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Bioengineering

College of Engineering

Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles to the fields of biology, medicine and health care. Students will utilize knowledge from the biological sciences as well as mechanical, chemical, electrical and computer engineering in order to invent the future of medicine through novel, innovative and cost-effective solutions.

Major category: Capacity-constrained

Curricular options: Nanoscience & Molecular Engineering

Topic(s): Engineering, Health

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Degree requirements

Applicant type

Applicant type

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).

The primary pathway to Bioengineering is through Direct to College admission to the College of Engineering. If you want to major in this or any major within the College of Engineering, be sure to list it as your first-choice major on the freshman application.

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

Please contact the department for details about the application process.

This major is capacity-constrained. Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee admission.
  • Transfer students must submit two separate applications: one to the Office of Admissions and one to Bioengineering.
  • To be eligible to apply, you must have a 2.0 (“C” grade) minimum GPA in each prerequisite course and a 2.5 cumulative GPA in all the prerequisites. These are minimums; the actual GPA of those admitted is much higher.
  • To plan your transfer, be sure to utilize the engineering transfer admission website and contact the department if you have additional questions. A separate departmental application is required in addition to the UW application for admission.
  • The Bioengineering major course sequence begins in spring quarter with BIOEN 315, 316 and 317. An introductory course, BIOEN 215, may be taken by transfer students in fall of the junior year.
  • Transfer students may transfer directly into the program for spring quarter if all prerequisites and organic chemistry are complete, or they may transfer as pre-majors in autumn quarter, complete remaining prerequisites and BIOEN 215, and apply to the major during winter quarter for spring admission.
  • For more information, please visit the department’s website.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses required for the major:

  • MATH 124 NSc RSN – Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 1
  • MATH 125 NSc – Calculus with Analytic Geometry II 1
  • MATH 126 NSc – Calculus with Analytic Geometry III 1
  • MATH 207 NSc – Intro to Diff Equations 2
  • CHEM 142 NSc RSN – General Chemistry 1
  • CHEM 152 NSc RSN – General Chemistry 1
  • CHEM 162 NSc RSN – General Chemistry 1
  • CHEM 223 or 237 NSc – Organic Chemistry 2
  • BIOL 180 NSc – Introductory Biology 2
  • PHYS 121 NSc RSN – Mechanics 1
  • PHYS 122  or PHYS 142 NSc – Electromagnetism 2
  • AMATH 301 NSc – Beginning Scientific Computing 2 (or one course from CSE 121, CSE 122, CSE 123, CSE 142 or CSE 160;and BIOEN 217)
  • 5 Credits of English composition C 1

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 194
Total from Washington community colleges: 8

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 5
3.50 – 3.74: <5
3.25 – 3.49: <5
3.00 – 3.24: <5
2.75 – 2.99: <5
2.50 – 2.74: <5
2.49 and below: <5

NOTES:

    1 All courses completed prior to the application deadline.
    2 All completed or in progress at time of application; all completed prior to beginning the Bioengineering curriculum in spring quarter.

Career outcomes

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