About the Major: What is Bioengineering?
Bioengineering is the application of systematic, quantitative, and integrative ways to think about and solve important problems of biological origin. The engineering principles of this field are rooted in the physical, chemical, and mathematical sciences and used to study biological systems at all levels of scale. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ and the systems levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, mathematical models, processes, implants, devices, and informatics approaches for the betterment of humankind.
Bioengineers specialize in those products and processes made from, used with, or applied to biological organisms. In addition to engineering science and design, bioengineers study biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, genetics, physiology, bioinformatics, biorheology, bioimaging, and biosystems. The symbiosis between engineering and biology gives bioengineers unique capabilities in our modern world.
Owing to the breadth of our program, Maryland graduates are presented with a full range of career opportunities from those in medicine, human health, foods, government, dentistry, law, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, ecological/bioenvironmental engineering, biomedical devices, bioprocessing, and teaching, just to name a few.
Courses offered by this department may be found under the acronym BIOE in the course catalog and in Testudo, our online service where you will also find admission, registration, financial, class scheduling, residency, and other important information.
You can learn more about our required and elective courses by visiting:
- Required Courses
- Biological Sciences Electives
- Engineering Sciences and Technology Electives
- Sample Program
Advising
All Bioengineering majors must participate in an advising session prior to registering each semester. Students are assigned to a faculty advisor no later than their second semester in the major. Any questions about the program may be directed to the Bioengineering Department Office, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, 301-405-7426.
Undergraduate Research Experiences
All students in our major have the opportunity to participate in research in state-of-the-art labs on campus or at surrounding government or industrial locations, either through projects within the Department or through the Engineering Co-op and Career Services office. Special programs and services include the ASPIRE Program, in which students collaborate with faculty and staff on real-world engineering projects; the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research, which assists students in finding on- and off-campus research opportunities; and the NSF-sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, in which students work with full-time faculty, visiting scientists, and others on relevant research. Our REU site is the only one of its kind in the nation dedicated to molecular and cellular engineering directed by Dr. John Fisher.
