Program Description
Biological engineering is the application of engineering to living systems. Examples of engineering efforts in this field include the development of new biosensor technologies, study and control of biologically based matter transformation systems, and development of engineered devices to study and regulate fundamental biological processes. The biological engineering minor is an opportunity for students to further their understanding of living systems and to increase their knowledge of the basic transport processes that occur within these systems. Courses in the minor provide opportunities to analyze and manipulate living systems at the molecular, cellular, and system levels.
Students may pursue either the Biological Engineering (BEE) minor or the Biomedical Engineering (BME) minor, but not both.
Students in all engineering majors except Biological Engineering may pursue the BEE minor.
Academic Standards
Grade Requirements
Each course must be completed with a grade of C- or better to count toward the minor.
Students must maintain a GPA ≥ 2.0 in all courses in the minor.
Minor Declaration Information
Students should meet with the BEE Undergraduate Coordinator when they decide to pursue the minor. At that time, they will be assigned a BEE faculty advisor, who will guide them in completing the minor program.
Program Information
- Minimum Credits for Minor: 18
Minor Requirements
At least six (6) courses, with at least three courses and 9 credits taught in BEE, chosen as follows:
Biological Foundation
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| BIOMG 3300 | Principles of Biochemistry, Individualized Instruction | 4 |
BIOMG 3310
& BIOMG 3320 | Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins and Metabolism
and Principles of Biochemistry: Molecular Biology | 5 |
| BIOMG 3350 | Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins, Metabolism, and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOMG 3850 | Developmental Biology and Disease | 3 |
| BIOMG 4320 | Survey of Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOMI 4850 | Bacterial Genetics | 2-3 |
Biological Engineering Core
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| BEE 2600 | Principles of Biological Engineering | 3 |
| BEE 3310 | Bio-Fluid Mechanics | 4 |
| BEE 3400 | Design and Analysis of Biomaterials 1 | 3 |
| BEE 3500 | Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Engineering | 4 |
| BEE 3600 | Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering | 3 |
Biological Engineering Focus Area Electives
Choose at least three courses from the focus area course lists. Courses appearing in more than one focus area do not double count.
Graduation Requirements for Engineering Minor Degree Programs
Requirements
Students may pursue minors in any department in any college that offers them, subject to limitations placed by the department offering the minor or by the students' major. Completed minors will appear on the student's transcript. Not all departments offer minors. Additional information on specific minors can be found above, in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook, in the undergraduate major office of the department or school offering the minor, and in Engineering Advising.
An engineering minor recognizes formal study of a particular subject area in engineering normally outside the major. Students undertaking a minor are expected to complete the requirements during the time of their continuous undergraduate enrollment at Cornell. Completing the requirements for an engineering minor (along with a major) may require more than the traditional eight semesters at Cornell. However, courses that fulfill minor requirements may also satisfy other degree requirements (e.g., distribution courses, advisor-approved, or major-approved electives), and completion within eight semesters is possible.
An engineering minor requires:
- successful completion of all requirements for an undergraduate degree.
- enrollment in a major that approves participation in the minor.
- satisfactory completion of six courses (at least 18 credits) in a college-approved minor.
Students may apply for certification of a minor at any time after the required course work has been completed in accordance with published standards. An official notation of certification of a minor appears on the Cornell transcript following graduation.
