How to declare a Major in Biological Engineering

Biological Engineering is a new major with a different enrollment process than other MIT majors.  Applications will be accepted from students who have fulfilled the appropriate prerequisite requirements.  Most students are able to fulfill the requirements by the end of fall term sophomore year and are admitted during IAP of sophomore year.  This year, for the first time, the core class 20.110J Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems will be offered in both fall and spring term versions (spring term subject number is 7.10J/20.111J), therefore some students may wish to apply to BE in the freshman year or at the end of spring term sophomore year.  Students are expected to fulfill all application requirements (as outlined below) before applying to BE.

Students should begin in the spring term of freshman year to take the following steps to apply for BE:

Any time during your freshman year, you should contact the BE office at be-sb-apply@mit.edu to indicate that you intend to apply for the BE SB.   You are advised to contact the BE office by the end of spring term freshman year so that you receive appropriate advising about fall term pre-registration.  The BE Academic Office will add you to a list of potential majors and keep you informed of important meetings and requirements during the summer and fall.  You should pay careful attention to correspondence from the BE Academic Office. 

Fall Term Admission – Sophomore Year
Applicants must complete the following subjects by the end of the fall term to apply for admission: 7.01x; 8.01; 8.02; 5.111/3.091; 18.01; 18.02; 18.03; 20.110J/2.772J.

1. In the fall term of your sophomore year, you must enroll in the 12-unit subject, 20.110/2.772J (Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems). You cannot substitute 5.60 for 20.110/2.772J if you plan to apply for the BE SB.  This subject conflicts with 7.01x so you must take 7.01x freshman year.
   
   
2. You should plan to complete 18.03 have completed 8.02, 5.111/5.112/3.091, and biology (7.012/7.013/7.014) by the end of fall term sophomore year as these subjects are all prerequisites for spring term BE subjects.    It is also recommended that you complete 5.12 by the end of fall term sophomore year.
   
   
3. In order to apply for the BE SB, complete the on-line application form at the end of fall term of your sophomore year.  Instructions on completing the form will be provided by the BE Academic Office in the fall to all students who have indicated an interest in applying (by writing be-sb-apply@mit.edu).  The web site will be activated the day after Drop Date and remain active until the last day of finals.  You must complete all requirements with a grade of C or better order to have your application considered.  Course 20 department policy requires a grade of C or better in all prerequisite subjects. 
   
   
4. You will be informed of your admission status no later than the first week of January and will be assigned an advisor.  Although BE has permission from MIT to limit enrollment, we anticipate that all students who fulfill the requirements will be admitted.

                                                                                                                                   
Spring Term Admission – Sophomore Year
Applicants must complete the following subjects by the end of the spring term to apply for admission: 7.01x; 8.01; 8.02; 5.111/3.091; 18.01, 18.02; 18.03; 6.00; 5.12; 7.10J/20.111J  

1. In the spring term of your sophomore year, you must enroll in the 12-unit subject, 7.10J/20.111J (Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems). Note: If you choose to apply for the BE SB in the spring term of your sophomore year you will not be able to enroll in the spring term subjects 20.109 or 20.310 as 20.110J/20.111J are prerequisites.
   
   
2. In addition to the freshman requirements and 7.10J/20.111J, you must also complete 18.03, 6.00, and 5.12 by the end of spring term sophomore year.   You must complete all requirements with a grade of C or better order to have your application considered.
   
   
3. Complete the on-line application form.  The web site will be activated the day after Drop Date and remain active until the last day of finals.  You must complete 7.10J/2.111J with a passing grade in order to have your application considered.
   
   
4. You will be informed of your admission status no later than the first week of June.  Although BE has permission from MIT to limit enrollment, we anticipate that all students who fulfill the requirements will be admitted.

BE will accept 7.02 by petition in some cases.

BE requires a minimum grade of “C” in core (required) subjects