UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Bachelor of Science

Completing a B.S. in Bioengineering will prepare you for a variety of careers in traditional as well as emerging biotech fields. Graduates have accepted engineering positions such as designing process equipment and systems for biological production and treatment, or implementing site preparation for construction or bioremediation of environmental contamination. They are prepared to help engineer systems to develop renewable sources of energy, and to improve the value of natural products produced in Hawaii for food and therapeutic applications. Increasing numbers of graduates from BE are meeting demands from growing biotech industries in Hawaii, for example for the production of systems for culturing human tissues for medical replacement and for screening, extracting, and producing antibiotics and other pharmaceutical compounds from Hawaii's unique natural biota. Many Bioengineers are employed with forward thinking institutions like NASA that are interested in engineering self-sustaining habitable environments in space as well as on Earth.

A degree in Bioengineering prepares students for graduate school, not only in Biological Engineering but also in Medicine, Law, and Business which all value the versatility and analytical rigor of the field. Graduates also fill vital research and regulatory needs of state and federal governments to preserve and enhance the value of our natural resources.

The introductory part of the Bioengineering curriculum is similar to other engineering fields, e.g., calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer programming. Students in Bioengineering take additional courses in biological sciences such as biology, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. During the latter part of the program, students take basic engineering courses such as mechanics and thermodynamics as well as Bioengineering courses with emphasis given to solving practical engineering problems involving biological systems. The mission of the Bioengineering Program is to provide students a unique opportunity to study the fundamentals of engineering and biology and the application of engineering to biological systems. To fulfill this mission the BE Program:

1. Provides students with the fundamentals of engineering,
2. Trains students to become engineers with the skills to design, manufacture, test, and/or operate systems in which living organisms or biological products are a significant component, and
3. Graduates students with the skills to function in modern society as expected of a professional engineer with a baccalaureate degree.

The Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering is the only undergraduate degree offered by the program. Students benefit from small class size and one-on-one interactions with faculty. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Requirements

General Education Core Requirements including the following:
SP 251
ECON 120, ECON 130, or ECON 131
BIOL 171 and 171L
CHEM 162, 162L, 272, and 272L
ENG 100
Two courses on Global and Multicultural Perspectives (e.g., HIST 151 & 152)
Humanities – (one course)
MATH 241, 242, 243, and 244
PHYS 170, 170L, 272, and 272L
Social Science - (one course)
A course with focus on Ethics
A course with focus on Hawaiian, Asian, or Pacific issues

College requirements:
NREM 310

Basic Engineering requirements:
EE 160 and 211
CE 270, 271, and 320
ME 311
Engineering mathematics elective

Bioengineering requirements:
BIOL 172 and 172L or MICR 351 and 351L and a biology elective
BE 350, 350L, 360, 373, 481, and 482
At least two courses from the following: BE 405, BE 420, BE 421, BE 431, BE 437, BE 440, BE 460, or CEE 355

A minimum of 128 credit hours is required for graduation.

To find out how to apply for undergraduate study at the University of Hawaii, visit:
www.hawaii.edu/admrec/appfr.html

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