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Enchiridion: Majors, Concentrations, and Minors

Bioengineering Minor

Villanova offers a minor in Bioengineering that bridges the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Nursing, which provides an opportunity for an interdisciplinary experience for students in engineering, the sciences, and nursing. The minor will be completed by students taking a minimum of 12 credits of science or bioengineering courses outside of the major, a minimum of 9 credits of science or bioengineering courses inside the major, and 3 credits from either inside or outside of the major (student’s choice). A course in ethics is required in addition to these 24 credits. Note that the latter 9 or 12 credits from above are from courses that already satisfy the student’s major and so do not contribute an additional course load. Learn more about this exciting minor below.

Any student in good standing in engineering, the sciences, and nursing who has successfully taken first-year calculus and physics courses will be considered for admission into the bioengineering minor. A student who has been accepted into the minor must remain in good standing for retention.

The requirements are as follows:

1. A minimum of 12 credits from the lists of courses below in engineering (for science students) or science (for engineering students).  For engineering students, the science courses must be outside of those required for the student's major.
  a. Minimum of 12 credits from approved courses (see below) outside of major
    i. Minimum of 4 credits of these must be from upper-level courses
  b. Minimum of 9 credits from the lists of courses below within the student's major 
    i. Minimum of 4 credits of these must be from upper-level courses
  c. Minimum of a 3 credit relevant upper-level elective from within or outside major (student's choice), but not required for the student's major
  d. In addition to the above 24 credits, the student must take Ethics for Health Care Professionals (PHI 2115) or an equivalent ethics course related to the student’s major. PHI 2115, if chosen, must be taken in the fall semester.
  e. No AP credit may be applied to reduce the number of credits for the minor to less than 24 (plus the required ethics)
2. Students choose their science courses from the lists 2a, 2b, 2c below.  If pursuing a track, science courses must be chosen from the list under only one of the following tracks. Many courses have pre-requisites. Please consult the University catalog.
  a. Biochemistry/Molecular Biology/Cell Biology
    i. BIO 2105 General Biology I1
    ii. BIO 3351 Genetics
    iii. BIO 4505 Molecular Biology
    iv. BIO 4205 Cell Biology
    v. BIO 3595 General Microbiology
    vi. BIO 4355 Experimental Genetics
    vii. NUR 3030 Concepts in Pharmacology
    viii. CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry I
    ix. CHM 4611 (CHM 4601 lab) Survey of Biochemistry
    x. CHM 4621 (CHM 4622 lab) Biochemistry I: Structure
    xi. CHM 3514 Bioanalytical Chemistry
    xii. BIO 1181 Principles of Cell Biology and Genetics
  b. Physiology/Organismal Biology
    i. BIO 2106 General Biology II1
    ii. BIO 3055 Animal Physiology
    iii. BIO 1205 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
    iv. BIO 1206 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
    v. BIO 4805 Neurobiology
    vi. BIO 3155 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
    vii. BIO 3455 Histology
    viii. BIO 4251 and 4252 Comparative Endocrinology
    ix. NUR 3108 Human Pathophysiology
  c. Ecology/Environmental Sciences
    i. BIO 2106 General Biology II1
    ii. GEV 1050 Environmental Science I1
    iii. GEV 1052 Environmental Science II
    iv. BIO 3255 Introductory Ecology
    v. BIO 4451 Field Ecology and Evolution
    vi. BIO 3905 Vascular Plants
    vii. BIO 3505 Invertebrate Zoology
    viii. BIO 4801 Conservation Biology
    ix. CHM 3514 Bioanalytical Chemistry
3. Students can choose their engineering courses from the following lists 3a, 3b, 3c below.  If pursuing a track, engineering courses must be chosen from the list under only one of the following tracks. A few of these courses have pre-requisites explained in the notes below and in the University catalog.
  a. Biopharmaceuticals
    i. EGR 2200 Transport in Bioengineering2
    ii. ChE 5532 Introduction to Biotechnology
    iii. ChE 5533 Bioseparations
    iv. ChE 5534 Biomaterials
    v. SDURIS3
  b. Environmental Biotechnology
    i. EGR 2200 Transport in Bioengineering2
    ii. CEE 2311 Environmental Engineering Science
    iii. CEE 33216 Water And Wastewater Treatment
    iv. CEE 4331 Solid and Hazardous Waste
    v. CEE 7511 Microbiology For Environmental Engineers
    vi. CEE 8708 Biological Treatment Processes
    vii. SDURIS3
  c. Biomechanical (bio-solid mechanics and bio-transport)
    i. EGR 2200 Transport in Bioengineering2
    ii. ME 55004 Biomechanics
    iii. ME 7700 Transport Phenomena in Biological Systems
    iv. ChE 5532 Introduction to Biotechnology
    v. SDURIS3
  d. Biomedical Signal Processing5
    i. ECE 5250 Biomedical Instrumentation
    ii. ECE 5251 Biomedical Signal Processing
    iii. SDURIS3
   
Notes:
1 BIO 2105 or 2106 and GEV 1050 are science core courses. One of these must be taken.
2 The Transport in Bioengineering course, the same for all tracks, is offered for all students who have not taken an appropriate course or courses in the fundamentals areas of thermodynamics, fluid flow, chemical kinetics, and mass transport and who wish to pursue a bioengineering course that has this material as a prerequisite. Engineering and science students should speak with their advisor to determine the need for this course.
3 SDURIS is Senior Design, Undergraduate Research, or Independent Study. A maximum of 6 credits may be taken in this category.
4 ME 5500 has a prerequisite of CEE 2103 Mechanics of Solids
5 The Biomedical Signal Processing track has several prerequisites. Please consult the web site or contact one of the department representatives in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department for details.
6 CEE 3321 has a prerequisite of CEE 2311 Environmental Engineering Science




 

Please see the Bioengineering website for more information.