/L |
CMPE 185 |
gen ed |
|
|
4th |
EE 129A |
EE129B |
EE 129C |
|
BME 140 |
AMS 132 |
gen ed |
|
|
AMS 131 |
gen ed |
|
Plan Two (Assistive Technology: Motor)
|
Year |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
|
1st |
college core |
|
gen ed (C2) |
|
CMPE 80A |
PHYS 5A/L |
PHYS 5C/N |
|
|
MATH 19A |
MATH 19B |
CMPE 12/L |
|
|
2nd |
CMPE 100/L |
EE 101/L |
EE 103/L |
|
CHEM 1A |
AMS 20 |
CHEM 1B/M |
|
|
AMS 10 |
CMPE 9 |
BIOL 20A |
|
|
3rd |
CMPE 118/L |
BME 51A |
BME 51B |
|
BME 80G |
CHEM 1C/N |
CE 13/L |
|
|
gen ed |
BIOE 20B |
|
|
|
4th |
Electronics |
CMPE 123A |
CMPE 123B |
|
AMS 131 |
AMS 132 |
gen ed |
|
|
CMPE 185 |
|
METX 135/L |
Revised: 07/15/18
