Bioengineering
Bachelor’s Degrees within Bioengineering

Engineering Sciences at SEAS

The Engineering Sciences concentration is ideally positioned to provide students with both the breadth and depth of study needed to excel in these and other exciting integrative areas of engineering within the liberal arts setting of Harvard. The Engineering Sciences program seeks to educate future leaders who have the technical background necessary to develop and critically evaluate the next wave of engineering innovations; to apply these innovations to important global and local problems; and to make informed decisions about them in a societal context.

Harvard offers two degrees in Engineering Sciences: the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) and the Bachelor of Science (S.B.). The degree requirements differ for each of these programs: The A.B. program requires between 14 and 16 courses (56–64 credits) and the S.B. program requires 20 courses (80 credits).

Students in the Engineering Sciences A.B. program specialize in one of four engineering tracks:

  • biomedical sciences and engineering
  • electrical and computer engineering
  • engineering physics
  • mechanical and materials science and engineering

Students pursuing the S.B. degree in the Engineering Sciences concentration typically specialize in one of two tracks:

  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Science and Engineering

Students may also apply to a cross-disciplinary track within the Engineering Sciences S.B. program, which provides the opportunity to learn between or across the engineering areas offered in the SEAS curriculum.

 

Comparison of engineering areas with degree options

Area of interestBachelor of Arts (A.B.)Bachelor of Science (S.B.)
BioengineeringBiomedical Engineering A.B.
Engineering Sciences A.B.
(Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Track)		Engineering Sciences S.B.
(Bioengineering Track)
Electrical EngineeringEngineering Sciences A.B.
(Electrical and Computer Engineering Track)		Electrical Engineering S.B.
Environmental Science and EngineeringEnvironmental Science and Engineering A.B.Engineering Sciences S.B.
(Environmental Science and Engineering Track)
Mechanical EngineeringEngineering Sciences A.B.
(Mechanical and Materials Science and Engineering Track)		Mechanical Engineering S.B.

Engineering Sciences provides an integrative approach to developing the engineering skills necessary to tackle real-world problems. Engineering has evolved over the years to not only dive deeply into specific fields, but also to seek out solutions to real-world problems by combining concepts from a broad range of scientific inquiries and innovations. The Engineering Sciences concentration is ideally positioned to provide students with both the breadth and depth of study needed to excel in these and other exciting integrative areas of engineering within the liberal arts setting of Harvard. Students choosing the Engineering Sciences Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts programs select a specialization in one of the primary areas described above through their concentration Track.

Bioengineering lies at the intersection of the physical and life sciences, incorporating principles from physics and chemistry to understand the functioning of living systems. The overarching intellectual goal of biomedical engineering is to apply quantitative engineering analysis to understand the operation of living systems and design novel systems to satisfy unmet needs in clinical medicine.  Biomedical engineering distinguishes itself from the other life sciences disciplines by using scientific knowledge to create new biomaterials and devices. 

  • Visit the undergraduate programs within Bioengineering page to learn about the specific degree offerings and program requirements for:  Biomedical Engineering A.B., Engineering Sciences A.B. – Biomedical Science & Engineering Track, and Engineering Sciences S.B. – Bioengineering Track

Electrical & Computer Engineering spans a broad range of topics, ranging from the physics of new materials and devices, the circuits and next-generation computing platforms made from these devices, and the algorithms that run on these platforms.  The range of subtopics includes power systems, (micro)electronics, control systems, signal processing, telecommunications, and computing systems. Students learn how to analyze, design and build devices and systems for computation, communication and information transfer.

Environmental Science & Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies principles from other branches of engineering, the natural sciences, and mathematics to better understand and address environmental challenges. Students interested in environmental science and engineering study the fundamental processes and technologies underlying environmental systems, including natural and polluted waters and soils, the atmosphere, climate, and energy. Students learn to apply these principles to mitigate human impact on the environment by providing technical solutions and advancing innovations in environmental measurement, modeling, and control. 

Mechanical Engineering focuses on the study and application of mechanical systems. It covers a range of subtopics including mechatronics and robotics, structural analysis, thermodynamics and engineering design including the analysis of mechanical systems using finite element methods, the science of new materials and devices for micro electromechanical systems (MEMS), and biological and nanotechnology applications. Students receive a foundational education in a discipline central to challenges in energy, transportation, manufacturing, robotics, and the development of public infrastructure.