Concentration in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering: Courses

Required Courses

CHE 246 - Introduction to Biotechnology (Pre-req.: CHEM 151) This new course is designed to introduce engineering students to the fundamentals of biochemistry and molecular and cell biology emphasizing their relevance to industrial applications of biotechnology. The course can be taken as a stand-alone course by engineering students at any level, or as a part of the Concentration in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering.

CHE 347 - Biochemical Engineering (Pre-req.: CHE 246 and CHE 321, or instructor permission; Co-req. CHE 322, or instructor permission) This course emphasizes quantitative engineering aspects of industrial applications of biology including the microbial synthesis of commercial products, environmental biotechnology, and the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals through recombinant microorganisms, transgenic animals, and plants. This course can be taken by engineering students as a follow-up to CHE 246 or as a part of the Concentration in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering.

CHE 448 - Bioseparations Engineering (Pre-req.: CHE 322 or instructor permission) This course conveys the principles of bioseparations engineering including specialized unit operations that are not normally covered in regular chemical engineering courses. The course follows the processing operations downstream of the initial manufacture of biotechnology products, including product recovery, separations, purification, and ancillary operations such as sterile processing, clean-in place and regulatory aspects. The course can be taken as a stand-alone course by chemical engineering students or as a part of the Concentration in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering.

Additional Suggested Elective Courses

In addition to the three required courses, other elective courses that provide further background in biotechnology may be desired and can be selected from the following:

CHE 442 - Applied Surface Chemistry: Covers interfacial phenomena, including applications in biological systems and bioprocessing.

CHEM 441 & 442 - Biological Chemistry I & II: Two-semester general biochemistry course covering the components and structure of biological macromolecules, enzymatic transformations, metabolic cycles, structure and function of biological membranes, biochemical systems and processes, and molecular biology including DNA and RNA metabolism, regulation of gene expression, and recombinant DNA technology.

BIOL 312 - Fundamentals of Microbiology: Explores molecular and evolutionary aspects of the structure and function of microbes as well as environmental and medical microbiology.

BIOL 324 - Immunology. Studies the genetics and cell biology of the vertebrate immune system, with a focus on adaptive immunity. Classic and current experimental systems are emphasized. BIOL 201, 202 are prerequisites, but students have successfully taken this with instructor permission and CHE 246 as preparation.

BIOL 501 - Biochemistry: One-semester general biochemistry course covering topics similar to CHEM 441/442.

BIOM 201 - Physiology: Introduces the fundamental concepts of the physiology of excitable tissue, circulation, and respiration and introduces the application of engineering analysis to physiological function.

Tissue Engineering (BIOM 496 -- Special Topics). The objective of this course is to learn the fundamental principles, methods, and applications of tissue engineering. Involves significant use of guest lectures and research papers. Not recommended for students prior to fourth year.

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