Bioengineering
Department Office: 3120 Digital Computer Lab, 1304 West Springfield Avenue, (217) 333-1867
Curriculum in Bioengineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering
Bioengineering combines the analytical and experimental methods of the engineering profession with the biological and medical sciences to achieve a more detailed understanding of biological phenomena and to develop new techniques and devices.
The curriculum is divided into four components. The largest component, that of the basic mathematics and sciences, dominates the first two years of study. It includes mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and is capped with upper level life science courses. The Bioengineering component imbues a quantitative approach employing engineering analysis and design to problems drawn largely from the life sciences. It concludes with a capstone engineering design or research experience, a capstone life science course, and a biomedical professionalism and ethics course. The track component includes a focused set of courses in which each student develops depth in one area of bioengineering. The fourth component comprises the general education and free elective course work that gives balance to a student's education.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 132 hours for graduation and is organized as shown below.
Technical grade point average requirements for graduation and advanced-level course registration apply to students in this curriculum. These rules are summarized at the College of Engineering's undergraduate advising Web site
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 1 | BIOE 120—Introduction to Bioengineering |
| 2 | BIOE 436—Bioengineering Professionalism |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation |
| 3 | Total |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 3 | CHEM 104—General Chemistry II |
| 1 | CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I1 |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214—Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 34 | Total |
1. MATH 220—Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
Bioengineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of bioengineering.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOE 201—Conservation Principles Bioeng |
| 2 | BIOE 202—Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab |
| 3 | BIOE 414—Biomedical Instrumentation |
| 2 | BIOE 415—Biomedical Instrumentation Lab |
| 3 | BIOE 431—Cell & Syst Reaction to Injury |
| 4 | BIOE 435—Bioengineering Senior Design |
| 3 | BIOP 401—Introduction to Biophysics |
| 3 | CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 2 | CHEM 233—Elementary Organic Chem Lab I |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 3 | IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 4 | MCB 150—Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 3 | MCB 402—Sys & Integrative Physiology |
| 2 | MCB 404—Sys & Integrative Physiol Lab (may be substituted) |
| 3 | MCB 450—Introductory Biochemistry or MCB 354—Biochem & Phys Basis of Life |
| 6 | Technical core electives selected from departmentally approved list of technical core elective courses. |
| 52 | Total |
Track Electives
Students must complete 15 hours of study which show coherence, focus, and purpose within a bioengineering context. Students may choose from among the following pre-approved tracks:
- Biomechanics
- Biomolecular
- Cell and Tissue Engineering
- Computational and Systems Biology
- Imaging and Sensing
Alternately a student may devise a special track and set of courses which must be approved by the Bioengineering Department. In either case, overage hours in required courses may be counted toward the 15-hour minimum.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 15 | Track electives selected from a departmentally approved list of track elective courses. |
Social Sciences and Humanities
The social sciences and humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, ensure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 18 | Electives in social sciences and humanities approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities, including cultural studies western and non-western. |
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105—Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition. May be satisfied by completing a course with the Advanced Composition designation in either the social sciences and humanities or the free elective categories. | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, so that there are at least 132 credit hours earned toward the degree.
|
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.
First Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 1 | BIOE 120—Introduction to Bioengineering |
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I1 |
| 4 | RHET 105—Principles of Composition or MCB 150—Molec & Cellular Basis of Life2 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 104—General Chemistry II |
| 1 | CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | MCB 150—Molec & Cellular
Basis of Life or RHET 105—Principles of Composition2 |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 18 | Total |
Second Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOE 201—Conservation Principles Bioeng |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | BIOE 202—Cell &Tissue Engineering Lab |
| 3 | CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 2 | CHEM 233—Elementary Organic Chem Lab I |
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 | Total |
Third Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOE 414—Biomedical Instrumentation |
| 2 | BIOE 415—Biomedical Instrumentation Lab |
| 3 | MCB 450—Introductory Biochemistry or MCB 354—Biochem & Phys Basis of Life |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214—Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 3 | Technical core elective4 |
| 3 | Track elective5 |
| 18 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 3 | MCB 402—Sys & Integrative Physiology |
| 2 | MCB 404—Sys & Integrative Physiol Lab |
| 3 | Technical core elective 4 |
| 3 | Track elective5 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 17 | Total |
Fourth Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | BIOE 436—Bioengineering Professionalism |
| 3 | BIOP 401—Introduction to Biophysics |
| 6 | Track electives5 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 14 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOE 431—Cell & Syst Reaction to Injury |
| 4 | BIOE 435—Bioengineering Senior Design |
| 3 | Track elective5 |
| 6 | Free electives |
| 16 | Total |
1. MATH 220—Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second
semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is MCB
150.
3. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities
requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general
education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
4. To be selected from departmentally approved list of technical core elective courses.
5. To be selected from a departmentally approved list of track elective courses if a pre-approved track is chosen. Alternately a student may devise a special track which must be approved by the Bioengineering Department.