Bioengineering

Baskin School of Engineering
335 Baskin Engineering Building
(831) 459-2158
http://www.soe.ucsc.edu

(The Bioengineering Program is new this year and was not included in the General Catalog 2006-08.)

Program Description

Bioengineering focuses on the application of engineering tools and techniques to the problems of medicine and the biological sciences. The 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 UC Santa Cruz B.S. in bioengineering program prepares graduates for a rewarding career at the interfaces between engineering, medicine, and biology. UCSC bioengineering graduates will have a thorough grounding 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.

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, nanobiotechnology, 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 www.cbse.ucsc.edu, biomedical.ucsc.edu, marcmbrs.ucsc.edu, surf-it.soe.ucsc.edu, and graddiv.ucsc.edu/ucleads.

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 extensive course requirements in mathematics, science, and engineering, and students potentially interested in bioengineering as a major should contact the School of Engineering Advising Office (advising@soe.ucsc.edu) before enrolling in any courses at UC Santa Cruz.

Bioengineering students may continue their research and studies at UC Santa Cruz in the graduate programs of the collaborating department and other departments. Programs and application information may be found at http://www.graddiv.ucsc.edu.

Every major must have a bioengineering faculty adviser, assigned by the Baskin School of Engineering Undergraduate Advising Office, and with that adviser must formulate a program of proposed course work that meets the major or minor requirements.

Courses for Nonmajors

The bioengineering program does not sponsor any courses. However, the program recommends the following courses to nonmajors interested in bioengineering. Computer Engineering 80A, Assistive Technology and Universal Access (T6-Natural Sciences or Social Sciences); and Biomolecular Engineering/Philosophy 80G, Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society (T5-Natural Sciences or Humanities and Arts). Students planning careers in medicine should consider Biology 89, Clinical Health Care: Organization and Financing (IS).  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 and the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences (the SOE GPA).  An SOE GPA of 2.5 or better is expected 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

Transfer admission will be based on GPA and the level of completion of lower-division requirements. Most importantly, transfer students should have completed articulated calculus, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, as well as 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. Transfer students who have completed a course that articulates to Mathematics 22 prior to transfer do not need to complete Mathematics 23A.

Honors in the Major

Bioengineering majors are awarded “Honors in the Major” and “Highest Honors in the Major” based on major 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.

Disqualification Policy

Please refer to the School of Engineering section of this catalog for the School of Engineering’s Major Disqualification Policy.

Letter Grade Policy

The bioengineering program requires letter grading for all courses applied to the degree with the exception of two lower-division courses, which students may elect to take Pass/No Pass.

School of Engineering Policies

Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for additional policies that apply to all School of Engineering programs.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required for the major. Major requirements may satisfy several general education categories, including both Introduction to the Discipline:  Natural Science and Engineering (IN) courses, two Topical (T) courses, the Quantitative Course (Q) requirement, and the Writing-Intensive Course requirement (W).

Optional Courses for Majors

Bioengineering students planning a career in medicine should take Biology 89, Clinical Health Care, which also satisfies the Introduction to the Discipline-Social Sciences (IS) general education requirement.  Students desiring or needing an early introduction to the use of mathematics in engineering should take Computer Engineering 8, Robot Automation, in their first quarter.

Introductory Requirements, 18 courses

Mathematics 19A-B, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

Mathematics 23A, Multivariable Calculus

Applied Mathematics and Statistics 7/L, Statistical Methods for the Biological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory.

Applied Mathematics and Statistics 27/L, Mathematical Methods for Engineers/Laboratory; or the two courses Mathematics 21, Linear Algebra and Mathematics 24, Ordinary Differential Equations

Biomolecular Engineering 80G, Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society

One of:

Computer Engineering 80A, Assistive Technology and Universal Access; or
Electrical Engineering, Introduction to Bioengineering (planned); or
Biomolecular Engineering 5, Introduction to Biotechnology

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, Organic Chemistry

Biology 20A, Cell and Molecular Biology

Biology 20B, Development and Physiology

Physics 5A/L and 5B/M and 5C/N, Introductory Physics (if necessary for scheduling reasons, the first course, 5A/L, may be substituted with 6A/L)

Computer Engineering 12/L, Computer Systems and Assembly Language

One of:

Biomolecular Engineering 60/L, Programming for Biologists and Biochemists Laboratory; or
160/L, Research Programming for Biologists and Biochemists Laboratory; or
Computer Science 12A/L, Introduction to Programming Laboratory

Advanced Requirements, six courses

Electrical Engineering 70/L, Introduction to Electronic Circuits Laboratory

Electrical Engineering 103, Signals and Systems

Either Biology 100, Biochemistry, or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 100A-B, Biochemistry (also fulfills one elective)

Biomolecular Engineering 150, Molecular Biomechanics (first offering 2008-09)

Physiology and Measurement, 1 course:

Biomolecular Engineering 104, Measurement and Instrumentation in Physiology
(first offering 2008-09), or Biology 130/L, Human Physiology, (taken in 2007-08 or earlier), or Biology 131/L, Animal Physiology (taken in 2007-08 or earlier)

Computer Engineering 185, Technical Writing for Computer Engineers

Electives, four courses

Bioengineering students plan a coherent selection of 4 elective courses in consultation with their faculty adviser and approved by the program. At least 2 electives must be laboratory courses from the School of Engineering with an associated 1 or 2 unit laboratory. Students who use BIO130/L or BIO131/L to satisfy the Physiology and Measurement requirement may only have one elective outside the School of Engineering. The elective list is frequently updated, and students should obtain a current copy from the School of Engineering Undergraduate Advising Office. As of this catalog printing, the list includes:

Biology courses 105, 110, 115, 119, 120, 125, 130, and 186L. Biochemistry Course 100B and C. Biomolecular Engineering courses 102, 110, 155, and 205.  Chemistry course 108B/M. Computer Engineering course 118/L or 121/L.  Electrical Engineering course 171/L, 212, and 270.

A variety of new bioengineering electives are planned to be offered beginning in the 2007-8 academic year. Please contact the School of Engineering Undergraduate Office for the most recent electives list.

Capstone Project, two courses

All bioengineering students complete a senior design project in bioengineering as part of a multidisciplinary team solving a current problem. The project proposal must be approved by the Bioengineering Undergraduate Director as a bioengineering project. (Satisfies the campus Comprehensive Requirement)

Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering 123A, Engineering Design Project I; Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering 123B, Engineering Design Project II; or Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Biomolecular Engineering 195, Senior Thesis Research

Portfolio Exit Requirement

Students are required to submit a portfolio and exit interview. The portfolios must be turned in electronically at least seven days before the end of instruction in the quarter of graduation.

The portfolios will be reviewed quarterly by the bioengineering undergraduate committee and must include the following:

• The capstone project report
• A second project report of the student’s selection
• A one- to two-page overview of the two projects, the student’s contribution to them,
  and a narrative as specified at the submission site (http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/beng/)
• An exit interview

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 UC Santa Cruz require preapproval.

Plan Three

Because of the extensive course requirements, students needing to take precalculus or other preparatory courses should complete one or more courses during summer to enable completion of the degree in four years. The following is a plan for a student beginning the mathematics sequence with precalculus. Students should discuss their plans with the School of Engineering Advising Office prior to enrolling in any courses.

Materials Fee and Miscellaneous Fees

Please see the section on fees in the School of Engineering section.