Bioengineering
Department Office: 1270 Digital Computer Lab, 1304 West Springfield Avenue, (217) 333-1867
Curriculum in Bioengineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering
Bioengineers use tools from biology, chemistry, physics and math to solve engineering problems that arise in biological systems related to biomaterials, biomechanics and prosthetics, tissue engineering, molecular modeling, imaging, bioinformatics, nanomedicine, synthetic biology, and drug delivery. The goal of research and education in bioengineering is to advance fundamental understanding of how human biological systems function, and to develop effective technology-based solutions to the wide spectrum of societal needs in human development and disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Bioengineering graduates work in such fields as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer products, hospitals and clinics, government regulatory agencies, patent law, academia, laboratory and research facilities, product and process development, quality and regulatory services, and operations and manufacturing.
The curriculum includes integration of principles of biology and engineering in coursework such as biomechanics, modeling of human physiology, bioinstrumentation, and cell and tissue engineering. The curriculum is project-based and has a strong emphasis on systems-thinking as an approach to large-scale bioengineering problems. During the first and second years, students take fundamental courses introducing them to bioengineering as a field and introducing clinically relevant projects as learning experiences. The program also features hands-on laboratory courses for real-world experience throughout the curriculum. The final two years allow students to focus on a particular track of Bioengineering for further study. A year-long senior capstone design course provides experience in applying engineering fundamentals to biological problems submitted by faculty, clinicians, and industrial firms.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 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 |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation |
| 1 | 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 214—Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 32 | 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 |
| 4 | BIOE 205—Circuits & Systems in Bioengrg |
| 3 | BIOE 206—Cellular Bioengineering |
| 3 | BIOE 301—Introductory Biomechanics |
| 3 | BIOE 302—Modeling Human Physiology |
| 3 | BIOE 414—Biomedical Instrumentation |
| 2 | BIOE 415—Biomedical Instrumentation Lab |
| 2 | BIOE 435—Senior Design I |
| 2 | BIOE 436—Senior Design II |
| 3 | BIOE 476—Tissue Engineering |
| 3 | CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I1 |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 3 | IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 4 | MCB 150—Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 2 | MCB 404—Sys & Integrative Physiol Lab |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 4 | TAM 335—Fluid Mechanics |
| 52 | Total |
1. May be taken for 4 credit hours; the extra hour may be used to help meet free elective requirements.
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
- Cell and Tissue Engineering
- Computational and Systems Biology
- Imaging and Sensing
- Therapeutics Engineering
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. |
Liberal Education
The liberal education courses develop students’ understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education social & behavioral sciences list. |
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education humanities & the arts list. |
| 6 | Electives either from a list approved by the college, or from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. |
| 18 | Total |
Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
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 in either the liberal education or free elective categories which has the Advanced Composition designation. | |
| 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 128 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 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 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 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 18 | Total |
Second Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOE 201—Conservation Principles Bioeng |
| 3 | BIOE 206—Cellular Bioengineering |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | BIOE 202—Cell &Tissue Engineering Lab |
| 4 | BIOE 205—Circuits & Systems in Bioengrg |
| 3 | CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I4
|
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 15 | Total |
Third Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOE 301—Introductory Biomechanics |
| 3 | BIOE 414—Biomedical Instrumentation |
| 2 | BIOE 415—Biomedical Instrumentation Lab |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 2 | PHYS 214—Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 3 | Track elective5
|
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | BIOE 302—Modeling Human Physiology |
| 3 | BIOE 476—Tissue Engineering |
| 3 | IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 2 | MCB 404—Sys & Integrative Physiol Lab |
| 3 | Track elective5 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 17 | Total |
Fourth Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | BIOE 435—Senior Design I |
| 4 | TAM 335—Fluid Mechanics |
| 6 | Track electives5 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | BIOE 436—Senior Design II |
| 3 | Track elective5 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 6 | Free electives |
| 14 | 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. Liberal education electives must include 6 hours of social & behavioral sciences and 6 hours of humanities & the arts course work from the campus General Education lists. The remaining 6 hours may be selected from a list maintained by the college, or additional course work from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
4. May be taken for 4 credit hours; the extra hour may be used to help meet free elective requirements.
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.