Objective
Chemical Engineering students may choose to specialize in biotechnology. The goal of this program is to allow engineering students with an interest in chemistry and biotechnology to develop suitable preparation for careers or graduate study in biotechnology or the medical fields without reducing their potential for careers in traditional chemical engineering. Students will have ample opportunity to work with researchers in biotechnology through their engineering and design electives.

Courses

Students who complete this specialization are exempt from:
3150:313,314 Physical Chemistry I & II
4200:305 Materials Science

Students are required to take:
3100:111,112 Principles of Biology I & II
3100:311 Cell and Molecular Biology or 3100:331 Microbiology
3150:401 Biochemistry Lecture I (satisfies Advanced Chemistry Elective)

Chemical Engineering Elective (minimum of 3 credits) must be chosen from the following list:
4200:472 Separation Processes in Biochemical Engr. - 3 credits
4200:473 Bioreactor Design - 3 credits
4200:496 Topics in Chemical Engineering (with permission) - 3 credits
4200:194 Chemical Engineering Design I (with permission) - 1 credit
4200:294 Chemical Engineering Design II (with permission) - 1-2 credits
4200:394 Chemical Engineering Design III (with permission) - 1-3 credits
4200:494 Design Project (with permission) - 3 credits
4200:497 Honors Project (with permission) - 1-3 credits
4200:499 Research Project (with permission) - 1-3 credits
4800:360 Biofluid Mechanics - 3 credits
4800:400 Biomaterials - 3 credits

Design Electives (minimum of 6 credits) must be chosen from the following list:
4200:473 Bioreactor Design - 3 credits
4200:496 Topics in Chemical Engineering (with permission) - 3 credits
4200:194 Chemical Engineering Design I (with permission) - 1 credit
4200:294 Chemical Engineering Design II (with permission) - 1-2 credits
4200:394 Chemical Engineering Design III (with permission) - 1-3 credits
4200:494 Design Project (with permission) - 3 credits
4200:497 Honors Project (with permission) - 1-3 credits
4200:499 Research Project (with permission) - 1-3 credits
4300:482 Special Projects (with permission) - 3 credits
4800:485 Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering - 1-3 credits

Admissions Requirements
Both direct admit and transfer students must:
• successfully complete 4200:200 Material and Energy Balances (C- or better) and 4200:225 Equilibrium Thermodynamics.
• be formally admitted to the Chemical Engineering Department or be a post-baccalaureate student.
• complete a formal application to the certificate program.

Application
Prepare a signed, written statement, not to exceed one typed page, expressing why you want to participate in the program. Indicate how you intend to use the knowledge or skills learned through the program. Include the statement “I understand that if I do not fulfill all requirements of the Biotechnology Specialization Certificate, I must successfully complete Physical Chemistry I & II and Materials Science to graduate with a chemical engineering degree.” Give the completed application to the departmental secretary. A copy of the statement and a letter of formal acceptance into the program will be included in the student’s file.

Courses

Students are required to take:
4200:408 Polymer Engineering

Polymer engineering students must select one course from the Polymer Engineering group, and one course from the Polymer Science group:

Polymer Engineering Group:
4700:425 Introduction to Blending and Compounding of Polymers
4700:427 Mold Design

Polymer Science Group:
9871:401 Introduction to Elastomers
9871:402 Introduction to Plastics
9871:407 Polymer Science