Biological and Environmental Engineering

Faculty

C.L. Anderson, Chair; B. A. Ahner, B. M. Barstow, N. L. Cápiro, M. T. Charles, A. K. Datta, P. G. Hess, J. C. March, S. Jung, D. Luo, M. Ma, C. Roh, V. Srikrishnan, T. S. Steenhuis, S. Steinschneider, M. T. Walter, M. Wu. Lecturers: D.P. Orr, B.G. Rahm, B. K. Richards

Biological Engineering:

• Major Learning Outcomes
• Program Information
• Basic Subjects
• Major Required Courses
• Academic Standing
• Honors Program

Offered by the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering

Contact: 207 Riley-Robb Hall, or bee-ugrad@cornell.edu or visit the Biological and Environmental Engineering website.

Overview

The Biological Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Biological and environmental engineering (BEE) programs address three great challenges facing humanity today: ensuring an adequate and safe food supply in an era of expanding world population; protecting and remediating the world’s natural resources, including water, soil, air, biodiversity, and energy; and developing engineering systems that monitor, replace, or intervene in or add value to the mechanisms of living organisms. The biological engineering (BE) major has a unique focus on biological systems, including the environment, which is realized through a combination of fundamental engineering sciences, biology, engineering applications and design courses, and liberal studies.

Students interested in the BE major should have a strong aptitude for the sciences and math and an interest in the complex social issues that surround technology.

Students take courses in math, engineering, statistics, computing, physics, chemistry, basic and advanced biology, fundamental engineering sciences (mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and transport processes), plus biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, systems biology, and engineering design. Students select upper-level engineering courses in subjects that include bioprocessing, biotechnology applications, renewable energy, engineering aspects of animal and cellular physiology, soil and water management, environmental systems analysis, sustainable energy, and waste management and disposal plus technical electives from other engineering majors. Students may further strengthen their programs by completing a minor or a second engineering major. Students planning for health careers also take additional lab-based courses in chemistry and biology. Throughout the curriculum, emphasis is placed on communications and teamwork skills, and all students complete a capstone design project.

Career opportunities cover the spectrum of self-employment, private industry, public agencies, educational institutions, and graduate and professional programs in engineering and science, as well as professional fields like medicine, business, and law. In recent years, graduates have pursued careers in consulting, biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, biomedical engineering, management, and international development.

The living world is all around us and within us. The ongoing biological revolution has given rise to a growing demand for technical problem solvers who have studied biology, who have strong math and science skills, who can communicate effectively, and who are sensitive to the needs of people and the environment, and interested in the challenges facing society. The Biological Engineering major is designed to educate the next generation of engineers to meet these challenges.

Major Learning Outcomes

Biological Engineering students will learn how to:

• Identity, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• 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.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• 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.
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
• Apply engineering skills to biological systems.

The biological engineering major is engineering applied to living systems on a range of scales from molecules to whole organisms.

Program Information

• All coursework for this major is in person, in Ithaca, unless otherwise noted. 
• First-year and transfer students are admitted directly into the major and most prerequisites will be met by virtue of the requirements for admission. Students seeking to transfer internally to the BE major should contact Brenda Marchewka (bee-ugrad@cornell.edu) for more information.

• All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
• Only one grade of ”D” is allowed in the major, excluding the math sequence in which students must earn a ”C-” or higher, to meet major requirements. 
• Engineering distribution and field courses require a minimum of 48 credits (includes focus area credits). 
• Focus areas require a minimum of 15 credits.

The academic requirements* for students majoring in Biological Engineering are outlined below. Students must complete a minimum of 128 total credit hours to graduate. 

Environmental Engineering:

• Major Learning Outcomes
• Program Information
• Core Coursework
• Academic Standing
• Honors Program

Offered jointly by the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering and the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Contact: BEE Office, 207 Riley-Robb Hall, bee-ugrad@cornell.edu or CEE Office, 221 Hollister Hall, nw346@cornell.edu or visit our website.

Overview

The Environmental Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Environmental Engineering is the study and practice of analyzing, designing, and managing natural and engineered systems in ways consistent with the maintenance or enhancement of environmental amenities and social sustainability goals. It requires the ability to predict interactions and impacts among natural and engineered system components at various spatial and temporal scales in response to alternative projects, designs, and management policies. It requires a thorough understanding of interactions among the natural environment, the constructed environment, and human activities. Environmental engineers pursue development of sustainable systems and the mitigation of and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

Major Learning Outcomes

In this program, Environmental Engineering students will learn how to:

• Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• 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.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• 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.
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program Information

• All coursework for this major is in person, in Ithaca, unless otherwise noted. 
• All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
• Only one grade of ”D” is allowed in the major, excluding the math sequence in which students must earn a ”C-” or higher, to meet major requirements. 
• Engineering distribution and major courses require a minimum of 57 credits (includes design and major approved elective credits). 
• Design courses and major approved electives require a minimum of 18 credits.

Students who matriculate in the College of Engineering (CoE) may affiliate with the Environmental Engineering (EnvE) major in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in their second year of Study or directly if an external transfer. Students in the CoE seeking to transfer internally to the EnvE major should contact Nicholas Wagner (nw346@cornell.edu) for more information.

Students who enroll in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) as first-years or external transfers majoring in Environmental Engineering (EnvE) affiliate immediately with the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering. Students in CALS seeking to transfer internally to the EnvE major should contact Brenda Marchewka (bee-ugrad@cornell.edu) for more information.