Bioengineering Major Program
2023-24 Bioengineering Undergraduate Program Requirements
Understanding and interfacing with complex living systems is at the heart of bioengineering with applications ranging from advancing human health to promoting environmental sustainability. The mission of Stanford's Department of Bioengineering is to create a fusion of engineering and the life sciences that promotes scientific discovery and the development of new biomedical technologies and therapies through research and education.
The Department of Bioengineering is jointly supported by the Schools of Medicine and Engineering. The Bioengineering (BIOE) major enables students to embrace biology as a new engineering paradigm and apply engineering principles to medical problems and biological systems.
Students who obtain a BS in BIOE will obtain a solid background in the basic sciences (chemistry, physics and biology) and mathematics. They will take three engineering fundamentals courses including an introductory bioengineering course and computer programming. Starting in the sophomore year, BioE students will begine to take a series of core classes to gain essential knowledge to pursue a career in bioengineering and will then have the opportunity to pursue elective courses suited to their own interests.
Bioengineering students have a wide variety of options upon graduation. Many will continue on to graduate school or medical school. Others will choose to work in biotechnology, government service, medical device, medical imaging, or other medical and non-medical industries. Other BioE graduates may choose to pursue advanced degrees in business or law or follow a different career path.
NOTE: Students intending to apply to medical school will need to take additional advanced science courses. While we offer advice regarding pre-medical requirements, it is important to schedule an advising appointment with a pre-medical advisor in Sweet Hall to learn more about how to best prepare for admission to medical schools and the MCAT.
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Our Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program offers Stanford students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and their research groups on advanced research topics during the Summer Quarter. Applications are due early February. Interested students should check the BioE website for announcements.
BIOE Program Sheet Excel or PDF
See Explore Degrees for list of BIOE (and all other School of Engineering) program requirements.
Components of BIOE
All BioE students take courses to get a solid foundation to prepare them for the study of bioengineering. Most of the math and science courses are typically taken during freshman and sophomore year; see BioE 4-Year Plans for details.
Mathematics and Science
| Course | Title | Units |
| MATH 19/ 20/21 | Calculus (or 10 units AP Calculus or placement via SU exam) | 10 |
| Additional Math (minimum 14 units; CME courses strongly recommended). Select one of the following sequences | ||
| Recommended: CME 100 & CME 102 | Vector Calculus for Engineers and Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers | 10 |
| or | ||
| MATH 51 & MATH 53 | Linear Algebra and Differential Calculus of Several Variables and Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| CME 106 or STATS 110 or STATS 141 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineering (Highly Recommended) Statistical Methods in Engineering and the Physical Sciences Biostatistics | 3-4 4-5 4-5 |
| Science (all courses listed; 26 units minimum) | ||
| CHEM 31M (formerly 31X) | Chemical Principles (or CHEM 31A and CHEM 31B) | 5/10 |
| CHEM 33 | Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
| BIO 82 or BIO 83 | Genetics or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (recommended) | 4 |
| BIO 84 | Physiology | 4 |
| PHYSICS 41 or 41E | Mechanics (or AP equivalent)(PHYS 41E by placement or application only) | 4 |
| PHYSICS 43 | Electricity and Magnetism (or AP equivalent) | 4 |
Technology in Society (TIS)
| Course | Title | Units |
| BIOE 131 | Ethics in Bioengineering (satisfies WIM requirement for major) | 3 |
Engineering Fundamentals (3 courses)
| Course | Title | Units |
| ENGR 80 | Introduction to Bioengineering (same as BIOE 80; required) | 4 |
| CS 106A | Programming Methodology (or CS 106AB or 106X; required) | 5 |
| Fundamentals Elective; see UGHB for options; only one CS class allowed to count toward Fundamentals requirements | 3-5 | |
BIOE Core: (27 units) All BIOE students are required to take a common set of depth courses
| Physical Biology | Title | Units |
| BIOE 42 | Physical Biology of Cells | 4 |
| Lab Courses | Title | Units |
| BIOE 44 | Fundamentals for Engineering Biology Lab | 4 |
| BIOE 123 | Optics and Devices Lab | 4 |
| Systems Biology & Physiology Courses | Title | Units |
| BIOE 101 | Systems Biology | 3 |
| BIOE 103 | Systems Physiology and Design | 4 |
| Senior Project Courses | Title | Units |
| BIOE 141A | Senior Capstone Design I | 4 |
| BIOE 141B | Senior Capstone Design II | 4 |
| BIOE Depth Electives: Three courses from approved list (minimum of 8 units) | ||
| Course | Title | Units |
| BIOE 122 | Biosecurity and Bioterrorism Response (same as PUBLPOL 122) | 4-5 |
| BIOE 201C | Diagnostic Devices Lab | 3 |
| BIOE 209 | Mathematical Models of Biological Systems | 3 |
| BIOE 211 | Biophysics of Multi-cellular Systems and Amorphous Computing | 3 |
| BIOE 212 | Introduction to Biomedical Informatics Research Methodology | 3 |
| BIOE 214 | Representations and Algorithms for Computational Molecular Biology | 3-4 |
| BIOE 217 | Translational Bioinformatics | 4 |
BIOE 220 or BIOE 51 | Introduction to Imaging and Image-based Human Anatomy OR Anatomy for Bioengineers | 3-4 |
| BIOE 221 | Physics and Engineering of Radionuclide | 3 |
| BIOE 222 | Multimodality Molecular Imaging in Living Subjects I | 4 |
| BIOE 224 | Multimodality Molecular Imaging in Living Subjects II | 4 |
| BIOE 225 | Ultrasound Imaging and Therapeutic Applications | 3 |
| BIOE 227 | Functional MRI Methods | 3 |
| BIOE 231 | Protein Engineering | 3 |
| BIOE 260 | Tissue Engineering | 4 |
| BIOE 279 | Computational Biology: Structure and Organization of Biomolecules | 3 |
| BIOE 281 | Biomechanics of Movement | 3 |
| BIOE 291 | Principles and Practice of Optogenetics for Optical Control of Biological Tissues | 3 |
| BIOE 301A | Molecular and Cellular Engineering Lab | 2 |
| BIOE 301B | Clinical Needs and Technology | |
| BIOE 301E | Computational Protein Modeling Lab | 2 |
| BIOE 301P | Research Data and Computation | 2 |
Honors Option
Students who qualify are encouraged to apply for the BIOE Honors program at the end of their junior year. Students who are accepted spend their senior year exploring a research topic in-depth and writing an honors thesis. Honors programs allow undergraduates with strong academic records and enthusiasm for independent research to engage in a significant project leading to a degree with departmental honors. This program provides a unique opportunity for qualified BioE majors to conduct independent research at an advanced level with a faculty mentor and submit a final thesis. Students should review program deadlines via the Bioengineering Honors Program
Coterm Deadlines and Contact
| Dept | Application Deadlines | Contacts | Website |
| Bioengineering | December 1, 2023 for Spring 2023-2024 | Carly Buckholz carlymae@stanford.edu Eric Giudice emgdice@stanford.eduu | https://bioengineering.stanford.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/co… |
Instructions for Declaring Major in Bioengineering (BIOE-BS)
Declaring a BioE major consists of the following steps:
- Login to Axess and request to major in Bioengineering. Do not choose the Honors option in Axess unless you have already submitted an Honors application to the department.
- Download or print a copy of your unofficial Stanford transcript from Axess.
- Download a BioE program sheet. You must choose a program sheet from a year you were enrolled at Stanford. Enter “AP” instead of a grade for any course waived due to AP credit. Please note: when completing the program sheet, include courses you plan to take as well as those you have already taken.
- Complete the BIOE Declaration webform, found on the Declaration website
- Meet with your assigned advisor to discuss the program, review your 4-year plan, and have him/her sign your completed program sheet (this meeting can be virtual).
- Email the completed and signed program sheet to program sheet to BioE Student Services Officer, Eric Giudice, emgdice@stanford.edu.
When your major is approved in Axess, you will be notified via e-mail.