Biosensor Design and Development

Biological Engineering Program Curriculum Documents Degree Requirements Program Progress Form Sample Curriculum Concentrations Undergraduate Handbook (2006-2007)

The Program Educational Objectives of Biological Engineering are to

1. Produce graduates who pursue careers related to Biological Engineering based on a solid educational background in appropriate mathematics, physical and life sciences, liberal studies and engineering.
2. Produce graduates who pursue advanced degrees in engineering and related professional fields.

Biological engineering is the biology-based engineering discipline that integrates life sciences with engineering in the advancement and application of fundamental concepts of biological systems from molecular to ecosystem levels. It incorporates the tremendous developments in quantitative, mechanistic and molecular level understanding and manipulation capabilities of biological systems. Biological Engineering impacts the well-being of humans, plants, and animals through

• new or improved medical devices and diagnostics
• more effective and safer pharmaceuticals
• new or improved bio-based industrial products
• new and safer foods
• preservation and enhancement of natural resources and the environment.

Biological engineers study characterization, measurement and representation of systemic processes within an organism; interactions between organisms and their environment; and engineering design to develop processes and systems that monitor, simulate, replace, modify, control, or utilize the mechanisms of living organisms and their products.

The Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering offers a bachelor degree program in Biological Engineering. It is a joint program between the Colleges of Engineering and Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell. Strong emphasis is placed on mathematics, the physical and biological sciences, and engineering analysis and design. The Biological Engineering program in BEE meets the academic requirements of both colleges. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and students may seek engineering professional licensing after graduation. Because of this joint structure, students are enrolled in the College of Engineering their senior year and pay at least one year of endowed tuition.

Core topics in Biological Engineering program include molecular and cellular principles, chemical and enzyme kinetics, thermodynamics, transport of water and energy, and biomaterials. The science core of the program includes mathematics, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and introductory and advanced biology. Beyond these there are electives to be chosen from several areas including biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering, bioenvironmental engineering and computational biological engineering. Throughout the curriculum, emphasis is placed on communication and teamwork skills. All students participate in a major design experience near the end of the curriculum.

Opportunities outside the classroom abound. Many students participate in:

• industry internships and cooperative education
• research assistantships on campus
• community service projects
• design competitions
• off-campus study, including study abroad.