Bioengineering Major (B.S.)

Bioengineering Major (B.S.)

Bioengineering student

What is a Bachelor of Science in bioengineering?

This program is tailored to students who want to use engineering principles to analyze problems and design solutions in the fields of healthcare, medicine and biology. It’s a truly interdisciplinary program, with courses in both the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. Graduates from the bioengineering program solve problems at the interface of biology and engineering in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, as well as medicine and biofuels.

Why study bioengineering at UNH?

You’ll gain a solid foundation of biology and engineering principles through challenging courses and hands-on learning opportunities in our state-of-the-art laboratories. Our faculty have a broad background in modeling physiological and biochemical processes, enzyme kinetics, synthetic biology, biomaterials and biosensor development and related topics such as tissue engineering. Electives let you adapt your program to prepare for medical school, other graduate studies or careers in biomanufacturing, biotechnology or biomedical engineering.

Potential careers

  • Biofuels
  • Bioinstrumentation
  • Biomaterials
  • Biomedical devices and equipment
  • Biotechnology
  • Cell and tissue engineering
  • Pharmaceuticals and medicine
  • Rehabilitation engineering

Contact

Kang Wu

of Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Phone: (603) 862-4388
Office: Chemical Engineering, Kingsbury Hall Rm W315, Durham, NH 03824
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering
33 Academic Way
Kingsbury Hall, Room W301
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-3654  
Fax: (603) 862-3747
  • Meet a Wildcat: Bioengineering
    Naya Leslie is a junior bioengineering major here at the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Read more to learn about why she loves being a student in her department.
    Meet a Wildcat: Bioengineering
    Naya Leslie is a junior bioengineering major here at the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Read more to learn about why she loves being a student in her department.
  • John Moynihan is a senior bioengineering student and for his capstone he created a silicone tubing designed for single-use systems within pharmaceutical manufacturing. 
    John Moynihan is a senior bioengineering student and for his capstone he created a silicone tubing designed for single-use systems within pharmaceutical manufacturing. 
  • Bioengineering graduate awarded Tau Beta Pi Fellowship
    Luciana Custer '22, a bioengineering graduate, was recently recognized by Tau Beta Pi high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the engineering profession.
    Bioengineering graduate awarded Tau Beta Pi Fellowship
    Luciana Custer '22, a bioengineering graduate, was recently recognized by Tau Beta Pi high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the engineering profession.
  • Katherine Austin '22
    Katherine Austin '23, a bioengineering major, was one of six UNH students make up largest one-year cohort of Department of Defense scholarship recipients.
    Katherine Austin '22
    Katherine Austin '23, a bioengineering major, was one of six UNH students make up largest one-year cohort of Department of Defense scholarship recipients.
  • Meet a Wildcat in Bioengineering
    Watch Katherine Austin discuss her favorite things about attending the University of New Hampshire and advice for those considering attending UNH.
    Meet a Wildcat in Bioengineering
    Watch Katherine Austin discuss her favorite things about attending the University of New Hampshire and advice for those considering attending UNH.

Curriculum & Requirements

The Bioengineering program is tailored to students who want to use engineering principles to analyze problems and design solutions in the fields of healthcare, medicine and biology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, as well as biofuels.

The bioengineering program is truly interdisciplinary and will train graduates in biology and physiology as well as engineering. The program will provide graduates with capabilities in advanced mathematics (including differential equations and statistics), science, and engineering. Graduates will be conversant with solving problems at the interface of biology and engineering that may arise in a variety of fields. By graduation, students will have experience measuring and interpreting data from living systems and addressing the interactions between living and non-living materials.

For more information on the bioengineering program, please contact Nivedita Gupta, Professor and Chair.

The Bioengineering program (B Sci in Bioengineering) is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
CHBE 400 Chemical and Bioengineering Lectures 1
CHEM 405 Chemical Principles for Engineers 2 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 3 4
MATH 425 Calculus I 1 4
Discovery Program Elective 4
 Credits17
Spring
BIOL 411 Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 4 4
MATH 426 Calculus II 4
PHYS 407 General Physics I 4
Discovery Program Elective 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
CHBE 501 Material Balances 3
CHEM 545 Organic Chemistry 3
CHEM 546 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
GEN 604 Principles of Genetics 4
MATH 527 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra 4
 Credits16
Spring
BMS 503 General Microbiology 3
BMS 504 General Microbiology Laboratory 2
CHBE 502 Energy Balances 5 3
MATH 644 Statistics for Engineers and Scientists 4
Discovery Program Elective 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
BMCB 658 General Biochemistry 3
BMCB 659 General Biochemistry Lab 2
CHBE 601 Fluid Mechanics and Unit Operations 3
CHBE 766 Biomaterials 4
Bioengineering Program Elective 4
 Credits16
Spring
BMS 508 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
CHBE 604 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 3
CHBE 761 Biochemical Engineering 4
Bioengineering Program Elective 4
 Credits15
Fourth Year
Fall
CHBE 762 Biomedical Engineering 4
CHBE 763 Bioengineering Design I 2
Bioengineering Program Electives (2) 8
Discovery Program Elective 4
 Credits18
Spring
CHBE 614 Separation Processes 3
CHBE 764 Bioengineering Design II 4
Bioengineering Program Elective 4
Discovery Program Elective 4
 Credits15
 Total Credits129
1

MATH 425 Calculus I satisfies the Discovery Foundation Quantitative Reasoning category.

2

CHEM 405 Chemical Principles for Engineers satisfies the Discovery Physical Science (with lab) category.

3

ENGL 401 First-Year Writing satisfies the Discovery Foundation Writing Skills category.

4

BIOL 411 Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular satisfies the Discovery Biological Science (with lab) category.

5

CHBE 502 Energy Balances satisfies the Discovery Inquiry category.

The Discovery ETS category requirement is met upon receiving a passing grade in CHBE 400 Chemical and Bioengineering Lectures; CHBE 761 Biochemical Engineering; CHBE 762 Biomedical EngineeringCHBE 763 Bioengineering Design I; CHBE 764 Bioengineering Design II. Students who do not complete these courses must take a Discovery ETS course to fulfill the requirement.

34 credits engineering, 16 credits math, 14 credits chemistry, 16 credits life science

Five electives: 12 to 16 credits engineering; 3 to 4 credits science, math, or engineering

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Students are required to obtain a minimum 2.0 grade-point average in CHBE 501 Material Balances and CHBE 502 Energy Balances and in overall standing at the end of the sophomore year in order to continue in the major. Study abroad (Exchange) students are required to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in math, physics, chemistry, and other required courses at the end of the semester prior to their exchange semester.

CHBE 400Chemical and Bioengineering Lectures1
CHBE 501Material Balances3
CHBE 502Energy Balances3
CHBE 601Fluid Mechanics and Unit Operations3
CHBE 604Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics3
CHBE 614Separation Processes3
CHBE 761Biochemical Engineering4
CHBE 762Biomedical Engineering4
CHBE 763Bioengineering Design I2
CHBE 764Bioengineering Design II4
CHBE 766Biomaterials4
BIOL 411Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular4
BMCB 658
BMCB 659
General Biochemistry
and General Biochemistry Lab
5
BMS 503General Microbiology3
BMS 504General Microbiology Laboratory2
BMS 508Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
CHEM 405Chemical Principles for Engineers4
CHEM 545
CHEM 546
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
5
GEN 604Principles of Genetics4
MATH 425Calculus I4
MATH 426Calculus II4
MATH 527Differential Equations with Linear Algebra4
MATH 644Statistics for Engineers and Scientists4
PHYS 407General Physics I4
Electives
Select five courses from the following: 1
BMCB 753
Cell Culture
BMS 507
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BMS 702
Endocrinology
BMS 704
Pathologic Basis of Disease
BMS 706
BMS 708
Virology
and Virology Laboratory
CEE 502
Project Engineering 1
CEE 705
Introduction to Sustainable Engineering 1
CEE 724
Environmental Engineering Microbiology 1
CHBE 602
Heat Transfer and Unit Operations 1
CHBE 603
Applied Mathematics for Chemical Engineers 1
CHBE 651
Biotech Experience/Biomanufacturing 1
CHBE 703
Mass Transfer and Stagewise Operations 1
CHBE 707
Chemical Engineering Kinetics 1
CHBE 709
Fundamentals of Air Pollution and Its Control 1
CHBE 712
Introduction to Nuclear Engineering 1
CHBE 714
Chemical Sensors 1
CHBE 722
Introduction to Microfluidics 1
CHBE 725
Cell Phenotyping and Tissue Engineering Laboratory 1
CHBE 752
Process Dynamics and Control 1
CHBE 755
Computational Molecular Bioengineering 1
ECE 537
Introduction to Electrical Engineering 1
ECE 541
Electric Circuits 1
ECE 543
Introduction to Digital Systems 1
ECE 633
Signals and Systems I 1
ECE 633H
Honors/Signals and Systems I 1
ECE 717
Introduction to Digital Image Processing 1
ECE 784
Biomedical Instrumentation 1
GEN 711
Genomics and Bioinformatics
or GEN 711W
Genomics and Bioinformatics
GEN 712
Programming for Bioinformatics
GEN 717
Molecular Microbiology
GEN 771
Molecular Genetics
GEN 774
Techniques in Plant Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology 1
TECH 780
Intellectual Property Law for Engineers & Scientists
Total Credits85
1

 At least four of the elective courses must be engineering.

By the time of graduation, students will have:

  • an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. 
  • an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. 
  • an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. 
  • an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. 
  • an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives. 
  • an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentationanalyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. 
  • an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. 
 

Explore Program Details

The bioengineering program seeks to provide an environment and opportunities that enable students to pursue their goals in an innovative program with a diversity of offerings that is rigorous and challenging.

Objectives & Outcomes

take the next step

student outside building on campus
LEARN HOW TO APPLY
Students on the lawn at Thompson Hall
SCHEDULE A VISIT
student at career event
REQUEST INFORMATION