Biological Engineering (BS)

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Engineering

Program Website

Program Description

The Biological Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Biological and environmental engineering (BEE) programs address three great challenges facing humanity today: ensuring an adequate and safe food supply in an era of expanding world population; protecting and remediating the world's natural resources, including water, soil, air, biodiversity, and energy; and developing engineering systems that monitor, replace, or intervene in or add value to the mechanisms of living organisms. The biological engineering (BE) major has a unique focus on biological systems, including the environment, which is realized through a combination of fundamental engineering sciences, biology, engineering applications and design courses, and liberal studies.

Students interested in the BE major should have a strong aptitude for the sciences and math and an interest in the complex social issues that surround technology.

Students take courses in math, engineering, statistics, computing, physics, chemistry, basic and advanced biology, fundamental engineering sciences (mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and transport processes), plus biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, systems biology, and engineering design. Students select upper-level engineering courses in subjects that include bioprocessing, biotechnology applications, renewable energy, engineering aspects of animal and cellular physiology, soil and water management, environmental systems analysis, sustainable energy, and waste management and disposal plus technical electives from other engineering majors. Students may further strengthen their programs by completing a minor or a second engineering major. Students planning for health careers also take additional lab-based courses in chemistry and biology. Throughout the curriculum, emphasis is placed on communications and teamwork skills, and all students complete a capstone design project.

Career opportunities cover the spectrum of self-employment, private industry, public agencies, educational institutions, and graduate and professional programs in engineering and science, as well as professional fields like medicine, business, and law. In recent years, graduates have pursued careers in consulting, biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, biomedical engineering, management, and international development.

The living world is all around us and within us. The ongoing biological revolution has given rise to a growing demand for technical problem solvers who have studied biology, who have strong math and science skills, who can communicate effectively, and who are sensitive to the needs of people and the environment, and interested in the challenges facing society. The Biological Engineering major is designed to educate the next generation of engineers to meet these challenges.

Academic Standing

Majors in Biological Engineering are expected to meet the following standards:

  1. Semester GPA ≥ 2.0
  2. Cumulative GPA ≥ 2.0
  3. A semester GPA ≥ 2.0 in biological and environmental engineering courses and engineering distribution courses
  4. At most, one grade below C- in required core courses, design courses, BE Focus Area electives, and engineering distribution courses can count towards completion of undergraduate Major.
  5. Passing grade in at least 12 credits each semester
  6. No failing grades

The College of Engineering also requires that each course in the required mathematics sequence - 1910, 1920, 2930, 2940 - be passed with a grade of C- or better.

Academic Standards

  • First-year and transfer students are admitted directly into the major and most prerequisites will be met by virtue of the requirements for admission. Students seeking to transfer internally to the BE major should contact Brenda Marchewka (bee-ugrad@cornell.edu) for more information.
  • All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
  • Only one grade of "D" is allowed in the major, excluding the math sequence in which students must earn a "C-" or higher, to meet major requirements.
  • Engineering distribution and field courses require a minimum of 48 credits (includes focus area credits).
  • Focus areas require a minimum of 15 credits.

Honors Program

The B.S. degree with honors is granted to biological engineering majors who graduate with distinction from the College of Engineering and satisfy the Honors requirements given on the page “Undergraduate Study and Graduation Requirements.”

The Honors program requires completion of 9 credits beyond the B.S. degree requirements drawn from the following, with at least 6 credits in the first category:

  1. A significant research experience or honors project under the supervision of a BEE faculty member using BEE 4990 - Undergraduate Research and BEE 4993 - Honors Thesis completed in their senior year. A written senior honors thesis must be submitted as part of the 2nd component. A minimum grade of A- in both courses is required for successful completion of the honors requirement. It is expected that the two research courses will be taken in consecutive semesters.

  2. A significant teaching experience under the direct supervision of a BEE faculty member or as part of a regularly recognized course in the department under BEE 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching.

  3. Advanced or graduate courses. These additional courses must be technical in nature, i.e., in engineering, math, biology, chemistry, and physics at the 4000+ and graduate level.

  4.  The student must present a poster or oral presentation in a public research forum or another scholarly forum such as a national or regional professional society meeting, or another university or regional event by the end of the project.

Timing

  • All interested students must complete a written application (available in 207 Riley-Robb Hall) no later than the end of the third week of the senior year, but are encouraged to make arrangements with a faculty member during the second semester of their junior year. A student must be in the program for at least two consecutive semesters before graduation.

Procedures

  • Each applicant to the BE Honors Program must have a BEE faculty advisor to supervise their honors program. A written approval of the faculty member who will direct the research is required.