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Bioengineering Minor

Bioengineering Minor (BEM) Worksheet [PDF]

The Departments of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering offer a Minor in Bioengineering that is accessible to undergraduate engineering students across all majors. The Bioengineering Minor is flexible in that students, in consultation with their faculty advisor, can individually tailor their own minor by selecting elective courses from the list of available courses to better fit their major. Those who complete the requirements for the minor will have that indicated on their transcript.  

What is Bioengineering? 

Bioengineering is a discipline that applies engineering principles to biological systems to derive useful biotechnologies for the benefit of humanity. Examples of technologies derived from bioengineering research include genetically engineered organisms to produce economically relevant and/or medically beneficial chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and solvents, biosensors that utilize enzymes or nucleic acids, novel methods of waste bioremediation using bioreactors, biomedical diagnostic devices, prosthetics, tissue engineered organs, and robotics derived from biomimicry. 

Students in bioengineering are trained in fundamentals of both biology and engineering, which may also include elements of electrical, civil, chemical and mechanical engineering and the sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology. This breadth allows students and faculty to specialize in their areas of interest and collaborate widely with researchers in overlapping fields. 

Educational Objectives  

The Minor in Bioengineering will provide graduates with the following knowledge and skills:  

  • Knowledge of molecular and cellular biology and physiology.  
  • The ability to apply principles of engineering to solve bioengineering problems, including those associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems. 
  • The ability to make measurements on and interpret data from living systems. 
  • Preparation for advanced studies and research opportunities in bioengineering-related fields.  

Requirements: 

Minimum combined GPA of 3.00 for the set of courses used for the minor requirements. 

Students must complete 15 credits of coursework from the list below.  Six of those credits must include Bio 201 and either Bio 202 or EID 220. 

Complete at least an additional 3 courses (9 credits) from a set of approved Elective Courses subject to:  

  • At least two courses must be 300 level or above. 
  • Up to 3 credits can be used for both the Bioengineering Minor and specifically required courses for the major.  (At the present time this only applies to Civil Engineers who are required to take Bio 250.) 
  • For students receiving the Math Minor and/or the Computer Science Minor and the Bioengineering Minor, at most three credits can be used to satisfy both the Bioengineering Minor and any other minor requirements. 
  • Any courses at the 400-level used to satisfy the requirements of the Bioengineering Minor cannot also be used for the Master of Engineering degree. 
  • Students may petition to have at most 3 credits of Bio 364 applied towards the minor requirements; the petition should address how the project or research problem relates to the student’s other coursework for the minor and must be approved by the ME or ChE department chair
  • All courses intended for fulfillment of the Bioengineering Minor are subject to approval by the student’s departmental faculty advisor. 

Required Courses: 

Bio 201 Biology for Engineers I (3 credits)  

Bio 202 Biology for Engineers II or EID 220 Foundations of Bioengineering (3 credits)  

Elective Courses:  

Bio 202 Biology for Engineers II (3 credits)  

Bio 250 Biotechnology in Environmental Systems (3 credits)  

Bio 364 Bioengineering Research Problem (3 credits)  

Bio 422 Protein Expression, Purification and Analysis (3 credits)  

Ch 340 Biochemistry (3 credits)  

ChE 474 Drug Formulation and Delivery (3 credits)  

CE 440 Industrial Waste Treatment Design (3 credits) 

CE 441 Water and Wastewater Technology (3 credits) 

EID 220 Foundations of Bioengineering (3 credits)  

EID 222 Biomaterials  (3 credits) 

EID 326 Biomechanics (3 credits)  

EID 328 Injury Biomechanics and Safety Design (3 credits)  

EID 424 Bioengineering Applications in Sports Medicine (3 credits)   

ECE 435 Medical Imaging (3 credits) 

ECE 444 Bioinstrumentation (3 credits)  

Potential additional courses (Subject to availability):  

Ch 440 Advanced Biochemistry (3 credits) 

ChE 475 Pharmaceutical Engineering (3 credits) 

EID 221 Biotransport Phenomena (3 credits) 

EID 327 Tissue Engineering (3 credits) 

EID 423 Synthetic Biology (3 credits) 

ECE 449 Bioelectronics (3 credits) 

MA 417 Mathematics of Medical Imaging (3 credits) 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.