One of 17 ABET-accredited programs in the United States, Biological Engineering integrates the physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering with cellular and molecular biology for a wide range of applications involving living organisms and the natural world. Biological engineers apply the engineering principles of analysis, synthesis and design to biological systems such as the environment, water, medicine, energy, materials and food.
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Wentworth's Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering degree equips you to apply the engineering principles of analysis, synthesis and design to to biological systems such as the environment, water, medicine, energy, materials, and food. By understanding how biological systems and processes are structured and their functions at the fundamental level, new technologies, materials and systems can be created to improve quality of life.
Engineering with a Difference
The focus on living organisms creates a stark contrast between the Biological Engineering major and many of Wentworth's other engineering disciplines, which center on non-living materials and processes. Biological engineering is rooted in the life sciences and when this converges with the physical sciences that are of importance to engineering, we can create revolutionary new technologies. Potential areas of focus include healthcare, medicine, pharmaceuticals, the environment, clean water, wastewater, energy, materials and more. Creating innovative new solutions to meet the challenges in these areas will define the 21st century.
A Practical, Modern Curriculum
Through extensive lab work and two semesters of co-ops, our Biological Engineering students are immersed in the convergence of physical sciences, life sciences and engineering, giving them the hands-on experience necessary to confront real-world, biological-based problems.
Superior Credentials and Pre-med Option
Biological engineers can build careers in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, industry and organizations focused on the environment. The biological engineering major is ideal for students who want to go beyond a focus in the life sciences to developing innovative solutions involving the application of engineering principles, and can serve as preparation for advanced graduate studies, including pre-med programs.
Co-op Experience with Top Employers
Through Wentworth’s strong network of employers, including many alumni, Biological Engineering students obtain professional experience during their two required cooperative work semesters. Partners hiring our co-op students include AtlantiCare, Boston Bioskills Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Moderna Therapeutics. Synlogic Therapeutics and WAVE Life Sciences.
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The Wentworth Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
For program objectives, outcomes and enrollment and degree data, please visit the Biological Engineering Accreditation Information page.
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The Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering program is a four-year program, starting in the fall of the student’s first year and ending in the summer semester of the student’s fourth year. The program is at the leading edge of emerging engineering disciplines, applying the engineering principles of analysis, synthesis, and design to biology at the molecular and cellular levels to create new products and processes. By understanding biological functions at the fundamental level, and how systems and processes are structured, new technologies, materials, and systems can be created to improve quality of life through a broad array of sectors from health care to the environment.
View the Course Catalog below for information about program requirements. For an overview of the year-by-year experience in the Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering program, see "What You'll Learn" below.
Total credits for degree: 128
This is a four-year program, starting in the fall of the student’s first year and ending in the summer semester of the student’s fourth year.
Plan of Study Grid Freshman Year Fall Semester Credits ENGR1100 INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE 2 ENGR1201 ENGINEERING LABORATORY-BSBE 2 CHEM1100 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I 4 MATH1776 CALCULUS 1A 2 MATH1777 CALCULUS 1B 2 English Sequence* 4 Credits 16 Spring Semester ENGR1300 FIRST-YEAR ENGINEERING DESIGN 2 ENGR1401 APPLIED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS-BSBE 2 BIOL1100 CELL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 4 MATH1876 CALCULUS 2A 2 MATH1877 CALCULUS 2B 2 English Sequence* 4 Credits 16 Sophomore Year Fall Semester BIOE2000 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 4 BIOL2200 ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 4 MATH2500 DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS 4 PHYS1250 ENGINEERING PHYSICS I 4 Credits 16 Spring Semester BIOE2100 BIOSTATISTICS FOR BIOENGINEERS 4 BIOE2500 BIOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT 4 CHEM1600 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II 4 HSS Elective* 4 Credits 16 Summer Semester COOP3000 PRE CO-OP WORK TERM (OPTIONAL) (Optional) 0 Credits 0 Junior Year Fall Semester BIOE3500 GENETICS AND TRANSGENICS 4 CHEM2500 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 4 PHYS1750 ENGINEERING PHYSICS II 4 HSS Elective* 4 Credits 16 Spring Semester COOP3500 COOP EDUCATION 1 Credits 0 Summer Semester BIOE3025 BIOMATERIALS & TISSUE ENGINEERING 4 BIOE3550 UNIT OPERATIONS & PROCESS CONTROL 4 CHEM3550 BIOCHEMISTRY 4 HSS Elective* 4 Credits 16 Senior Year Fall Semester COOP4500 COOP EDUCATION 2 Credits 0 Spring Semester BIOE4000 CELL PHYSIOLOGY AND SIGNALING 4 BIOE4500 BIOTRANSPORT PHENOMENA 4 ENGR5000 ENGINEERING SENIOR DESIGN I 4 BIOE Elective 4 Credits 16 Summer Semester BIOE4400 SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY 4 ENGR5500 ENGINEERING SENIOR DESIGN II 4 BIOE Elective 4 HSS Elective* 4 Credits 16 Total Credits 128 ENGL/HSS Note
Students are required to complete:
- At least one course in Humanities: CSAS, HSSI, HIST, HUMN, LITR and PHIL
- At least one course in the Social Sciences: CSAS, HSSI, COMM, ECON, ENVM, POLS, PSYC and SOCL
- The remaining course from either the Humanities or Social Sciences category.
Students with a three English course sequence may use the third English course to satisfy a Humanities requirement.
A minimum of 20 credits total, including English, humanities, and social science credit, is required to complete the humanities and social sciences graduation requirement.
Math Placement may alter the course schedule above.
High Value Degree
Top Ranking for ROI by
Payscale.com
What you'll have access to across the campus
Median Average Salary for Biological Engineers in Boston (source: Payscale.com)
Unique Solutions to Some of the World's Most Challenging Problems
David Simpson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering, shares some of the amazing work done by students in the Biological Engineering Program.
Testimonials
Jordanna Belle-Isle
"I've done three co-ops. My first one was here at the school. I was a lab tech, and I learned how things run. The second one was at Wave Life Sciences and I worked a lot with purification processes that were then sent on to be made into genetic treatments for genetic disorders like Huntington's disease. And then my third was at TCR² Therapeutics Inc., and I had my own project where I worked on viral transfection and its effectiveness to fight tumors."
Salil Desai
A degree from Wentworth speaks to a rounded student who has had real job experience and understands the context of their education. The program is application driven and the students are purpose driven, so this makes for the perfect environment for a unique and impactful degree program.
Abby Maher
Being a Wentworth student is exciting to me because while the biological program is still small compared to other majors, it is a tight knit community. You know everyone in your classes, as we have all of them together, and the professors get to know you on a more personal level. Outside of the classroom, athletics is a big aspect of my Wentworth life. It has a strong sense of family and pride in our community.
Jessica Rowe
Our co-op program gives students a deeper understanding on what they are learning while they are learning it, rather than being thrown out into the world without any formal job experience. I like the close knit connections I have with my lab techs, especially in the biological engineering lab, as well as small class sizes in order to get to know your professors better.
Mary Machado
The Wentworth bioengineering degree is focused on the practical applications of bioengineering. Students at this university not only get to understand the basic chemical, biological and physical principles that underlie bioengineering but receive hands on instruction with industry relevant instrumentation.
A standout project that my students work on at Wentworth is the creation of new sensing and encapsulation methodologies using NaCl nanoparticles. Currently I am working with my students to manufacture these particles and test them for their anti-infective properties. Long term we hope to create better methods to stabilize DNA and RNA in sensing and health applications.
What You'll Learn
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Year 1
In your fall semester, you’ll establish a foundation for your Biological Engineering program by taking introductory courses in chemistry, physics, and calculus, along with Introduction to Engineering, which will instill core engineering concepts that you’ll use throughout the program.
In the spring, you’ll begin exploring biological concepts in Cell & Molecular Biology while also diving into engineering courses that utilize essential tools.
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Year 2
Second-year biological engineering students expand their knowledge with courses like Advanced Molecular Biology and Biostatistics for Bioengineers while continuing to bolster their understanding of chemistry and physics.
An optional pre co-op work term is available to students during the summer semester.
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Year 3
In the fall semester of your third year, you’ll be able to supplement courses in Genetics and Organic Chemistry with an elective in your desired area of study.
In the spring, you’ll begin the first of two required co-ops.
In the summer, you’ll dig into more advanced biological engineering, including working with materials and understanding the biomanufacturing process.
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Year 4
In the fall, you’ll go on your second required co-op to gain more hands-on industry experience.
The remainder of your program includes courses in Cell Physiology and Synthetic Biology, as well as your senior capstone project, which you’ll work on over your final two semesters.