FRESHMAN APPLICANTS
Welcome to the undergraduate educational programs of the UC San Diego Department of Bioengineering!
Since 1966, UC San Diego has offered an undergraduate major in Bioengineering. Over the past fifty years, UC San Diego Bioengineering has established a reputation of innovation and excellence in education; the Department of Bioengineering has ranked among the top five programs in the nation every year for over 20 years for biomedical/bioengineering according to the US News and World Report Ranking of Best Engineering Schools.
Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field in which the principles and tools of mechanical, materials, electrical, and chemical engineering are applied to biomedical and biological problems. Bioengineering plays an important role in medicine in projects that range from basic research in physiology to advances in biotechnology and the improvement of health care delivery in the clinic. By its very nature, bioengineering is broad and requires a foundation in mathematics as well as in the physical, chemical, and biological sciences.
ADMISSIONS
University Admissions
For information on university freshman admissions requirements, please review the information listed HERE.
Department Admissions
For information on admissions into one of the four majors offered by our department, we recommend that you first review the difference between our majors listed below.
- Bioengineering
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The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Bioengineering prepares students for a variety of careers in the biomedical device industry and for further education in graduate school. The program addresses the bioengineering topics of biomechanics, biotransport, bioinstrumentation, bioelectricity, biosystems, and biomaterials, and the complementary fields of systems and organ physiology. Education in these areas allows application of bioengineering and scientific principles to benefit human health by advancing methods for effective diagnosis and treatment of disease through development of medical devices and technologies.
BIOENGINEERING (BE25) TRITON DAY 2023 PACKET
BIOENGINEERING (BE25) 2023 TRANSFER PACKET
- Bioengineering: Bioinformatics
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The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics addresses the flow of the vast amount of information (genetic, metabolic and regulatory) in living systems, providing an integrated understanding of the systems properties of cells and organisms.
BIOENGINEERING: BIOINFORMATICS (BE28) TRITON DAY 2023 PACKET
BIOENGINEERING: BIOINFORMATICS (BE28) 2023 TRANSFER PACKET
- Bioengineering: Biosystems
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What is “Bioengineering: BioSystems?” Bioengineering: BioSystems is an interdisciplinary engineering field that focuses on the organization and interaction of components in complex engineering and biological structures and designs. Engineering is playing an increasing role in physiology and medicine, with applications ranging from characterization of molecular, cellular and physiological systems to biomedical methods and devices.
The Bioengineering: BioSystems major will prepare students for careers in research and development of applications across a wide domain of physiology and medicine or advanced study in biology, medicine and engineering. ABET accreditation will be sought for the Bioengineering: BioSystems degree.BIOENGINEERING: BIOSYSTEMS (BE29) TRITON DAY 2023 PACKET
BIOENGINEERING: BIOSYSTEMS (BE29) 2023 TRANSFER PACKET
- Bioengineering: Biotechnology
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The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Bioengineering: Biotechnology prepares students for a variety of careers in the biotechnology industry and for further education in graduate school. The curriculum has a strong engineering foundation with emphasis on biochemical process applications. It addresses the bioengineering topics of biochemistry and metabolism, kinetics, biotransport, biosystems, bioreactors, bioseparations, tissue engineering, and the complementary field of cellular physiology. Education in these areas allows application of bioengineering and physicochemical principles to cellular and molecular biology, with the consequent development of molecules, cells, and tissues that benefit human health.
BIOENGINEERING: BIOTECHNOLOGY (BE27) TRITON DAY 2023 PACKET
BIOENGINEERING: BIOTECHNOLOGY (BE27) 2023 TRANSFER PACKET
Capped Status
Please note: Each of our 4 majors are capped, meaning that the demand for the major exceeds our capacity and so we must limit enrollment. In order to be considered for one of our majors, you must list the major you are interested in as your first choice on your application to UC San Diego to be considered for the major.
Due to our capped status, not all freshman applicants are able to be directly admitted into one of our majors when admitted to UC San Diego and instead are admitted as Undeclared majors or an alternate major that was listed as their second choice on the application. Due to this, there is a one time application process for those who applied but were not accepted OR those who did not initially apply to one of our majors. Those who are interested will be able to apply "one time only" to one of the four "capped" majors in the first week of school in the subsequent fall quarter, as you begin your Sophomore year as a “Continuing” student. Applicants must take a set of required screening courses during their first year at UC San Diego. Information for the process may be found below:
Application is open starting on Monday, September 25th and closing on Friday, October 6th.
FA24 BENG Continuing Application Process
FA23 BENG Continuing Application Process