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BIG (Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate) Courses at the University of California, Riverside
BIG students have the flexibility to study a wide range of courses that can be targeted to the individual student's professional goals. However, so that all BIG students have a fundamental foundation in bioengineering, they must take key courses that will satisfy this core requirement. The elective list is substantially and includes medical school courses offered in the UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.
CORE COURSES
All BIG students are required to take at least three courses from the following six Bioengineering courses. Other courses may be substituted but must be approved by the Bioengineering Graduate Advisor. Students from non-engineering backgrounds are also required to take BIEN 268 in addition to the courses stipulated here. M.S. and Ph.D. students alike are expected to complete the course requirements for the programs within their first year of residence.
- BIEN 223 - Engineering Analysis of Physiological Systems
- BIEN 224 - Cellular and Molecular Engineering
- BIEN 245 - Fluorescence Methods in Biology and Chemistry
- BIEN 249 - Integration of Computational and Experimental Biology
- BIEN 264 - Dynamics of Biological Systems
- BIEN 268 - Bioengineering Experimentation and Analysis
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Other required courses: One bioscience class chosen from:
- BCH 210 - Biochemistry of Macromolecules
- BCH 211 - Molecular Biology
- BCH 212 - Signal Transduction and Biochemical Regulation
- BIOL/CMDB 200 - Cell Biology
- BIOL/CMDB 201 - Molecular Biology
- BIOL 203 - Cellular Biophysics
- BIOL 221 - Microbial Genetics
- Equivalent Selections from Biomedical Sciences Medical School Courses
In addition, BIEN 286-Colloquium in Bioengineering, is required every quarter in which it is offered.
ADDITIONAL COURSES
Additional courses may be required by the Advisory Committee based upon the student's background and fields of interest.
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
BIEN 220 Chemical Genomics Design Studio
Explores chemical genomics research approaches. Emphasizes critical thinking; advanced planning of time-consuming tests of hypotheses and experimental caveats, trade-offs, and options. Taught in a case-study approach, teams consist of students with engineering, biology, computational sciences, and chemical backgrounds. Teams generate an interdisciplinary chemical genomics research project.
BIEN 223 Engineering Analysis of Physiological Systems
Provides a bioengineering approach to the physiological properties and interactions of various mammalian organ systems. Covers the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal systems. Emphasizes the physical and engineering principles governing these systems by applying quantitative and analytical approaches.
BIEN 224 Cellular and Molecular Engineering
Emphasizes biophysical and engineering concepts intrinsic to specific topics at the cellular and molecular level, including receptor-ligand dynamics in cell signaling and function, DNA replication and RNA processing, cellular energetics and protein sorting, control of gene expression, membrane structure, transport and traffic, biological signal transduction, and mechanics of cell division.
BIEN 227 Biophotonics: Laser-Tissue Interactions and Therapeutic Applications
Provides an overview of various types of interactions between lasers and biological tissues. Addresses methods of optical property measurements, mathematical modeling of light propagation, and selected therapeutic applications of lasers. Includes one or two field trips to medical laser centers to observe laser treatment procedures.
BIEN 228 Biophotonics: Optical Diagnosis and Measurements
Covers the fundamentals underlying optical diagnostic procedures, including absorption and scattering-based techniques. Also addresses physics of optical tweezers and their applications in biological sciences.
BIEN 233 Computational Modeling of Biomolecules
Introduces computational methods for the quantitative analysis of biomolecular structures at atomic resolution. Aids in understanding the physicochemical properties of biomolecular function, the prediction of biological properties, and the design of new experiments. Forms the basis for structure-based design of proteins with tailored properties and inhibitors of protein function.
BIEN 245 Fluorescence Methods in Biology and Chemistry
Topics include the origin of fluorescence and other emission processes that modulate the characteristics of molecular emissions. Presents emission-based analytical and bioanalytical methods and techniques. Reviews state-of-the-art instrumentation, including their applicability, limitations, and source, as well as interpretation and meaning of the measured signals, with applications to biological systems.
BIEN 249 Integration of Computational and Experimental Biology
Multidisciplinary introduction to the mathematical concepts of design of experiments, information content, causation versus correlation, and statistical analysis with respect to hypothesis testing, model development, and parameter estimation. Covers state-of-the-art experimental techniques in proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and genetics.
BIEN 251 Biophotonics: Optical Microscopy and its Biological Applications
Examines the fundamentals of optical system design and system integration in light microscopy. Covers design components, including light sources, lenses, mirrors, dispersion elements, optical fibers, and detectors. Also covers optical system analysis, transfer functions, magnification, resolution, contrast, and molecular, cellular, organ, and organism applications.
BIEN 260 Special Topics in Bioinstrumentation
Focuses on advanced technologies in bioengineering studies, such as spectroscopy, microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasonography, and biosensors.
BIEN 261 Special Topics in Biotransport
Focuses on advanced methods of analysis of biological transport phenomena such as drug distribution, microcirculation, membrane transport, and transport in organs and tissues.
BIEN 262 Special Topics in Biosignaling
Focuses on current research in cell signaling and control, including G protein-coupled receptors, signal transduction and cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell adhesion and cell metabolism.
BIEN 263 Special Topics in Biocomputation
Focuses on various advanced methods for computational studies of biomolecules and simulations; molecular dynamics simulations; Brownian dynamics simulations; Monte Carlo methods; normal mode analysis; electrostatic calculations; and free energy calculations.
BIEN 264 Dynamics of Biological Systems
Covers engineering principles for the analysis and modeling of biological phenomena. Topics include molecular diffusion and transport, membranes, aligned interactions, enzyme kinetics, and dynamics of metabolic pathways and the application of these principles to the design of bioreactors, bioassays, drug delivery systems, and artificial organs.
BIEN 266 Special Topics in Biological Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
Focuses on various advanced methods for the determination of structure, dynamics, and interactions of biomolecules, using multidimensional and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.
BIEN 268 Bioengineering Experimentation and Analysis
Introduces measurement principles and data acquisition methods related to biomechanics and biochemical and bioelectrical signals from living systems. Addresses the fundamental mechanisms underlying the operation of various sensor types and the modern instruments illustrating noise analysis, filtering, signal processing, and conditioning. Includes experiments aimed at investigating physical responses of cells and tissues to a variety of stimuli.
BIEN 286 Colloquium in Bioengineering
Lectures on a current research topic in bioengineering and other related fields presented by faculty members and visiting scientists.
BIEN 290 Directed Studies
Prerequisite(s): graduate standing; consent of instructor and graduate advisor
Individual study, directed by a faculty member, of selected topics in bioengineering.
BIEN 297 Directed Research
Prerequisite(s): graduate standing; consent of instructor
Research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member on selected problems in bioengineering.
BIEN 298 Individual Internship
Individual apprenticeship in bioengineering with an approved professional individual or organization, and a faculty member. A written report is required.
BIEN 299 Research for Thesis or Dissertation
Research in bioengineering for the M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation.
BIEN 302 Teaching Practicum
Topics include effective teaching methods such as those involved in leading discussion sessions, preparing and grading examinations, and student-instructor relations in lower- and upper-division Bioengineering courses. Required each quarter of teaching assistants and associates in Bioengineering.
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BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE MEDICAL SCHOOL COURSES
BIG students have the unique opportunity to study courses offered in the UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. These courses offer an opportunity for BIG students to have the same broad core science training as received by students enrolled in the M.D.-Ph.D. program. The eligible courses are listed below.
BMSC 229 Foundations in Translational Research
Covers basic principles of disease processes, genetics, and molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. Case-driven instruction accomplished through lectures and discovery in small group discussions and laboratories.
BMSC 232 Cardiovascular, Renal, and Respiratory Sciences I
Covers physiology, pathophysiology, physical diagnosis, and imaging in the cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory sciences. Instruction is driven by cases and accomplished through lectures and discovery in small group discussions, laboratories, and conferences.
BMSC 233 Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, and Reproductive Health I
Covers biochemistry, pathophysiology, physical diagnosis, and imaging associated with gastrointestinal, endocrine, and reproductive health. Instruction is driven by cases and accomplished through lectures and discovery in small group discussions, laboratories, and conferences.
BMSC 234 Musculoskeletal Medicine
Covers the musculoskeletal system, biology and pathology of the peripheral nervous system, and physical diagnosis. Utilizes lectures and case studies to accomplish course objectives. Promotes discovery of learning by small group discussions, laboratories, and conferences.
BMSC 235 Clinical Neurosciences I
Utilizes lectures and case studies to accomplish course objectives. Promotes discovery of learning by small group discussions, laboratories, and conferences.
BMSC 260A Topics in Translational Biomedical Research
A survey of the mechanisms of common human diseases at the molecular, cellular and organ system levels and the multidisciplinary approaches used for their investigation. Instructional components include lectures, discovery in problem based learning sessions, and independent study.
BMSC 260B Topics in Translational Biomedical Research
A survey of the mechanisms of common human diseases at the molecular, cellular and organ system levels and the multidisciplinary approaches used for their investigation. Instructional components include lectures, discovery in problem based learning sessions, and independent study.
BMSC 260C Topics in Translational Biomedical Research
A survey of the mechanisms of common human diseases at the molecular, cellular and organ system levels and the multidisciplinary approaches used for their investigation. Instructional components include lectures, discovery in problem-based learning sessions, and independent study.
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