BSBE in Biological Engineering

Degree Program Description

Biological Engineering is a science-based engineering curriculum that integrates engineering and biological sciences in the areas of health, sustainability and environmental stewardship. Students are prepared in three engineering areas: biomedical, bioprocess, and bioenvironmental engineering. In addition to the core program courses, the program includes courses in basic sciences; social, behavioral and engineering sciences; and humanities and fine arts. In a capstone design course, each student completes a design project under the direction of a faculty advisor. Graduates are hired by biotechnology, medical, pharmaceutical, food and agricultural companies and government agencies, or opt to further their education in graduate, medical or veterinary medical school. Graduates are well prepared to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam during their senior year, which is the first step toward obtaining a Professional Engineer license. The BS in Biological Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Major Program Requirements

The curriculum encompasses basic sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities and fine arts, engineering sciences and topics, and program core courses. The core courses cover topics of biological engineering principles and design. In a capstone design course, each student completes a design project under the direction of a faculty advisor. Technical electives allow students to place emphasis on biomedical, bioprocess or bioenvironmental engineering.

All requirements listed below are in addition to University graduation requirements, including University general education and College of Engineering requirements. All pre-requisites required for Basic Engineering, Biological Engineering, and Technical Elective courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Students are also required to complete one 3-hour cultural awareness course which is selected from an approved cultural awareness course list, created and maintained by the College of Engineering or which meets the Arts and Science (A&S) diversity intensive (DI) requirement.

Major Core Requirements

Mathematics and Statistics19
MATH 1500Analytic Geometry and Calculus I5
MATH 1700Calculus II5
MATH 2300Calculus III3
MATH 4100Differential Equations3
Statistics (from approved list)3
Basic Sciences28
PHYSCS 2750University Physics I5
PHYSCS 2760University Physics II5
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 2100Organic Chemistry I3
BIO_SC 1500Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory5
Biological Sciences Electives (from approved list)6
Zero Hunger Challenge (suggested)
Zero Hunger Challenge - Honors
Zero Hunger Challenge
Zero Hunger Challenge - Honors
Basic Engineering18
ENGINR 1000Introduction to Engineering a1
ENGINR 1050Foundations of Engineering a2
ENGINR 1200Statics and Elementary Strength of Materials3
ENGINR 2200Intermediate Strength of Materials3
Engineering Graphics (from approved list)3
Fluid Mechanics (from approved list)3
Thermodynamics (from approved list)3
Biological Engineering17
BIOL_EN 2000Professional Development in Engineering2
BIOL_EN 2080Introduction to Programming for Engineers3
BIOL_EN 2180Engineering Analysis of Bioprocesses3
BIOL_EN 3180Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems3
BIOL_EN 4380Applied Electronic Instrumentation4
BIOL_EN 4980WBioengineering Design I - Writing Intensive3
Technical Electives24
Upper-level engineering courses, with 15 credit hours in approved courses, of which 12 credit hours in a track (listed below) are recommended.24
Additional Requirements
Economics (from approved list)3
Principles of Microeconomics (Recommended)
History (from approved list)3
Sustainability Foundations: An Introduction to Sustainability (Recommended)
a

The required First-Year Engineering (FYE) courses, ENGINR 1000 and ENGINR 1050, will be waived for a transfer student pursuing Biological Engineering if the student enters MU with 60 or more transfer credits and credit for an acceptable course in Statics or Engineering Analysis of Bioprocesses. The BE Director of Undergraduate Studies may also waive the FYE courses in cases where the transfer student has demonstrated adequate progress in an engineering program.

Biological Engineering Tracks:

Bioenvironmental Track24
BIOL_EN 4085Problems in Biological Engineering1-5
BIOL_EN 4150Soil and Water Conservation Engineering3
BIOL_EN 4250Irrigation and Drainage Engineering3
BIOL_EN 4350Watershed Modeling Using GIS3
BIOL_EN 4450Environmental Hydrology3
BIOL_EN 4560Observing the Earth from Space3
BIOL_EN 4940Engineering Internship1-3
BIOL_EN 4985Bioengineering Design II1-3
BIOL_EN 4990Undergraduate Research in Biological Engineering1-5
or BIOL_EN 4995H Undergraduate Honors Research in Biological Engineering
CH_ENG 4285Pollution Prevention3
CH_ENG 4312Air Pollution Control3
CV_ENG 3050Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GIS3
CV_ENG 3200Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering4
CV_ENG 3400Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering4
CV_ENG 3702Fundamentals of Water Resources Engineering4
CV_ENG 4230Introduction to Water Quality3
CV_ENG 4240Water Quality Analysis3
CV_ENG 4250Environmental Regulatory Compliance3
ECE 4640MEMS Laboratory4
ECE 4670Microelectronic Fabrication4
ENGINR 2100Circuit Theory for Engineers3
or ENGINR 2100H Circuit Theory for Engineers - Honors
GEOG 4940Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS II)3
ISE 4720Introduction to Life Cycle Analysis3
Bioprocessing Track24
BIOL_EN 3075Introduction to Materials Engineering3
BIOL_EN 3170Biomaterials3
BIOL_EN 3330Fermentation for Food, Fuel and Beverages3
BIOL_EN 4085Problems in Biological Engineering1-5
BIOL_EN 4160Food Process Engineering3
BIOL_EN 4231Transport Phenomena in Materials Processing3
BIOL_EN 4310Feedback Control Systems3
BIOL_EN 4315Principles of Biochemical Engineering3
BIOL_EN 4316Biomass Refinery Operations3
BIOL_EN 4360Biomanufacturing Technologies3
BIOL_EN 4480Physics and Chemistry of Materials3
BIOL_EN 4940Engineering Internship1-3
BIOL_EN 4985Bioengineering Design II1-3
BIOL_EN 4990Undergraduate Research in Biological Engineering1-5
BIOL_EN 4995HUndergraduate Honors Research in Biological Engineering1-5
CH_ENG 3235Separation Processes3
CH_ENG 3262Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II3
CH_ENG 4315Principles of Biochemical Engineering3
CH_ENG 4316Biomass Refinery Operations3
CH_ENG 4319Introduction to Polymers3
CH_ENG 4363Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology3
ECE 4640MEMS Laboratory4
ECE 4670Microelectronic Fabrication4
ENGINR 2100Circuit Theory for Engineers3
or ENGINR 2100H Circuit Theory for Engineers - Honors
ISE 4720Introduction to Life Cycle Analysis3
Biomedical Engineering Track24
BIOL_EN 3075Introduction to Materials Engineering3
BIOL_EN 3170Biomaterials3
BIOL_EN 4070Bioelectricity3
BIOL_EN 4075Brain Signals and Brain Machine Interfaces3
BIOL_EN 4085Problems in Biological Engineering1-5
BIOL_EN 4170Biomaterials Interfaces of Implantable Devices3
BIOL_EN 4231Transport Phenomena in Materials Processing3
BIOL_EN 4315Principles of Biochemical Engineering3
BIOL_EN 4360Biomanufacturing Technologies3
BIOL_EN 4370Orthopaedic Biomechanics3
BIOL_EN 4375Human Movement Biomechanics3
BIOL_EN 4420Introduction to Biomedical Imaging3
BME 4001Topics in Biomedical Engineering (Engineering in Medical Imaging)3
(Note: may only take 1 of BIOL_EN 4420 or BME 4001 imaging courses)
BIOL_EN 4470Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology3
or BME 4470H Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology - Honors
BIOL_EN 4480Physics and Chemistry of Materials3
BIOL_EN 4540Neural Models and Machine Learning3
BIOL_EN 4570Fluorescent Imaging3
BIOL_EN 4590Computational Neuroscience4
BIOL_EN 4770Biomedical Optics3
BIOL_EN 4940Engineering Internship1-3
BIOL_EN 4970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
BIOL_EN 4972Engineering in Medical Imaging I: Non-Ionizing Techniques3
BIOL_EN 4973Engineering in Medical Imaging II: Ionizing Techniques3
BIOL_EN 4974Medical Image Processing3
BIOL_EN 4985Bioengineering Design II1-3
BIOL_EN 4990Undergraduate Research in Biological Engineering1-5
BIOL_EN 4995HUndergraduate Honors Research in Biological Engineering1-5
BME 4003Design and Development of Biomedical Innovation3
CH_ENG 4319Introduction to Polymers3
CH_ENG 4363Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology3
ECE 4620Introduction to BioMEMS3
ECE 4640MEMS Laboratory4
ECE 4655Digital image Processing3
ECE 4670Microelectronic Fabrication4
ENGINR 2100Circuit Theory for Engineers3

Approved Electives

Economics approved list:
ECONOM 1014Principles of Microeconomics (suggested)3
or ECONOM 1014H Principles of Microeconomics-Honors
ECONOM 1015Principles of Macroeconomics3
or ECONOM 1015H Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors
ECONOM 1051HGeneral Economics - Honors5
ABM 1041Applied Microeconomics3
ABM 1042Applied Macroeconomics3
ISE 2710Engineering Economic Decision-Making3
History approved list:
HIST 1100Survey of American History to 18653
or HIST 1100H Survey of American History to 1865 - Honors
HIST 1200Survey of American History Since 18653
or HIST 1200H Survey of American History Since 1865 - Honors
HIST 1400American History5
HIST 2210Twentieth Century America3
HIST 2440History of Missouri3
or HIST 2440H History of Missouri - Honors
HIST 4000Age of Jefferson3
HIST 4220U.S. Society Between the Wars 1918-19453
HIST 4230Our Times: United States Since 19453
POL_SC 1100American Government3
or POL_SC 1100H American Government - Honors
POL_SC 2100State Government3
Statistics approved list:
STAT 4710Introduction to Mathematical Statistics3
BIOL_EN 4270Design of Experiments and Statistical Quality Control for Process Engineers3
ISE 2110Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
Biological Science Electives approved list:
AN_SCI 3254Physiology of Domestic Animals5
BIOL_EN 2070Cell and Molecular Biology for Engineers4
BIO_SC 2200General Genetics4
BIO_SC 2300Introduction to Cell Biology4
BIO_SC 3700Human Physiology5
BIO_SC 4976Molecular Biology3
BIO_SC 4990Vertebrate Histology and Microscopic Anatomy5
BIOCHM 3630General Biochemistry3
BIOCHM 4270Biochemistry3
BIOL_EN 4050Zero Hunger Challenge3
or BIOL_EN 4050H Zero Hunger Challenge - Honors
or F_S 4050 Zero Hunger Challenge
or F_S 4050H Zero Hunger Challenge - Honors
DMU 4200Principles of Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound3
F_S 2172Elements of Food Microbiology3
F_S 4310Food Chemistry and Analysis4
F_S 4370Food Microbiology3
MPP 3202Elements of Physiology5
MPP 3550Physiology for Engineers3
NUCMED 4327Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation3
PHYSCS 4110Light and Modern Optics4
PLNT_SCI 2110Who Runs the World? Plants.3
PLNT_SCI 3213Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals3
PLNT_SCI 4313Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition3
PLNT_SCI 4314Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Laboratory2
PLNT_SCI 4315Crop Physiology3
PLNT_SCI 4320Molecular Plant Physiology3
PTH_AS 2201Human Anatomy Lecture3
SOIL 2100Introduction to Soils3
SOIL 2106Soil Science Laboratory2
SOIL 3290Soils and the Environment3
SOIL 3290WSoils and the Environment - Writing Intensive3
SOIL 4312Environmental Soil Microbiology3
SOIL 4318Environmental Soil Chemistry3
Fluid Mechanics approved list:
CV_ENG 3700Fluid Mechanics3
MAE 3400Fluid Mechanics3
BIOL_EN 3070Biological Fluid Mechanics3
Thermodynamics approved list:
ENGINR 2300Engineering Thermodynamics3
CH_ENG 3261Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I3
Course from Cultural Awareness Approved List3

Accelerated BSBE to MS Option

The accelerated option will allow students to earn a bachelors and masters degree within five years in Biological Engineering. Eligible students who have completed at least 90 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and higher. The academic requirements of the accelerated MS program will require a total of 30 credit hours to graduate. Accepted undergraduate students can take 12 hours of graduate level courses that will count toward both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees. Once the student has completed 126 credit hours, the corresponding bachelor’s degree will be conferred and they will become graduate students in our MS programs to complete the remaining 18 hours of graduate credit. A minimum of 15 credit hours must be from courses at the 8000 level or above.  

Total credits required for graduation must be at least 140 total credit hours:

  • Total undergraduate credit hours: 128
  • Total dual enrollment credit hours: 12
  • Total graduate credit hours: 30
First Year (as Provisional Graduate Student)12
7000+ level BE tech electives9
7000+ level statistics course3
Second Year (as Graduate Student)18
Thesis Option
BIOL_EN 8402Research Methods2
BIOL_EN 8087Seminar in Biological Engineering1
BIOL_EN 8180Numerical Methods in Engineering Research3
8000+ level BE electives6
BIOL_EN 8990Masters Thesis Research in Biological Engineering6
Non Thesis Option
7000+ level course3
BIOL_EN 8180Numerical Methods in Engineering Research3
8000+ level BE electives9
BIOL_EN 8085Problems in Biological Engineering3
1.

At least 15 hours must be from 8000 level and above.  Coursework has to be from at least two different proficiency areas.

Proficiency Areas

A student needs to take at least one course from a minimum of two different areas.

Bioprocess Engineering
BIOL_EN 7001Topics in Biological Engineering1-3
BIOL_EN 7160Food Process Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7315Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7316Biomass Refinery Operation3
BIOL_EN 8001Advanced Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Advanced Bioprocessing & Biocatalyst)1-3
BIOL_EN 8280Advanced Biological Transport Processes3
Bioenvironmental Engineering
BIOL_EN 7150Soil and Water Conservation Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7250Irrigation and Drainage Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7350Watershed Modeling Using GIS3
BIOL_EN 7450Environmental Hydrology3
BIOL_EN 7560Observing the Earth from Space3
BIOL_EN 8250Water Management Theory3
Bioelectronics and Instrumentation
BIOL_EN 7070Bioelectricity3
BIOL_EN 7075Brain Signals and Brain Machine Interfaces3
BIOL_EN 7310Feedback Control Systems3
BIOL_EN 7380Applied Electronic Instrumentation4
BIOL_EN 7540Neural Models and Machine Learning3
BIOL_EN 7590Computational Neuroscience4
BIOL_EN 8380Modeling and Identification of Engineering Systems3
Biomaterials
BIOL_EN 7170Biomaterials Interfaces of Implantable Devices3
BIOL_EN 7370Orthopaedic Biomechanics3
BIOL_EN 7480Physics and Chemistry of Materials3
BIOL_EN 8001Advanced Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Tissue Engineering)1-3
BIOL_EN 8370Materials Characterization Techniques3
BIOL_EN 8670Orthopaedic Failure Modes and Effect Analysis3
BIOL_EN 8870Molecular and Cell Mechanics3
Biomedical Innovation
BIOL_EN 8000Scientific Discovery Leading to Life Science Innovations3
BIOL_EN 8004Regulatory Issues in Clinical Research and Clinical Trials3
BIOL_EN 8100Design and Development of Biomedical Innovations3
BIOL_EN 8200Commercialization of Life Science Innovations3
Biophotonics and Bioimaging
BIOL_EN 7420Introduction to Biomedical Imaging3
BIOL_EN 7570Fluorescent Imaging3
BIOL_EN 7770Biomedical Optics3
BIOL_EN 7970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
BIOL_EN 8270Principles and Applications of Fluorescence3
BIOL_EN 8570Microscopic Imaging3
BIOL_EN 8970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
Biosensing
BIOL_EN 7470Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology3
BIOL_EN 7670Photonics and Nanotechnologies in Optical Biosensors3
BIOL_EN 7001Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Wearable Biomedical Devices)1-3
BIOL_EN 8001Advanced Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Bioelectronics & Biosensors)1-3
BIOL_EN 8170Sensors and Biosensors3
BIOL_EN 8470Ultrasensitive Biodetection3

Thesis/Non-Thesis Options

All MS students must complete an independent research project supervised by their faculty advisors. Students can choose a thesis (MST) or non-thesis (MSNT) option to complete the masters degree. Both require a total of 30 graduate credit hours and a research project. MST students can take 6 to 12 credit hours of masters research and are required to complete a masters thesis conforming to the Graduate School thesis specifications. MSNT students must take a minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate courses, excluding research and problems courses, and complete a project report approved by the examination committee. During their last semester in the program, students must defend their thesis or project report in front of an examination committee composed of their graduate advisor and at least two other faculty members.

Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGINR 10001ENGINR 10502
MATH 15005MATH 17005
BS/SS Economics from approved list3PHYSCS 27505
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
4BIO_SC 15005
ENGLSH 10003 
 16 17
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL_EN 20803BIOL_EN 21803
MATH 23003MATH 41003
PHYSCS 27605ENGINR 12003
CHEM 21003Biological Science Elective3
Engineering Graphics from approved list3BIOL_EN 20002
 17 14
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL_EN 31803BIOL_EN 43804
ENGINR 22003Technical Elective3
ENGINR 23003H/FA Elective3
Fluid Mechanics from approved list3Statistics from approved list3
Technical Elective3BS/SS US Govt or History Elective3
BS/SS Elective3 
 18 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL_EN 4980W3Technical Elective3
Biological Science Elective3Technical Elective3
Technical Elective3Technical Elective3
Techincal Elective3Technical Elective3
H/FA Elective3H/FA Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits: 128

Back to Top

Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

Back to Top

Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

Back to Top