2026-2027 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| BSE 2004 | Introduction to Biological Systems Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 2504 | Introduction to Fluid Mechanics (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3144 | Engineering Analysis for Biological Systems using Numerical Methods (C-) | 2 |
| BSE 3154 | Thermodynamics of Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3504 | Transport Processes in Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 4125 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 2 |
| BIOL 2604 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| ESM 2104 | Statics | 3 |
| ISE 2014 | Engineering Economy | 2 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| BSE 4126 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 3 |
| BIOL 1105 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 1036 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| MATH 2114 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 2204 | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| PHYS 2306 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| STAT 3704 | Statistics for Engineering Applications | 2 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Option Required Courses | ||
| BSE 3524 | Unit Operations in Biological Systems Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3534 | Bioprocess Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 4014 | Engineering Biology Course-based Research Experience (C-) | 2 |
| BSE 4524 | Biological Process Plant Design (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5524G | Advanced Biological Process Plant Design | |
| BSE 4534 | Bioprocess Engineering Lab (C-) | 1 |
| BCHM 3114 | Biochemistry for Biotechnology and the Life Sciences | 3 |
| CHEM 2535 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| or CHEM 2565 | Principles of Organic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 2536 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| or CHEM 2566 | Principles of Organic Chemistry | |
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Bridge Experience 2 | ||
| ENGE 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 3 BSE Electives | 9 | |
| Select 1 BioE Elective | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Pathways to General Education 3 | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ISE 3034 | Technical Communication for Engineers (1A) | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 3 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| CHEM 1035 & CHEM 1045 | General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 2305 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F ; C-) | 4 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) | 4 |
| MATH 2214 | Introduction to Differential Equations (5A) | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three Arts credits in Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| ENGE 1215 & ENGE 1216 | Foundations of Engineering and Foundations of Engineering (6D) | 4 |
| or ENGE 1414 | Foundations of Engineering Practice | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Pathways Concept 7 is currently suspended effective Fall 2025. Please refer to the Pathways Page for more information. | ||
| Pathway 7 should be double-counted with either Pathways 2, 3, or 6a to avoid taking additional credit hours. | ||
| Subtotal | 47 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
(9 credit hours required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BSE 4544 | Protein Separation Engineering (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5544G | Advanced Protein Separation Engineering | |
| BSE 4564 | Metabolic Engineering (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5564G | Advanced Metabolic Engineering | |
| BSE 4604 | Food Process Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 4634 | Protein Engineering for Biotechnology (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5634G | Advanced Protein Engineering for Biotechnology | |
(3 credit hours required – students must request to be force-added to major-restricted courses; BSE Electives taken in excess of 9 credit hours will count as BioE Electives)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMES 3134 | Introduction to Biomedical Imaging | 3 |
| BMES 3144 | Biomedical Devices | 3 |
| BMES 3154 | Biosignal Processing and Classification | 3 |
| BMES 3164 | Fundamentals of Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| BMES 3704 | Computer Aided Design for Biomedical Engineering Applications | 3 |
| BMES 3844 | Computational Neuroscience and Neural Engineering | 3 |
| BMES 4224 | Biodynamics and Control | 3 |
| BMES 4574 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| CHE 4214 | Introduction to Polymer Materials | 3 |
Students in their senior year, with a 3.0 or better GPA, may enroll in 5000-level courses satisfying undergraduate degree requirements within their department with the permission of the course instructor and the Department Head. The Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree status allows students with certain qualifications to allow certain 5000-level courses to count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Otherwise, for students not pursuing the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree, should the student become a graduate student, these courses may not be used on the Plan of Study for a graduate degree.
Bridge Experiences help prepare students for post- graduation life and develop a professional identity. Internships, Co-ops, and Undergraduate Research are examples of possible Bridge Experiences. Students must participate in a Bridge Experience to complete the BS degree in Biological Systems Engineering. Because some of these experiences are not credit-bearing, the ENGE 3900 course is used to track and assess student participation in Bridge Experience and to record fulfillment of this degree requirement on the transcript. Students enroll in ENGE 3900 during the semester (or one of the semesters) that they undertake the Bridge Experience. Enrollment in ENGE 3900 requires approval of a Bridge Experience Plan.
Further information about acceptable Bridge Experiences and the process for submitting a Bridge Plan are explained in BSE 2004.
Pathways courses can double count with any major requirements, minor requirements, or elective requirements.
Additional Notes:
Students are strongly encouraged to take CHEM 1036 General Chemistry first year Spring semester.
Students are encouraged to take BIOL 1105 Principles of Biology and BIOL 1106 Principles of Biology during the first year if their schedule permits.
Students must have had 2 years of a foreign language in high school or one year at the college level (6 credit hours) of the same language. College-level credits used to meet this requirement do not count towards the degree.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| CHEM 1035 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1045 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGE 1215 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable (C-) | 4 |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 1036 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| ENGE 1216 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable | 4 |
| PHYS 2305 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BSE 2004 | Introduction to Biological Systems Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BIOL 1105 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| ESM 2104 | Statics | 3 |
| MATH 2204 | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 2114 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BSE 2504 | Introduction to Fluid Mechanics (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3144 | Engineering Analysis for Biological Systems using Numerical Methods (C-) | 2 |
| BIOL 1106 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 2535 or CHEM 2565 | Organic Chemistry or Principles of Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| MATH 2214 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BSE 3154 | Thermodynamics of Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 4014 | Engineering Biology Course-based Research Experience (C-) | 2 |
| BIOL 2604 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| CHEM 2536 or CHEM 2566 | Organic Chemistry or Principles of Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| PHYS 2306 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BSE 3504 | Transport Processes in Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3524 | Unit Operations in Biological Systems Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3534 | Bioprocess Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BCHM 3114 | Biochemistry for Biotechnology and the Life Sciences | 3 |
| ISE 2014 | Engineering Economy | 2 |
| ISE 3034 | Technical Communication for Engineers | 3 |
| ENGE 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BSE 4125 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 2 |
| BSE 4524 or BSE 5524G | Biological Process Plant Design (C-) or Advanced Biological Process Plant Design | 3 |
| BSE 4534 | Bioprocess Engineering Lab (C-) | 1 |
| STAT 3704 | Statistics for Engineering Applications | 2 |
| BSE Elective | 3 | |
| BioE Elective | 3 | |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BSE 4126 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 3 |
| BSE Elective | 3 | |
| BSE Elective | 3 | |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
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