Program Overview

Bioengineering Program

The Bioengineering program at the University of California, Berkeley, is designed to educate leaders, create knowledge, and serve society. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines engineering principles with biological sciences to develop innovative solutions for medical and biological systems.

Freshman Undergraduate Program in Bioengineering

The freshman undergraduate program in bioengineering is a four-year program that requires a minimum of 120 units for graduation. The program includes the following courses:

• Freshman Year:
  • BIOENG 10 – Introduction to Biomedicine for Engineers (4 units)
  • CHEM 1A+1AL – General Chemistry, or CHEM 4A – General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis (5 units)
  • CHEM 3A+3AL – Chemical Structure and Reactivity, or CHEM 12A – Organic Chemistry (5 units)
  • MATH 51 – Calculus I (4 units)
  • MATH 52 – Calculus II (4 units)
  • PHYSICS 7A – Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4 units)
  • Seminars: BIOENG 26 – Introduction to Bioengineering, and BIOENG 25 – Careers in Biotechnology (1 unit each)
  • Reading & Composition Part A Course (4 units)
  • Reading & Composition Part B Course (4 units)
• Sophomore Year:
  • BIOENG 11 – Engineering Molecules 1 (3 units)
  • ENGIN 7 – Introduction to Computer Programming and Numerical Methods, or COMPSCI 61A – Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (4 units)
  • MATH 53 – Multivariable Calculus (4 units)
  • MATH 54 – Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (4 units)
  • PHYSICS 7B – Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4 units)
  • Engineering Course (3-4 units)
  • Humanities/Social Sciences Courses (3-4 units)
• Junior Year:
  • Bioengineering Fundamentals (4 units)
  • Engineering Course (3-4 units)
  • Upper Division Technical Topics (3-4 units)
  • Upper Division Technical Topics (also an Engineering Course) (3 units)
  • Humanities/Social Sciences Course (3-4 units)
  • BIOENG 100 – Ethics in Science and Engineering, or Humanities/Social Sciences Course (with Ethics Content) (3 units)
• Senior Year:
  • Bioengineering Lab Course (4 units)
  • Upper Division Technical Topics (also an Engineering Course) (3-4 units)
  • Bioengineering Design Project or Research (3-4 units)
  • Bioengineering Upper Division Courses (8 units)
  • Free Electives (3-4 units)

Transfer Undergraduate Program in Bioengineering

The transfer undergraduate program in bioengineering is designed for students who have completed the first two years of their undergraduate degree at another institution. The program requires a minimum of 120 units for graduation and includes the following courses:

• 1st and 2nd Semesters:
  • Seminars: BIOENG 26 – Introduction to Bioengineering, and BIOENG 25 – Careers in Biotechnology (1 unit each)
  • BIOENG 11 – Engineering Molecules I (3-4 units)
  • ENGIN 7 – Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers, or COMPSCI 61A – Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (4 units)
  • Engineering Course (4 units)
  • Bioengineering Fundamentals (4 units)
  • Engineering Course (4 units)
  • BIOENG 100 – Ethics in Science and Engineering, or Humanities/Social Sciences Course (with Ethics Content) (3-4 units)
  • Humanities/Social Sciences Course (3-4 units)
• 3rd and 4th Semesters:
  • Bioengineering Upper Division Courses (4 units)
  • Upper Division Technical Topics (4 units)
  • Upper Division Technical Topics (also an Engineering Course) (4 units)
  • Humanities/Social Sciences Courses (3-4 units)
• 5th Semester:
  • Bioengineering Lab Course (4 units)
  • Bioengineering Design Project or Research (4 units)
  • Engineering Course (4 units)

Program Requirements

The bioengineering program requires a minimum of 120 units for graduation. Students must complete the following requirements:

• A minimum of 48 engineering units
• A minimum of 36 units of upper division Technical Topics courses
• A minimum of 24 units of upper division Bioengineering courses
• Two approved Reading & Composition courses
• Four additional approved Humanities/Social Sciences courses
• A minimum of 3-4 units of free electives

Notes

• A minimum of 120 units is required for graduation.
• Students must complete a minimum of 48 engineering units, which cannot include any course taken on a P/NP basis, courses numbered 24, 39, 84, BIOENG 100, CHMENG 185, COMPSCI 70, C79, DATA C104, DESINV courses (except DESINV 15, 22, 23, 90E, 190E), ENGIN 68, 125, 157AC, 180, 183 series, 184, 185, 187, 195 series, INDENG 95, 172, 185, 186, 190 series, 191, 192, 195, MECENG 191AC, 190K, 191K.
• The 48 units of engineering courses cannot include any course taken on a P/NP basis, courses numbered 24, 39, 84, BIOENG 100, CHMENG 185, COMPSCI 70, C79, DATA C104, DESINV courses (except DESINV 15, 22, 23, 90E, 190E), ENGIN 68, 125, 157AC, 180, 183 series, 184, 185, 187, 195 series, INDENG 95, 172, 185, 186, 190 series, 191, 192, 195, MECENG 191AC, 190K, 191K.
• The Humanities/Social Science requirement includes two approved Reading & Composition courses and four additional approved courses, with which a number of specific conditions must be satisfied. Reading & Composition parts A and B must be completed by no later than the end of the sophomore year. The remaining courses may be taken at any time during the program.