Courses of Study 2024-2025
Biological and Environmental Engineering
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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:
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.
Calculus for Engineers and Engineering Mathematics: (16 Credits)
Physics: (8 Credits)
Note: premeds may petition the College of Engineering to take PHYS 2208 in lieu of PHYS 2213.
General Chemistry (4 Credits)
Organic Chemistry: (3 Credits)
Computer Programming: (4 Credits)
Biological Sciences*: (15 Credits)
Choose two of the four following: Note: we accept AP credit for some or all of the introductory biological science requirement but premeds should plan to take those courses here.
Biochemistry required: BIOMG 3300 or 3330 or 3310+3320 or 3350
Biological science electives at the 2000 level or above with a biological science prerequisite to complete 15 credits
Major-required courses: (48 Credits)
Focus Area:
Fifteen or more credits of courses chosen from one or more of the 7 focus areas: Molecular and Cellular Systems, Ecological and Microbial Systems, Nanobiotechnology, Computational Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology, Biomaterials, or Sustainability***. These fifteen credits include either BEE 4590 (4cr) or BEE 4530 (3cr).
Electives:
Major approved electives (Engineering courses at or above 2000-level to bring the number of engineering credits to at least 48.) At least one course in this category or the focus area must be a BEE capstone design course (BEE 4590 or BEE 4530 ).
Liberal studies (two first-year writing seminars and six liberal studies electives) (24)
Advisor-approved electives (6)
Note:
* Basic accredited curriculum. See also the section on minors. Information on preprofessional study for medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine is available at the Cornell Career Services website.
** Students must have a competency in calculus equivalent to MATH 1110 before they attempt MATH 1910 .
*** See the BEE department advising website for a current list of approved courses.
Students must satisfy the College of Engineering Technical Communications requirement by including one of the approved courses in their program of study.
Orientation seminar - All students take ENGRG 1050 .
EHS Lab Safety online training #2555 is required for graduation. This is typically taken in the first year.
Total credits (minimum): 128
Academic Standing
Majors in Biological Engineering are expected to meet the following standards:
- Semester GPA ≥ 2.0
- Cumulative GPA ≥ 2.0
- A semester GPA ≥ 2.0 in biological and environmental engineering courses and engineering distribution courses
- At most, one grade below C- in required core courses, design courses, BE Focus Area electives, and engineering distribution courses can count towards completion of undergraduate Major.
- Passing grade in at least 12 credits each semester
- No failing grades
The College of Engineering also requires that each course in the required mathematics sequence - 1910, 1920, 2930, 2940 - be passed with a grade of C- or better.
Biological Engineering Honors Program:
The B.S. degree with honors is granted to biological engineering majors who graduate with distinction from the College of Engineering and satisfy the Honors requirements given on the page “Undergraduate Study and Graduation Requirements .”
The Honors program requires completion of 9 credits beyond the B.S. degree requirements drawn from the following, with at least 6 credits in the first category:
- A significant research experience or honors project under the supervision of a BEE faculty member using BEE 4990 - Undergraduate Research and BEE 4993 - Honors Thesis completed in their senior year. A written senior honors thesis must be submitted as part of the 2nd component. A minimum grade of A- in both courses is required for successful completion of the honors requirement. It is expected that the two research courses will be taken in consecutive semesters.
- A significant teaching experience under the direct supervision of a BEE faculty member or as part of a regularly recognized course in the department under BEE 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching .
- Advanced or graduate courses. These additional courses must be technical in nature, i.e., in engineering, math, biology, chemistry, and physics at the 4000+ and graduate level.
- The student must present a poster or oral presentation in a public research forum or another scholarly forum such as a national or regional professional society meeting, or another university or regional event by the end of the project.
Timing
- All interested students must complete a written application (available in 207 Riley-Robb Hall) no later than the end of the third week of the senior year, but are encouraged to make arrangements with a faculty member during the second semester of their junior year. A student must be in the program for at least two consecutive semesters before graduation.
Procedures
- Each applicant to the BE Honors Program must have a BEE faculty advisor to supervise their honors program. A written approval of the faculty member who will direct the research is required.
Environmental Engineering:
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.
Mathematics-science core requirements:
Introduction to engineering: (3 Credits)
Engineering distribution courses:
Recommended: (3-4 Credits)
Introductory Biology: (3-4 Credits)
To satisfy the biology requirement select from: Earth Science (one from the following list): (3-4 Credits)
Laboratory Course (one from the following list): (3 Credits)
Engineering Management: (3 Credits)
Technical communications course (select one from list of options for fulfilling technical communications) (d)
See technical communications requirements for information on communications course options.
Design electives (9 credit minimum):
Need a total of three (3) courses, at least one from the list of capstone design courses and the remainder from the list of design courses (e)
Major Approved Electives (9 credit minimum):
- Three courses from a list of major-approved engineering electives or from design course list to complete total credit requirement (f)
Additional Requirements:
- First-year writing seminar (6)
- Two advisor approved electives (6)
- Liberal studies (18)
- All students take ENGRG 1050
- EHS Lab Safety Online Training #2555(g)
Total credits (minimum): 125
Note:
- Engineering matriculates must enroll in CHEM 2090 ; CALS matriculates must enroll in CHEM 2070 . Students in either college may substitute CHEM 2150 for CHEM 2090 or CHEM 2070 .
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ENGRD 3200 is required by the major. Students can count ENGRD 3200 as their second engineering distribution. Students who do so have the flexibility then to take any other ENGRD or a 3000 level or higher engineering course (that is not cross-listed as a liberal studies) to fulfill the required credit minimum in the major.
- ENGRD 2700 may be accepted (by petition) to substitute for CEE 3040 if taken prior to affiliation with the Environmental Engineering major or if necessary because of scheduling conflicts. Students cannot use credit from both CEE 3040 and ENGRD 2700 towards the major.
- In addition to the First-Year Writing Seminars, an engineering communications course must be taken as an engineering distribution, liberal studies, advisor approved elective or Major course. An approved COMM or ENGRC course or BEE 4730 will satisfy this requirement. Students meeting the technical communications requirement with a course that fulfills another requirement (e.g., liberal studies, lab, design), can use that one to satisfy both requirements.
- To be chosen from a list of design courses on the Environmental Engineering website.
- The list of suggested courses covers the areas of environmental engineering and includes the four focus area: Sustainable Energy, Environmental Processes, Hydrology and Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Sustainable Systems and Environmental Analytics. The respective lists are available on the Environmental Engineering website.
- Students must complete the EHS Lab Safety Online Training #2555 before graduation. Please email your certificate of completion to the environmental engineering coordinator: Nicholas Wagner, CEE or Brenda Marchewka, BEE.
Academic Standing
Majors in Environmental Engineering are expected to meet the following standards:
- Semester GPA ≥ 2.0
- Cumulative GPA ≥ 2.0
- A semester GPA ≥ 2.0 in core courses, design courses, major-approved electives, and engineering distribution courses (Tech GPA).*
- At most one course with a grade below C- can be used to fulfill the EnvE degree requirement [in the following four categories required core courses, design courses, major-approved electives, and engineering distribution courses*].
- 12 credit hours each semester
- No failing grades
*Grade(s) below C- in these courses beyond the first will require that some of the courses so graded be repeated. (The College of Engineering also requires that each course in the required mathematics sequence - 1910, 1920, 2930, 2940 - be passed with a grade of C- or better.)
Environmental Engineering Honors Program:
The environmental engineering honors program consists of at least nine credits beyond the minimum required for graduation in the environmental engineering major. These nine credits must be drawn from one or more of the following categories with at least 3 credit hours in the first category:
- A significant research experience or honors project under the direct supervision of an Environmental Engineering faculty member using BEE 4993 : Honors Thesis or CEE 4000 : Senior Honors Thesis (1 to 6 credits per semester). A significant written report or senior honors thesis must be submitted to the research advisor as part of this component. Letter grade only.
- A significant teaching experience under the direct supervision of a faculty member or as part of a regularly recognized course in the College of Engineering (i.e., Undergraduate Engineering Teaching, BEE 4980 or CEE 4010 [1 to 4 credits per semester]).
- Advanced or graduate courses at the 4000 level or above.
No research, independent study, or teaching for which the student is paid may be counted toward the honors program.
Eligibility: students must enter with and maintain a cumulative GPA equal or greater than 3.50.
Application: students must apply no later than the beginning of the first semester of their senior year but are encouraged to apply as early as the first semester of their junior year. All honors program students must be in the program for at least two semesters before graduation.
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