The biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics major includes the biomolecular engineering (BME) and bioinformatics (BINF) concentrations. The BME concentration is designed for students interested in protein engineering, stem cell engineering, and synthetic biology. The emphasis is on designing biomolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and cells for particular functions, and the underlying sciences are biochemistry and cell biology.
The BINF concentration combines mathematics, science, and engineering to explore and understand biological data from high-throughput experiments, such as genome sequencing, gene-expression chips, and proteomics experiments. The program builds upon the research and academic strengths of the faculty in the Biomolecular Engineering Department.
In both concentrations, students participate in a capstone experience. Options for the senior capstone experience include
- Senior Design—a three-quarter group project intended to prepare students for work in industry,
- a three-quarter, including summer, full-time synthetic biology project based on the iGEM competition,
- a three-quarter Senior thesis,
- or an Advanced bioinformatics course series. The last option is the required capstone for students participating in the bioinformatics concentrations.
All capstone options involve working closely with faculty and other researchers at UCSC, analyzing ideas, developing technologies, and discovering new approaches. Application areas include biomolecular sensors and systems, nano-electronic implants, assistive technologies for the elderly and disabled, bioinformatics, microfluidics, nanoscale biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and other areas at the junction between engineering and the life sciences.
More information about bioengineering research and undergraduate research opportunities can be found at Undergraduate Research Opportunities, the Genomics Institute, the Program in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, the STEM Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program, and the STEM diversity programs.
The program has course requirements in mathematics, science, and engineering. Students interested in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics as a major should contact the Baskin Engineering advising office (bsoeadvising@ucsc.edu) before enrolling in any courses at UCSC. Early advising is particularly important before choosing calculus and physics courses.
Biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics students may continue their research and studies at UCSC in any of several graduate programs. Information may be found at the Division of Graduate Studies website.
The immense growth of biological information stored in computerized databases has led to a critical need for people who can understand the languages, tools, and techniques of statistics, science, and engineering. A classically trained scientist may be unfamiliar with the statistical and algorithmic knowledge required in this field. A classically trained engineer may be unfamiliar with the chemistry and biology required in the field. Thus, this major strives for a balance of the two: an engineer focused on the problems of the underlying science or, conversely, a scientist focused on the use of engineering tools for analysis and discovery.
The Baskin Engineering Undergraduate Advising office offers general advising for prospective and declared undergraduates majoring in Baskin Engineering programs. The office handles major declarations, transfer credits, course substitutions, articulations, and degree certifications. Undergraduate students obtain and submit all paperwork requiring departmental approval to the undergraduate advising office. Transfer students should also refer to the Transfer Information and Policy section.
Baskin Engineering Building, Room 225
bsoeadvising@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-5840
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
Transfer students need to complete the equivalents of eight courses from the following list with a GPA in those courses of 2.8 or better:
BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
CHEM 1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 1B | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 1C | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 8A | Organic Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 8B | Organic Chemistry | 5 |
BIOL 20A | Cell and Molecular Biology | 5 |
MATH 19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
MATH 19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
AM 10 | Mathematical Methods for Engineers I | 5 |
Although not required for admission, transfer students are strongly recommended to complete at least ten courses from the above list if they wish to graduate in two years. Students with fewer than 10 transferable courses may find it difficult to complete the major in only two more years.
Prospective students are encouraged to prioritize required and recommended major preparation, and may additionally complete courses that articulate to UC Santa Cruz general education requirements as time allows.
Transferring to Biomolecular Engineering
Students transferring into the biomolecular engineering concentration may also count any of the following:
PHYS 5A | Introduction to Physics I | 5 |
PHYS 5B | Introduction to Physics II | 5 |
BME 21L | Introduction to Basic Laboratory Techniques | 3 |
AM 20 | Mathematical Methods for Engineers II | 5 |
Transferring to Bioinformatics
Students transferring into the bioinformatics concentration may also count any of the following:
CSE 16 | Applied Discrete Mathematics | 5 |
CSE 13S | Computer Systems and C Programming | 7 |
CSE 30 | Programming Abstractions: Python | 7 |
Transfer students may use courses articulated to PHIL 22, PHIL 24, or PHIL 28 in place of BME 80G, if these courses are taken prior to registering at UC Santa Cruz.
Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students
Successful transition to UC Santa Cruz happens with early advisor contact, preparing and submitting course descriptions for articulation purposes, and taking summer session courses prior to their first fall quarter. Specific information for transfer students can be found at the Baskin Engineering Transfer webpage. Transfer students should declare their major during their first quarter at UCSC; instructions for declaring a major at Baskin Engineering are on the major declaration webpage.
Major Qualification
In order to be admitted into the biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics major students must be listed as a proposed major within Baskin Engineering. Please refer to Baskin Engineering's "Prospective Students", "Admitted Students" and its "Current Students" sections in the catalog and the Undergraduate Affairs website for more information.
In addition to being listed as a proposed Baskin Engineering major, students must have completed at least 45 credits with a GPA of 2.8 or better in courses required for the major. Students with more than 7 credits of grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in these courses are not qualified for the major.
Students wishing to declare the biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics major after the sixth quarter must appeal, must already have a declared major in which they have completed at least one major requirement course and be making reasonable progress, and must have completed 10 more credits of required courses in the biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics major for each additional quarter.
Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Information and Policy section.
Appeal Process
Students may appeal a major qualification decision by filing a petition with Baskin Engineering Advising. The appeal process is described at the Baskin Engineering Undergraduate Affairs website.
If you have further questions concerning the appeal process, please contact the Undergraduate Advising office at (831) 459-5840 or email bsoeadvising@ucsc.edu.
How to Declare a Major
Students are encouraged to investigate studying for short periods of time (a summer or a quarter) at other institutions, to broaden their education.
The BME Department has established an exchange program with Danish Technical University (DTU), which makes study there for one semester relatively easy, particularly for the bioinformatics concentration. Proposed plans of study should still be cleared with the undergraduate director.
Other exchange programs are also being developed.
Biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics majors are considered for "Honors in the Major" and "Highest Honors in the Major" based on their GPA and on results of undergraduate research. Students with a GPA of 3.7 or higher receive "Highest Honors in the Major." Students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher, but lower than 3.7, receive "Honors in the Major." Students with particularly significant accomplishments in undergraduate research may receive honors or highest honors with a lower GPA. Students who have been found guilty of academic misconduct are not eligible for either honors or highest honors.
Because of the enormous breadth of requirements, biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics majors are urged to take honors courses or sections to get as much as possible out of the courses they take in each field.