Biopharmaceutical Engineering Track
This technical track provides undergraduate students a deeper focus in the area of Biopharmaceutical Engineering. It is a supplement to the solid foundation in biochemical engineering principles and practice that students will acquire in the CBE program.
Biopharmaceutical engineering represents a rapidly growing field at the intersection of chemical engineering and biological pharmaceutical development. It is an area where many CBE undergraduates find rewarding careers after graduation. This track prepares students for roles in bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, and biomedical applications through specialized coursework that supplements their core biochemical engineering training. Knowledge and understanding in Biopharmaceutical Engineering will prepare students to join an innovative workforce developing next-generation biological medicines, vaccines, and therapies. The courses include fundamental bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, and pharmaceutical engineering topics essential for success in this dynamic industry.
Requirements for Biopharmaceutical Engineering Track
To fulfill the requirements for this track, students must complete the Biochemical Option within the CBE curriculum and two courses (6 credits total) with C or better grade for each course: one from the Pharma list and one from the Bio list below. Please note that some of the courses are not offered every year and you may need to complete additional courses to meet their pre-req requirements.
Certificate of Completion Form
To obtain a Certificate of Completion for Biopharmaceutical Engineering technical track, fill out and submit the application form by April 30.
Approved Pharma Course List
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneThe course provides an introduction to pharmaceutical materials engineering as applied to designing and optimizing pharmaceutical processes and products. The course focuses on the production, characterization and usage of pharmaceutical materials. The course examines the relationship between pharmaceutical materials and pharmaceutical products.
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneThe course provides an introduction to synthesis, separation, and sterile processing and their applications to designing and optimizing pharmaceutical processes. Fundamentals of drug synthesis will be discussed using industrial pharmaceutical examples including separation, distillation, crystallization, filtration, lyophilization, and drying processes. This course focuses on the manufacturing steps used in production of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneThe course provides an introduction to the essential operations used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. The course discusses the pharmaceutical product life-cycle, variability, testing, and specifications of pharmaceutical ingredients. This course focuses on the manufacturing steps used in production of the Pharmaceutical Product or Dosage Form. Unit operations including blending, granulation, fluidized bed operations, milling, capsule filling, compaction, tablet coating and other processes will be addressed. Students learn to recognize how the output of one process is the input to the next process, and how deviations can cascade along the production sequence until they cause process failures. The course emphasizes design, scale-up, trouble-shooting, and optimization.
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneThe course provides an introduction to statistical analysis and experimental design methods and their applications to designing and optimizing pharmaceutical processes. Classic statistical concepts and methods will be discussed using pharmaceutical examples including product/process development scenarios, routine in-process and finished product testing, and failure investigations. Regulatory requirements for test of samples, sampling plans, tablet and capsule assay, content uniformity, hardness, friability, dissolution and bioavailability tests will be discussed in detail.
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneThe course discusses the application of engineering science principles to drug product development, drug administration to patients, and drug absorption and elimination in the body. The course discusses challenges in drug product development, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacologic activity, drug-target concepts and transport processes in the body. Concepts include routes of administration; fundamentals of drug delivery; kinetics of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion; clearance concepts; and compartmental and physiological models. Students learn how to apply engineering science principles to model pharmaceutical processes and interpret pharmaceutical experiments. Fundamental issues relevant to the design of drug products having immediate release, delayed release, sustained release, and extended release profiles are reviewed. Generation and fate of metabolites is discussed.
Approved Bio Course List
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneThis course will provide an introductory survey of the fundamental principles of glycosciences (i.e., science and technology of carbohydrates or the ‘glycome’), followed by discussions of some of the cutting-edge applications of the principles of glycosciences to several interdisciplinary problems relevant to the disciplines of biochemical engineering.
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneFundamental problems of separation processes important to the recovery of products from biological processes. Topics include membrane filtration centrifugation, chromatography, extraction, electrokinetic methods. Emphasis on protein separations.
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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneBiochemical engineering research design, mechanisms, and protocols; how to plan, design, and conduct bench-top experiments; how to analyze the results and summarize the experimental findings; important lab skills needed for career in biotechnology industries; how to develop teamwork and communication skills.